Showing He’s Really on the Ball When It Comes to a Good Cause

Yes, that was me standing beside the World’s Largest Baseball in the parking lot of San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium before Sunday’s Padres-Expos game.

In my best carnival barker tones, I was urging/begging people to spend $1 to sign the vinyl-covered ball to “send underprivileged children to camp” (through the Times Summer Camp Fund).

The big ball--12-foot tall, 2,500 pounds--does double duty: as a fund-raising device for the camp fund, and a centerpiece for the Upper-Deck All-Star FanFest.

The latter is the movable baseball fair (cards, memorabilia, videos, demonstrations, autographs and more) that runs July 10-14 at the Convention Center.

One father said his son preferred not to sign: “He prefers spray paint.” The father wasn’t kidding.

A man from North Park signed and then told me, apropos of nothing, that on the Fourth of July he had bought a bad watermelon but his local supermarket had readily given him a refund. I told him I was glad.

Three kids from Palisades Presbyterian Church in Allied Gardens struck a bargain: If we’d buy some of their candy (they’re raising money for a church trip to Colorado), they’d spring to sign the ball. Done.

An orange-wigged woman in a clown costume (Pinch Hit Pepper) said she’d sign. “Are you serious or are you clowning?” I asked.

Three Little Leaguers from Coronado declined to sign and instead harangued about being underprivileged themselves and thus deserving of a freebie. I stifled the impulse to say something uncharitable.

Few people over the age of 50 signed. Must be something about belonging to a pre-graffiti generation.

Families with kids and groups of college-age individuals were our best bets. One collegiate wore a T-shirt that said “I Drink To Make Other People Interesting.”

One young woman was carrying the book “Prodigal Son,” by ballet maestro Edward Villella.

She was afraid it might get stolen if she left it in her car. I put down a note to ask police if thefts of ballet books are a problem in the parking lot.

I varied my pitches. A couple of times I mentioned that the ball would be seen by President Bush at next Tuesday’s All-Star game.

I think that cost me a couple of sales.

Just a Taste of the News

Eat, drink and do something.

* Now that’s an upscale place!

The marquee outside The Rage nightspot across from the San Diego Sports Arena advertises “$100 drinks.”

* What will Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent and other VIPs be eating at the commissioner’s (very private) party in Balboa Park before the All-Star Game?

Fish tacos from Rubios, naturally. (Just like the ones sold at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.)

* Look for a (food) fight today at the City Council over the Convention Center board of directors’ decision to renew the center’s food contract with Food Services Inc. without competitive bidding.

The major player at La Jolla-based Food Services Inc. is former Padres President Ballard Smith.

* From soup to cars.

The Police Department is looking to rent a vacant lot at 13th and Broadway near the police headquarters to provide an employee parking lot (at a fee of $30 per month per employee).

But cops and other PD employees will have to share.

Their cars will have to be gone by 5:30 p.m. That’s when the lot is used as a soup kitchen for the homeless.

An Example of Streets Smarts

Business is brisk.

* How brazen are hookers on El Cajon Boulevard?

A well-known pay-for-play lady was beginning to conduct business with an undercover vice squad cop.

Along comes a uniformed cop, who doesn’t recognize the undercover cop.

The uniform asks her what’s she doing. She makes up a story: talking about politics or something.

The undercover gives the uniform the (silent) high-sign that he’s cop. The uniform leaves.

Our street-corner businesswoman, having just narrowly escaped being arrested, blithely continues her talk with the undercover cop, citing prices and services.

He arrests her.

* There is the recession and then there is golf.

The Stardust Country Club driving range in Mission Valley just added seven more tees, bringing to 40 the number of launching pads.

“We’re busy,” explains the manager.