You never know when this guy’s within...

You never know when this guy’s within spitting distance: When Harbor City native David O’Dell defends his world tobacco-spitting title in Calico Ghost Town next month, he’ll be aiming (so to speak) to break the 50-foot barrier. That would be an accomplishment as momentous in his sport as the first sub-4-minute mile was in track and field.

The sad thing is that O’Dell, a nephew of Roy Rogers, might have surpassed the milestone last year but for the interference of a British television crew.

When O’Dell prepared to eject his half-inch wad of tobacco on that occasion, the crew crept onto the edge of the target range, known as the runway.

“The runway was 50 feet long,” said Don Tucker, a spokesman for the annual event, set for April 7-8 in the 114-year-old frontier town near Barstow. “On David’s first qualifying spit, he hit the cameraman right between the eyes. It went over 50 feet but it didn’t count.” (That’s the media--always getting in the way.)

On an ensuing try, O’Dell did propel his chaw 49 feet, 5 inches, which was still good enough to land him in the Guinness Book of World Records. And he didn’t get any help from the elements.

“It was a still day,” Tucker said. “There was no wind.”

*

We beg your pardon!Luis Campos of North Hollywood writes, “Hey, I know it’s the ‘90s and sex sells but. . . . .” He was shocked (shocked!) to see a department store advertisement that said, “Buy any sweater--get any skirt 1/2 off.”

*

Bi-coastal custody dispute: While El Segundo is attacking L.A. with billboard insults, the once-laid-back City of Angels is questioning New York’s qualifications to host the Grammys.

The Big Apple and the Big Orange are supposed to alternate staging the event, but after this year’s show in L.A., Mayor Richard Riordan boldly made a bid for the 1996 Grammys.

Riordan contended that Rudy Giuliani, his counterpart in New York, “thinks all great singing ended with Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald and has never heard of Guns N’ Roses or Sheryl Crow,” the Hollywood Reporter said.

John Dyson, New York’s deputy mayor, told that city’s Daily News that the Grammys belong in New York because it’s “still the arts capital of the world.” And, he added: “I have never heard the mayor hum Nelson Eddy.”

Maybe the two cities should compromise and send the 1996 Grammys to El Segundo.

*

A corner to treasure: Former Orange County Treasurer Robert Citron may have a bad reputation in Orange County, but Daniel Sosa found a locale in Pomona that honors the controversial investor.

*

Searching for Mr. Lite? We noticed a personal ad the other day in which a woman sought a “blond, tan Kato Kaelin-type.” She didn’t say whether he had to be employed.

miscelLAny Competitor magazine reports that entrants in the recent San Francisco Zoo Run, won by Tyrus Deminter of L.A., were “steered clear of the giraffe yard” because organizers “were so worried about Newt Gingrich’s pronouncement . . . that men are ‘biologically driven to hunt giraffes.’ They didn’t want some duly inspired yahoo to veer off course in pursuit of neck meat.”