Russians Arrive Kicking and Boxing for ‘Free Sparring’ Championships

The Russians are here again--this time, 177 Vladivostokians who are part of the San Diego-Vladivostok Sister City thing.

I know what you’re thinking: What’s a sister-city visit without some no-holds-barred martial arts?

Stand fast. Now that the Cold War is over, we can finally get down to some real combat, or as our Russian friends would have it, draka , which translates to “In which eye would you prefer my thumb?”

At Gold’s Gym near San Diego State University, 10 Russian “free sparring” athletes are practicing for bouts Friday night at the Convention Center.

It’s a new sport on the international scene: a furious mix of boxing, kicking (everywhere but the groin and back of the head), and wrestling takedowns.

The Russians will compete against Americans being trained by Benny (The Jet) Urquidez, five-time world kick-boxing champion from Los Angeles.

The Jet says the name “free sparring” may be new, but the attitude is old.

“It’s just like fighting in the streets: there are no rules,” he said. “You use everything you got.”

The Russians have been competing in tournaments in Europe and China for several years, but Benny (The Jet) is not cowed: “We have a few surprises for them.”

The Russian free-sparring boss is Igor Ezov, president of the Free-Sparring League of the (ex) Soviet Union. It’s a private venture--there is no government free-sparring academy--and Ezov is part jock, part businessman.

Friday’s match is billed as the first-ever match sanctioned by the new Russian-American International Professional Free-Sparring Federation. Winners in five weight classes will be crowned as world champions.

Think of it: Today San Diego; tomorrow maybe the world (or better yet, ESPN and the Olympic Games).

As Ezov tells it, via translation, the speed and “vividness” of free sparring (five two-minute rounds) makes other sports seem slow-motion and clumsy.

“You have to be an excellent wrestler, excellent footwork and excellent hand and arm coordination,” Ezov said, “and most of all, you have to work with your head.”

Did I tell you that Ezov is also a bit of a promoter?

Peanuts! Fish Tacos! Moths!

The truth within.

* The pest eradicators are at work at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium to wipe out the latest infestation.

If they’re successful, there won’t be a repeat of the weird scene that occurred at a Padres-Reds game last week in which a fan stood up and began grabbing and eating the moth-like bugs.

Whole handfuls. Causing a commotion.

When security guards moved to oust the fellow, a chant went up, “Let Him Eat Moths! Let Him Eat Moths!” Which the guards did, to the crowd’s delight.

* San Diegans who rallied to defeat the SDG&E-Edison; merger plan a reunion May 8, the first anniversary of the Public Utilities Commission rejection.

* A San Diego federal judge scolded an attorney in a bankruptcy case for making a Robert Alton Harris joke.

* Spotted at Croce’s restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter: Actor Joe Don Baker (“Walking Tall”).

* Best Pal, the Ramona horse wowing the thoroughbred circuit (four straight victories this year), is now running for Ramona mascot.

Other candidates: Little Joe (a camel), three dogs (Ringo, Potumas and Pal), Stormy the Wonder Sheep, and Rootin’ Tootin’ Tyler (a pot-bellied pig).

Votes are $1 each; the winner will be announced at the Ramona Country Fair in August.

* North County bumper sticker: “Warning: I Am Wearing No Socks and Matching Underwear.”

* In the works: A segment on TV’s “America’s Most Wanted” about the London Underground store in the Fashion Valley mall and the flap over its sale of Crime Inc. clothing modeled after street-gang attire.

* Phyllis Diller will headline a fund-raiser May 8 for the North Coast Repertory Theatre.

She’ll discuss her looks: “My plastic surgeon told me my face looked like a bouquet of elbows.”

A Television Nation

Parenting by remote control.

After hearing his 4 1/2-year-old son, Ari, singing a Sesame Street version of “Born in the USA,” Steve Gaffen of University City decided to make an inquiry.

“Do you know what the USA is?” he asked.

“Sure,” his son answered, “a television channel.”