Life Can Be Enriched By No-Lose Situations

Bobby Goldwater, general manager of the new Staples Center, is a native New Yorker but adapts quickly. He didn’t have to be told twice about the controversy over steamed Dodger Dogs to know that you don’t mess with cuisine indigenous to the region. . . .

So the Whistle Stop roast beef sandwiches so popular at the Great Western Forum were added to the fare available at the downtown arena, which opens Sunday night with a Bruce Springsteen concert. . . .

The suite-level lounges in the Staples Center have been named the Buss Stop and Cooke’s Corner for, of course, Jerry Buss and Jack Kent Cooke. . . .

That was arena President Tim Leiweke’s idea. . . .

Leiweke, also president of the Kings and Galaxy, could have been the replacement for Bob Graziano as president of the Dodgers, but he’s not looking to leave Phil Anschutz’s empire. . . .

Why would he? Anschutz is one of the nation’s richest men, which is no wonder considering his attraction to no-lose propositions. On Sunday at the Rose Bowl, the Galaxy, one team he owns, plays in the first game of the MLS playoffs against the Colorado Rapids, another team he owns.

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The best trade the Yankees never made was the one much discussed last winter that would have sent Andy Pettitte to the Angels for Jim Edmonds. . . .

The Yankees were interested because they believed they were going to lose Bernie Williams as a free agent. . . .

Besides “the Curse of the Bambino,” Jeff Melvoin, executive producer of “Early Edition,” points out that Red Sox are also haunted by the ex-Cub factor. . . .

It was former Cub Bill Buckner’s error that cost the Red Sox the 1986 World Series, and it was former Cub Rod Beck who gave up Williams’ game-winning home run Wednesday night. . . .

“I was born in Boston and raised in Chicago,” Melvoin says. “So, baseball-wise, I’ve had the worst of both worlds.” . . .

But did you notice that bare-handed stab of a screaming foul by Yankee first-base coach Jose Cardenal? He’s a former Cub. . . .

Of course, the reason he’s still famous in Chicago is for once claiming he misplayed a fly ball because his eyelashes stuck together. . . .

Don Baylor likes the Cubs more and more every day. He will take their managerial job if they offer it because he’s not sure when his first choice, the Angels, are going to make a decision. . . .

Seth Swirsky will sign copies of his new book of letters, “Every Pitcher Tells a Story,” on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Brentano’s in Century City. . . .

The first letter is from Carl Pavano, who gave up Mark McGwire’s 70th home run in 1998. Swirsky says he wrote Pavano four times before he responded. . . .

“Most pitchers who gave up a famous home run aren’t proud of the fact,” Swirsky says. . . .

Swirsky, who also wrote “Baseball Letters,” is now working on a book of letters from famous personalities outside of sports. . . .

He has a letter from Neil Armstrong to a fan that says, “I don’t want to see your moon rocks. I lived the experience.”

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On Shaquille O’Neal’s summer sojourn to Phil Jackson’s Montana home, they discussed Wilt Chamberlain. . . .

Jackson, according to USA Today, pointed out to him that Chamberlain won seven scoring titles and no championships in his first seven NBA seasons. In his eighth, his scoring average decreased from 33.5 points to 24.1, his assists average increased from 5.2 to 7.8 and his Philadelphia 76ers won the title. . . .

If he wins the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap on Saturday at Santa Anita, General Challenge will rejoin a wide-open horse-of-the-year campaign. . . .

The knock on him back East is that he’s strictly a California horse, having won six of seven in state and losing both times he ventured out. . . .

But trainer Bob Baffert appreciates him. . . .

“He keeps my hair white,” Baffert says. . . .

As opposed to gray. . . .

Did you see those comments out of Arizona this week about USC’s arrogance? . . .

Here’s the problem for Trojan coaches: To opponents, USC is still USC. But to most recruits, USC has become just another school. The name still gets Trojan coaches in the door, but that’s it. Look around and you’ll see other former college football superpowers struggling with the same problem. Such as Notre Dame.

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While wondering if Las Vegas would prohibit gambling on NBA games in order to get a team to move there, I was thinking: Sure, and USC will rush for minus yardage in a game, the Lakers will sign Benoit Benjamin, the Rams will beat the 49ers and John McEnroe will become the U.S. Davis Cup captain.

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Randy Harvey can be reached at his e-mail address: randy.harvey@latimes.com.