MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING

How about that Kobe Bryant? The man who would be Heir Jordan has suddenly turned into a team player, leading the Lakers’ to a 3-1 margin in their playoffs with the Phoenix Suns and a projected second-round match-up against the Clippers in what promises to be a fult-tilt boogie at the Staples Center. Simply amazing…

It wasn’t quite as good a day for USC at the annual NFL draft, as Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush dropped to #2 amid allegations of financial improprieties and QB Matt Leinart fell to tenth in the always-riveting specacle, leading a group of Trojans like Winston Justice and LenDale White, whose stock inexplicably plummeted as the cattle call of collegiate stars continued all day on ESPN.

The American public seemed to opt for escape over reality, no surprise there, as the critically panned Robin Williams National Lampoon rip-off RV, topped the torn-from-yesterday’s-headlines United 93 at the weekend box office, earning $16.4 million to the latter’s $11.6 million.

Look for Godsmack IV to top this week’s HITS album chart as the Boston rockers head a group of three newcomers in the top three positions, with WB’s Taking Back Sunday and Columbia’s Bruce Springsteen also debuting. Look for Godsmack to sell around 215-220k, TBS to do in the 150-160k range and the Boss to bow with 130-140k for his Pete Seeger tribute, We Shall Overcome.

Kanye West’s appearance at last weekend’s Coachella seemed to cause the biggest excitement, with the L.A. Times’ Richard Cromelin particularly enthusiastic about the rapper’s appearance, as well as touting Aussie rockers Wolfmother and Franz Ferdinand here, while staffer Chris Lee noted the ubiquitous presence of branding at the festival here. Industry kvetch Bob Lefsetz offered his own predictable grousing in his e-mail blast. Madonna performed six songs in 40 minutes, emerging from a disco ball with “Hung Up,” asked the audience to stop throwing water in her face, played guitar and requested them to check out her tush here and here.

The performances of Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan enlivened the 37^th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, as described by the L.A. Times’ Randy Lewis here. Meanwhile, new L.A. Times pop music critic Ann Powers made her debut in Sunday’s Calendar with a mostly fawning piece on her own hometown band Pearl Jam, the most popular export from Seattle since mocha frappuccino, here…

The N.Y. Post’s Page Six reported that Lindsay Lohan surprised new pal, director Brett Ratner, at home while he was in bed with his gal pal, super-model Alina Puscau, precipitating a cat fight, but that all was forgiven a few days later when she showed up for a Victoria’s Secret party at the filmmaker’s home. Hey, where was our invite?

Lotsa chatter over Neil Young’s new anti-Bush album, Living with War, which he is streaming for free on his www.neilyoung.com website. Young insists you listen to the whole thing through, rather than just singling out the controversial centerpiece of the album, “Impeach the President.” Warner Bros. is apparently scrambling to release it by next week.

And how about last night’s Sopranos episode? The interplay between Tony and his son was almost too Freudian to be believed, while Vito’s anger at his own homosexuality reached heights of pathos rarely seen anywhere, let alone TV. Unreal.

On This Day:

In 1966: The Beatles played their last ever show for a paying audience in Britain at the NME Poll Winner’s Party.

In 1967: Elvis Presley married Priscilla Beaulieu at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas.

In 1969: Jimi Hendrix was busted for narcotics possession at a Toronto Airport. He was released on $10k bail.

In 1969: Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash taped a special to appear on ABC, playing Dylan's "I Threw It All Away," "Living the Blues" and "Girl From the North Country."

In 1975: The Rolling Stones announced their tour of America by playing “Brown Sugar” on the back of a flatbed truck driving down New York’s Fifth Avenue.

In 1977: The Clash began their first-ever tour of England at London’s Roxy.

In 1979: Elton John became the first Western rock star to perform in Israel.

In 1993: Supermodel Naomi Campbell announced her engagement to U2 bassist Adam Clayton. They never married.

In 2000: Neil Young was sued for $1.8 million by Jimmy McDonough, who claimed Young tried to block an authorized biography he had spent several years writing. Shakey was eventually published.

In 2005: Nine Inch Nails closed the Coachella Festival in California. Other performances during the day included New Order, The Bravery and Mos Def.