LITTLE ROCK — Workout a real kick for woman

The NFL Combine was two weeks ago, but several hopeful players who weren’t invited to Indianapolis had another shot over the weekend at an NFL Regional Scouting Combine at the New York Jets’ training facility in Florham Park, N.J.

Somewhere amongst all the strapping young men was a true first-timer, kicker Lauren Silberman.

That’s right. Lauren.

Silberman became the first woman to try out for the NFL, but she aggravated a leg injury from last week and left the field early during kickoff drills Sunday at the Jets facility.

The 28-year-old New York City resident and former club soccer player from Wisconsin tried out as a place-kicker.

“I was not aware that I was the first female registrant,” Silberman told NFL.com on Tuesday. “I was actually hoping that the 2012 historical milestone rule, to allow women to play, would prompt more women to attend tryouts this year. But for me, what’s important is to finally have a chance to fulfill my dreams by trying out to play in the world’s most competitive football league.”

Silberman tried two kickoffs Sunday, the first going 19 yards and the second about 13 yards.

She then asked to see a trainer after injuring her quadriceps while more than two dozen media watched her every move. About 30 minutes later, while 36 other kickers continued their workouts, she called the scene “surreal.”

Silberman left the complex soon after that.

“I hope my willingness to put myself out there inspires others to participate as athletes at this level,” Silberman told USA Today.

Silberman, who earned a Master’s degree at MIT, wrote her thesis on how athletes can use video games to improve their on field performances and now runs a consulting firm called Double Play Media that helps athletes use video games for virtual training purposes.

Pineapple rings

Who has more NBA championship rings than Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant and isn’t Phil Jackson or Bill Russell?

Los Angeles food truck driver and former Los Angeles Lakers equipment manager Rudy Garciduenas.

Garciduenas, who was laid off in June 2011 after 26 years along with nearly 20 other longtime employees, has seven NBA championship rings - one more than Michael Jordan, two more than Kobe Bryant - yet he never wears one to work.

“I’d rather not end up with teriyaki sauce all over them,” Garciduenas told Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times.

Garciduenas is now a partner in Sam Choy’s Pineapple Express.

According to Plascke, Garciduenas, 50, drives the truck, takes the orders and generally manages a business that is about as far as he can get from his former profession.

What exactly did he do for the Lakers? Nearly everything, according to Plaschke.

“I guess I was part camp counselor, part parent,” Garciduenas said.

Garciduenas was the guy in charge of Shaquille O’Neal’s size-23 shoes, one of which he would occasionally wear on his head, and was the guy responsible for buying and transporting the special high chair that Phil Jackson required on the bench. He also was the guy who covered up Robert Horry when a broken drawstring dropped his pants to his knees in Sacramento, along with all the other random things equipment managers deal with on a daily basis.

Now, according to his truck anyway, he offers “More hula for your moolah.”

“We all love Rudy, all of us,” Lakers spokesman John Black said.

“You can’t find a single person who doesn’t love the guy.”

Quote of the day

“I wish I knew what sparked our offense because I’d put it in a can and I’d bust it open every game.” Arkansas women’s basketball Coach Tom Collen on his team’s 93-52 victory over Ole Miss on Sunday at Walton Arena in Fayetteville

Sports, Pages 18 on 03/04/2013