Old Days, Old Venues Had a Bit More Color

Maybe it’s the upcoming holidays causing this wave of nostalgia.

Or maybe it’s the Laker winning streak, evoking memories of Magic and Kareem or, for those of an earlier vintage, Wilt, Elgin and Jerry.

At John Robinson’s weekly news conference Tuesday, he spoke of a better day in the USC-UCLA rivalry. What he meant, he explained half-jokingly, was a day when it was the Trojans who had the chance to go to the Rose Bowl with a win.

Beyond that, he said, he misses the games when both teams were allowed to wear home jerseys.

“I remember it when it was cardinal and blue,” he said. “That made it the most unique game in the country.”

Sartorially speaking, it became just another rivalry when the NCAA dictated several years ago that visiting teams must wear white to avoid confusion on the field.

Robinson said there has been discussion about an exception for teams with vastly different colors. He’s for it.

“The blue and red thing, I always loved that part of the game,” he said.

My next stop Tuesday was at the Grand Olympic Auditorium for a news conference regarding tonight’s super-featherweight fight.

Entering the Olympic, you can’t help but feel you’ve stepped back into an era long since passed. I half expected the Golden Boy of the ‘40s and ‘50s, Art Aragon, to emerge from the shadows.

This fight matches a couple of local favorites, Genaro Hernandez and Carlos Hernandez.

Close your eyes and it could be Mando Ramos vs. Ultimo Sugar Ramos, a fight that stood out even at a time when all Thursday night main events were billed as the War of the Week.

Todd duBoef, a vice president for promoter Top Rank, said he would like to see that atmosphere return to the Olympic, dark and electric at the same time.

But he couldn’t promise that beer would rain down from the balcony onto spectators in the expensive seats.

“Security has improved,” he said.

At least the corners are still blue and red.

*

If Fred Claire’s plan is to bring back about the same team the Dodgers had last season, congratulations are in order. . . .

I suspect he’ll be receiving a note to that effect soon from Dusty Baker. . . .

Perhaps Claire has no other choice because of budget concerns, although there is skepticism about their reported losses. . . .

Comedian Garry Shandling tells USA Today, “They must have the same accountant who maintains ‘Forrest Gump’ still hasn’t made a dime.” . . .

All I know for sure is that the Dodgers stopped shopping for Pedro Martinez and Jay Bell when they saw the price tags. . . .

I suspect the same thing has happened with Brady Anderson and Kenny Lofton. . . .

Maybe Vin Scully will give us his take when he’s honored tonight by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. . . .

I wouldn’t dream of criticizing Dominguez High’s Tayshaun Prince for signing with a basketball mecca like Kentucky. . . .

But if he never considered UCLA, as he contended Wednesday, he shouldn’t have wasted the university’s time by taking an official visit. . . .

The Rose Bowl and L.A. Sports Council deserve credit for bringing the 1999 Women’s World Cup final to Pasadena. . . .

But why weren’t more games awarded to the Rose Bowl? . . .

“We had to be somewhat Solomonic,” said Alan Rothenberg, the organizing committee’s chairman of the board, protecting the feelings of the other seven sites. . . .

Lennox Lewis complained to Keenen Ivory Wayans on Wednesday night that Evander Holyfield won his titles by fighting cruiserweights. . . .

If Lewis is so loyal to heavyweights, why isn’t he demanding a fight with George Foreman? . . .

Not that Foreman cares. . . .

Training for Saturday night’s fight against Shannon Briggs, Foreman says he has remained in the sport solely for the money. . . .

“That’s why it’s called prizefighting,” he says. . . .

He says he plans to retire before his 50th birthday in January 1999 and devote most of his time--and money--to his Houston youth center. . . .

CBS’ popular Saturday night show, “Early Edition,” revolves around a concussion-prone quarterback who is trying to lead the Chicago Bears to victory. . . .

I can’t tell you how it turns out, but I can tell you the show’s executive producer, Jeff Melvoin, grew up in Chicago as a Bear and Cub fan. . . .

I’m not sure even Melvoin can help the Cubs. . . .

*

While wondering where Tonya Harding was when Michelle Kwan was injured, I was thinking: I’ll take UCLA over USC, Michigan over Ohio State, Green Bay over Dallas and, because I’m Solomonic, Hernandez over Hernandez.