IN BRIEF : Love Life Aside, Town Loves Garvey

Despite negative publicity from reports that two women claim he made them pregnant, Steve Garvey still is loved in Lindsay, the town where they named a school after him.

The former All-Star first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres didn’t try to duck the controversy surrounding him when he talked to students at Garvey Junior High School. The students, who met with Garvey in small groups, asked about the allegations the women made, and he said later that he did his best to answer their questions without ducking the issue.

“I told them that sometimes you will have problems,” Garvey said. “And when you do, you have to be very honest and straightforward in taking responsibility for your actions.”