You may have read that USC began...

You may have read that USC began offering fans the chance of endowing football positions three years ago. Several donors have contributed upwards of $250,000 each to cover, for perpetuity, the tuition, room, board and books for one slot on the team, i.e., offensive left tackle.

The benefactors are immortalized on plaques, though they have only limited influence. A donor can’t, for instance, tell the coach, “ That isn’t the guy I want endowed at quarterback.”

Anyway, the concept inspired Gary Stone, a senior majoring in accounting at USC: Why not an endowment for the Trojan horse? You know, the mascot--portrayed since 1961 by Travelers I through IV--that gallops around the Coliseum track during Trojan football games. No jokes about Mr. Ed attending class, please.

Stone, a second-generation Trojan, is serious about honoring the beast and relieving the university’s burden of paying its costs.

“Traveler is a great part of the Trojan tradition,” he said. “The endowment would cover his living expenses, as well as visits he makes to USC and other functions. It comes to about $3,000 a year.”

To raise funds, Stone has designed several photographic posters of Traveler IV, ridden by long-time jockey Richard Saukko. He is selling them for prices ranging from $10 to $165 (the latter autographed by Saukko) and so far he has peddled about a thousand posters.

Saukko retired as the horse’s rider this year, and, if Stone can find enough donors, he hopes to establish a second endowment.

“I’d like to start a fund to cover the tuition and expenses of the student who rides Traveler,” he said.

Ever feel like you’re headed nowhere in your jalopy? That sentiment is reinforced by one Caltrans sign on the in-bound Hollywood Freeway (see accompanying photo).

While the Los Angeles Kings performed impressively in their opening 4-2 win at the Forum before a near full house, the same couldn’t be said for Little Richard’s delivery of the Star Spangled Banner.

He drew nearly as many titters as Frank Sinatra did several years ago when the latter lost his voice midway through the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium. By the time Ol’ Blue Eyes hit “O’er” (as in “O’er the land of the free”), he sounded remarkably like the MGM lion.

Little Richard’s problem was not his voice but his interpretation of the lyrics. Among the lowlights were: “And the rocket’s red flame . . . .”

Good golly, Miss Molly.

On a more shrill note, can the Lawndale Whistler be silenced?

Her colleagues on the City Council are trying to do just that.

They’re angry because Councilwoman Carol Norman has taken to tooting a small whistle to signal when she wishes to speak at meetings, which are broadcast on cable television.

Norman has resorted to the device, she says, because a malfunctioning electronic light at her desk prevents her from signaling the mayor when she wishes to speak.

In retaliation, Councilman Larry Rudolph--a frequent rival of Norman--proposed at the meeting Thursday night that noisemakers be prohibited from the chamber. The measure was tentatively approved, 3 to 2, and will receive final consideration Oct. 19.

No sooner had the vote tally been announced than Norman said: “In that case. . . .”

She reached beneath her desk and pulled out a red firefighter’s helmet with a revolving red light on top and placed it on her head, drawing chuckles from the spectators.

“Now I’ve seen everything,” said Councilman Dan McKenzie. “The city should consider hiring baby-sitters for the council.”

Actually, McKenzie may not have seen everything.

Norman vowed that if the helmet--and the whistle--are banned from the chamber, she will signal her desire to speak by waving an American flag.

She’s confident the flag wouldn’t be banned.