Grand Slam Breakfast Really Hits the Spot

Less than 48 hours after signing a five-year, $21-million offer sheet with the Chicago Bears, former UCLA cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. was arrested on suspicion of assault after a fight at a restaurant.

The alleged fight took place at a Denny’s early Sunday.

“Of all the places to get into trouble in Los Angeles at 3 in the morning,” wrote Ron Rapoport of the Chicago Sun-Times, “the Denny’s in Westwood would not be at the top of my list.”

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Trivia time: Manning, a third-round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2003, came to UCLA from what high school?

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Taking it to the house: Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times on the investigation involving the San Diego-area home where Reggie Bush’s family lived: “Bush backers say it’s nothing more than a hard-nosed running back trying to gain an extra yard.”

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Logical explanation: On Monday, Steve Hartman of radio station 570 raised the question, “Is Kobe Bryant afraid of Steve Nash?” He asked listeners to vote yes or no.

The next day, Bryant was a surprise guest of Hartman’s -- whom Bryant calls “The Bandwagon Guy” -- and “Loose Cannon” partners Mychal Thompson and Vic “The Brick” Jacobs. Hartman told Bryant he had raised the question and the vote was 8-7 in favor of his being afraid of Nash.

“Must have been Clipper fans,” Bryant said.

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Attention, Jack Nicholson: The Clippers’ Vladimir Radmanovic, acquired in a trade with the Seattle SuperSonics on Feb. 14, lists “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” as his favorite movie.

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Mocking mock draft: David Thomas of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram offers a different type of NFL mock draft.

Of Detroit’s ninth pick, Thomas writes, “In the draft’s first real surprise pick, Matt Millen chooses Ohio State receiver Santonio Holmes -- the Lions’ fourth consecutive year to draft a receiver in the first round.

“ESPN shows some hustle when it gets this reaction from New York Knick President Isiah Thomas: ‘I think this proves I’m not the worst executive in sports.’ ”

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More from Thomas: “The NFL draft is moving to Radio City Music Hall, the home of the Rockettes. Should we expect a draft-day run on kickers?

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Looking back: On this day in 1956, Rocky Marciano retired as the undefeated heavyweight boxing champion. He finished with a record of 49-0, which included six title defenses and 43 knockouts.

One day before his 46th birthday, on Aug. 31, 1969, Marciano died in a plane crash near Newton, Iowa. He was en route to a birthday party.

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Trivia time: Edison High in Fresno.

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And finally: Reggie Hayes of the Fort Wayne (Ind.) News-Sentinel, on Adam Morrison’s leaving Gonzaga a year early for the NBA: “His mustache, however, retains two years of junior high eligibility.”

Larry Stewart can be reached at [email protected].