I'm savoring the irony that as one of the most ambivalent, least sports-literate person in the media, I have the juiciest story of the day:

UPDATED: Since appearing here and on our web site just before 5:30 p.m. this story has shot all over the place. Always oddly thrilling.

USC in talks to begin ‘08 season at Rose Bowl

By Kenneth Todd Ruiz
Staff Writer

PASADENA — USC is seeking a two-year agreement to bring Trojan football to the Rose Bowl next year, stadium officials confirmed Tuesday.
USC’s frustration with the Coliseum Commission has led to recent talks about bringing the team to Pasadena which will culminate early next month at a meeting of the Rose Bowl Operating Company, according to USC Senior Vice President for Administration Todd Dickey.
“Although we have been a faithful tenant of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for 80 years, we must now seek other alternatives for the good of our football program and our fans,” Dickey said.
Rose Bowl management isn’t ready to count Trojan ticket sales before they’ve hatched, however.
“It’s unfortunate that the Coliseum Commission and USC are evidently at an impasse, and we recognize the goal of both parties to work things out,” said Rose Bowl stadium General Manager Darryl Dunn. “We think it’s likely they’ll be able to resolve their differences.”
Any Trojan incursion into the lair of the Bruins would depend on UCLA’s comfort with the plan.
“They’re our primary tenants,” Dunn said.

While the Coliseum hopes for a professional league future with the NFL, Trojan football has been unable to secure commitments for renovations at the complex and long-term guarantees.
Dickey denied the discussions have been a negotiating tactic with the Coliseum, and said he’s hopeful the Rose Bowl’s board will approve the deal when it meets Dec. 6.
Ultimately however, USC’s interest in the Rose Bowl is secondary to remaining in the Coliseum.
“We want our football program to stay at the Coliseum,” USC Director of Athletics Mike Garrett said in a written statement. “We’ll keep working to stay in the Coliseum, but until we have full support from the Coliseum Commission, we’re forced to pursue the option of playing in the Rose Bowl.”
Even if USC doesn’t want a divorce from the Grand Old Lady, a Trojan presence in the Rose Bowl would be a marriage of convenience.
For Pasadena’s part, USC would increase revenue for the cash-strapped stadium and could help bolster funding appeals for needed renovations.
Having flirted with an NFL alliance until last year, the octogenarian Rose Bowl shares the Coliseum’s fear of old age.
Renovation plans for the stadium are essentially stalled until funds are secured for improvements likely to cost $200 million to $300 million.

Posted by Todd at 5:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

So I overcame my misgivings and ventured into Fort Omega on Arroyo Parkway with Ms. Vanity to pick out a tasty looking wedge of overpriced cheese to serve up with my brother, who had hit town last week.

Upon freeing it from plastic-wrapped bondage I discovered the 10-day old store had sold me a sopping sponge of ammonia. Yum.

Posted by Todd at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A reader points out the goodwill on tap from our friends in Beijing:

On Wednesday evening, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied permission for the USS Kitty Hawk and its carrier battle group to make a four-day port call to Hong Kong for the Thanksgiving holiday. The 8,000 servicemen aboard the ships -- and the 290 families of crew members who had flown to Hong Kong to meet them -- were left with their Thanksgiving plans in tatters.

Posted by Todd at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

So Pasadena Fire intended to stage a good safety-scare this morning by showing how easily a christmas tree can go up in roiling flames -- but the thing wouldn't burn.

They even attached flares -- photographer Walt Mancini says -- which failed to ignite the tree.

With news cameras rolling, their solution to pull this made-for-t.v. stunt "out of the fire?"

Throw cups of gasoline on it!

Posted by Todd at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)