New Uniforms Are Best Sellers

The Lakers’ new white uniforms, which they unveiled Christmas Day and have worn three times since, quickly became the hottest product on the sports market. According to the club, Kobe Bryant’s white No. 8 jersey was the No. 1 licensed sports product in terms of dollars for the week ending Jan. 5, a sample that includes merchandise from the NBA, NFL, NHL, Major League Baseball and the NCAA. More than 25,000 white jerseys have been sold.

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Perry Rogers, the agent for Shaquille O’Neal, said Tuesday he hadn’t received a single telephone call from any of the corporations O’Neal represents.

O’Neal apologized Friday for mocking the Chinese language during a conversation about Houston Rocket rookie Yao Ming.

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TONIGHT

at New Orleans, 5:30 PST, Channel 9

Site -- New Orleans Arena.

Radio -- KLAC (570), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Lakers 17-20, Hornets 20-19.

Record vs. Hornets -- 0-1.

Update -- New Orleans point guard Baron Davis, who has sat out the last six games because of back spasms related to a herniated disk, expects to play tonight. Guard Courtney Alexander has a groin injury and will not play.

-- Tim Brown