Mental Notes on Quotes and Resolutions

So much to say, so little space. . . .

Whatever. Today, I turn once again to the time-honored tradition of the three-dot column, the classic form for sundry news bits and observations mastered by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Herb Caen, gossip queen Liz Smith and The Times’ Allan Malamud, to name afew. . . .

They do it because, well, that’s what they do. I do it because, well . . .

So little to say, so much space. . . .

But here, perhaps, is a place to leave a few mental notes that are now yellowing amid the gray matter. Now that it’s Jan. 14, what am I supposed to do with those half-baked column ideas, one looking back on 1995, the other concerning my new year’s resolutions for ’96. Do two half-baked ideas create a fully baked column? . . .

I was thinking of noting The Most Overlooked Quotes of ’95. . . .

A favorite is Colin Powell on the acquittal of O. J. Simpson. Powell was pondering a run for the presidency at the time and being touted as a candidate “who could heal America’s racial divisions.” Pundits across the land complained that Powell was conspicuously silent on the Simpson verdict. . . .

Not true. The Times’ Bob Sipchen was following Powell on his book tour the day Simpson was freed. . . .

When Sipchen sought Powell’s perception on the political impact of the verdict, the retired general quoted the advice of 19th-century military strategist Karl von Clausewitz: “Beware the vividness of transient events.” . . .

“This is a very vivid event,” Powell said, “but it is a transient event. So I would say let’s all take a deep breath and relax. . . . I would not start writing off harmony between blacks and whites. . . .

“The one thing that none of us can escape, whether we are on the right, left, middle, top or bottom, black, white, brown, green or yellow, is that we’re all living in this one country together. . . . We are blessed with each other--stuck with each other. We had better figure out how to get along with each other. . . .

“Obviously, there is more disappointment with the verdict in the white community than the black community. But I don’t know that that really translates into anything politically.” . . .

The kicker came when Sipchen asked Powell an excellent question: Could he bring himself to shake Simpson’s hand? Powell, Sipchen reported, maintained calm eye contact and said: “If I were to see O. J. Simpson and he extended his hand to me, I would shake his hand. He has been found not guilty, he has been found innocent of the charges against him. He is now a free citizen of this country.” . . .

Careful not to sensationalize, Sipchen tucked that tidbit deep in his story, which ran in the Life & Style section. Still, I was stunned that this story--”Powell: I’d Shake O. J.’s Hand”--made nary a blip on the nation’s media radar. . . .

So that was one overlooked quote. I’m sure there were others, but I overlooked them. . . .

Another half-baked idea concerned new year’s resolutions. Unable to make good on my own, I was thinking about suggesting a few for other folks. For instance . . .

I, recovering junk bond king/felon Michael Milken, resolve to recommend that Milken Community High School be renamed for a more apt role model, such as Yitzhak Rabin. . . .

I, Supervisor Michael Antonovich, resolve to never again accuse people of filing “frivolous” lawsuits after I perform unethical political favors to their detriment. . . .

I, Michael Eisner, resolve not to take over the world. . . .

But enough about guys named Mike. . . .

Allow a few words about a guy named Jack. . . .

Nearly three years ago, when I told Mom I was going to start writing a column, her first words were: “You mean like Jack Smith?!” . . .

Well, sort of. But how could I tell Mom her son just isn’t that nice a guy? . . .

A couple of years back, Jack wrote about attending a Dodger game as a guest of Peter O’Malley. He described how he suggested to O’Malley that the Dodgers would be better off without the services of a certain player, whom Jack graciously declined to identify in print. That year, I began one column this way: DARRR-YLLL, DARRR-YLLL. . .

My mother adored Jack Smith. She’d read his musings over her morning coffee and smile, like so many readers during the 40-odd years that Jack wrote his column. I didn’t know Jack well, but I know how deeply he’ll be missed. . . .

Only now I have a chance to become Mom’s favorite writer.

Scott Harris’ column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Readers may write to Harris at the Times Valley Edition, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Please include a phone number.

But here, perhaps, is a place to leave a few mental notes that are now yellowing amid the gray matter.