Yacht Keels Are a Lucrative Business for Underwater Spies

Athletic things.

* Clandestine free-lancers are offering underwater video coverage of rival keels to America’s Cup skippers.

Business is said to be brisk and lucrative.

* How enthusiastic are the Japanese about their first-ever America’s Cup entry?

A Japanese traveler arrived late last Friday from Tokyo: having jetted to San Diego (via Los Angeles) for the weekend, solely to watch the Nippon Challenge.

She was despondent on Saturday when foul weather washed out the race viewing but exultant on Sunday when Nippon beat the French.

(For the record: It’s a 23-hour round trip between Tokyo and L.A.)

* It’s common for promoters of sporting events to send reporters a press release and a promo T-shirt.

The promoters of the American Gladiators bash next Monday at the Sports Arena (7:30 p.m.) are trying something new.

Reporters are each getting a press release and a red-white-and-blue American Gladiators jockstrap.

* The Padres are looking for a mascot/tubthumper/cheerleader to lead cheers and generally whoop (or pacify) the crowd. The Old Globe Theatre, where the people know a thing or two about choosing people to play roles, will help with auditions.

* Spotted at the Pannikin restaurant in Encinitas: Chargers GM Bobby Beathard, wearing a jacket from the Washington Redskins, his former employer.

Long-suffering Charger fans at the Pannikin were unamused.

Beathard says he mistakenly grabbed the Redskins’ jacket from his garage before bicycling from his home in Leucadia. He swears it won’t happen again:

“I’m a 100% Charger now.”

* For each of his fights, Terry Norris has had his head shaved with a message. Sometimes his nickname (“Terrible”), sometimes something else intimidating.

And what message will the back of his head be bearing Saturday night when he defends his World Boxing Council title vs. Carl Daniels at the Sports Arena?

Strictly local: “San Diego.”

How the Game Changes

That was then. This is now.

So far, Supervisor Susan Golding has not responded to Peter Navarro’s challenge for all mayoral candidates to release their income tax returns for the past three years so reporters can check for conflicts of interest.

Navarro and Tom Carter have released their returns, and Councilman Ron Roberts is prepared to release his returns as soon as Golding releases hers (he also wants to up the ante to five years’ worth of returns).

Golding’s consultant, Tom Shepard, said she will have no problem releasing her personal returns, but only after the March 5 filing deadline for candidates and presuming all other candidates do likewise.

As for whether she will release any financial information about her soon-to-be-ex-husband Dick Silberman, Shepard said he is not prepared to say.

Of course, any information about Silberman and his money just helps refresh the public’s memory that he is in federal prison for money-laundering.

But if Golding wants to stay consistent with past campaigns, she may find it difficult to keep from releasing at least some information about Silberman (even if they filed separately).

In her 1984 race for supervisor, Golding released her personal returns and pounded opponent Lynn Schenk for not following suit for herself and her husband.

In a campaign brochure in that bruising campaign, Golding accused Schenk of “hiding her record”:

“Susan Golding voluntarily released her personal income tax returns to the news media. Lynn Schenk refused to.

“And she refuses to release any income data on her own husband--including which big developers with business before the county his law firm may represent. The press says she’ll tell us AFTER she’s elected.”

Making Statements

On the record.

* License plate on an Isuzu in Mira Mesa: “I H8 PMS.”

With a license plate holder: “95% sweetheart. 5% possessed.”

* Former Assemblyman Jeff Marston (R-San Diego) makes it official today: He’s a candidate in the 78th Assembly District, where the incumbent is Dede Alpert (D-Solana Beach).