No Lightning This Time When Reggie White Speaks

Driving to Rancho Mirage in the rain Tuesday, I wasn’t overjoyed with my assignment to hear Reggie White speak. I couldn’t imagine what else he had to say.

But as I approached Dinah Shore Drive, it dawned on me that I was as guilty of judging White as I believed he had been of judging homosexuals and various racial and ethnic groups in his controversial comments to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Jeff Walker, who organized the fund-raiser at the Westin Mission Hills Resort to benefit the Coachella Valley Oneighty youth outreach program, admitted to similar feelings after learning 17 days before that White would be available to speak.

Walker, to his credit, didn’t accept immediately.

As pastor of the Victory Christian Center in Rancho Mirage, he knows something about scorned believers. Among his congregation is Tammy Faye Messner, the former wife of Jim Bakker. But he needed to find out whether White was a gay-bashing, racist member of the lunatic fringe.

Through a friend who works closely with the Green Bay Packer defensive end’s ministry, Walker was assured that, to the contrary, he and White share many core values. According to Walker, they believe there is good in all people, and, while they don’t condone homosexuality, that includes homosexuals.

White proved to be a passionate speaker, certainly more articulate than he had been before the Wisconsin lawmakers, as he clearly moved a crowd of about 1,000, including Messner, with his message of Christian solidarity in defiance of gangs and drugs.

As for his previous comments, he didn’t apologize. But he did acknowledge that his words ran a misdirection play and came out a little different than he intended.

“The devil does his best to make you look bad when you preach the gospel--not only to look bad but to make you look dumb,” he said.

I get it now. The devil made him say it.

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USC’s senior administration issued a vote of confidence in April for Athletic Director Mike Garrett, which could mean only one thing. . . .

Garrett should start looking for a job when his one-year, rolling contract expires on July 1? . . .

No, in this case, it means the administration has confidence in Garrett despite the controversies surrounding the athletic department. . . .

“He’s doing what the trustees have asked him to do, and I’m happy with how he’s doing it,” John Argue, a member of the trustees’ executive board, said last week. . . .

It won’t be easy for Paul Caligiuri to replace injured Dan Calichman in the Galaxy defense. . . .

Caligiuri is resolving the personal difficulties that have plagued him this season, but the problem now is an ankle so sore that he might require a cortisone shot in order to play Sunday at Columbus. . . .

“The Rumble at the Races” on Saturday night at Los Alamitos features 12 races and six boxing matches. . . .

Coronado’s Quest is mean enough to compete in either. . . .

Coronado’s Quest is the meanest competitor since Tonya Harding. . . .

If I were owner Rick Pitino, I’d investigate further into that leg injury to Halory Hunter. . . .

A sport desperate for two-legged stars has found a willing one in Silver Charm/Real Quiet/Indian Charlie trainer Bob Baffert. . . .

Baffert returned from the East Coast for one day this week to film an “Arli$$” episode at Los Alamitos. . . .

Maybe he got some tips from the show’s other guest star, Phillie pitcher Curt Schilling. . . .

Baffert will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Camden Yards on Friday night. . . .

Jockey Gary Stevens, enjoying the East Coast so much that he’s going to ride there this summer and fall instead of Del Mar and Santa Anita, will be in the Oriole dugout before the game. . . .

If Bill Veeck were alive and running the Orioles, he’d send Stevens to the plate. . . .

If Veeck were running the Orioles, there’s no way he would have given a five-year, $32-million contract to a pitcher with a 5.46 earned-run average like Scott Erickson. . . .

But it’s a good indication for Oriole fans that owner Peter Angelos, who already has the highest payroll in baseball, doesn’t plan to downsize any time soon. . . .

Is there any reason to think he wouldn’t write $100 million in checks over the next seven years to Mike Piazza?

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While wondering who will bring George Steinbrenner his calzone now, I was thinking: That tight race for the Pacific Division title was like “Seinfeld” because it was about nothing, George Karl wouldn’t be a good coach for the Clippers because he cries so much already, not that there’s anything wrong with that.