He Really Hates to Say He Told You So, but ...

As a longtime admirer of the Trojans, I’m not surprised, of course, that we won.

If Paul Hackett could beat the Bruins the last two years, I saw no reason why Pete Carroll couldn’t do the same thing, especially in our own home stadium.

Now it might have looked as if I was a little nervous earlier this season, maybe even appearing at times as if I was backing away from the Trojans. But I believe my repeated--although unreturned--calls to Athletic Director Mike Garrett to donate to the athletic program say something.

For the record, the newspaper would frown on a sportswriter attaching a USC flag to his car, so you know they aren’t going to approve an expense report with one listed. They probably aren’t happy I was forced to take a Bruin blanket the other day, and now neither am I.

And to be honest, I don’t know how they will react to an expense report listing a considerable donation to the Cardinal and Gold Club--because I haven’t been able to get through to Garrett.

In fact, speaking of Garrett, I was kind of hoping the Trojan faithful would carry him off the field Saturday, but that’s a subject for another time....

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SOME PEOPLE only hear what they want, of course, and within seconds of our complete destruction of those BCS dropouts from UCLA, I received a few e-mails from fellow Trojan supporters who claimed they heard me say something really outrageous on “The SIMERS Show” on Fox recently.

I have a feeling they have me mixed up with host Todd Donoho, who is always saying outrageous things, but I must admit, under the pressure of sweeps month and the demand for better ratings, a lot of crazy things are said on TV.

“Hey dummy, you said USC wouldn’t win its final three games,” said TrojanLR in an e-mail. I forwarded it to Donoho.

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THE IMPORTANT thing is we are all behind the Trojans now, rolling toward Las Vegas, and wouldn’t it be nice if Garrett invites UNLV Coach John Robinson to join us in his box for the bowl game.

We’ve got something going here now. One more win and we’ll have Carroll posting almost as good a record as Hackett his first year. One more win, and just think how far we’ve come--we’ll finish above .500 for the first time since 1998.

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APPARENTLY THERE was some concern on the behalf of officials that once USC did top the .500 mark, the goal posts might come down. They had more than 100 police officers encircling the goal posts afterward, although no one made a move to bring them down.

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ABOUT A month ago I wrote about Sam, the longtime USC basketball fan who had been told by school officials he would have to pay an additional $2,000 to join the Cardinal and Gold Club--after already purchasing his season tickets--or have his seats moved.

Sam’s son, Mark, trying to comfort his father, who was seriously ill, received no help or understanding from USC until Sam’s situation became public.

On Tuesday, the day of USC’s first basketball game in the Sports Arena this season, Samuel Goldstein died.

“I was going to his house to watch USC’s basketball home opener,” his son Mark Goldstein said. “He died that morning.

“We received about 10 calls Wednesday from season-ticket holders who had sat around him asking where he was, and they were very saddened to learn of his death. As a family, we are happy he is no longer in pain and now at peace. Thank you for providing my father with some humor and respect this past month.”

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THEY WERE giving away little footballs Saturday at a tent put up just outside the walls of the Coliseum to promote: “Suzuki--the official vehicle of the Heisman Trophy.” That explains why DeShaun Foster was driving a Ford Expedition.

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IT WAS difficult to say which was more disappointing, the two students competing in the halftime Lexus throw for $30,000 in free tuition, the Ralphs’ third-quarter toss for $500,000 or Cory Paus’ game-long pitch for redemption. I’m surprised some beer distributor didn’t sponsor his play.

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WHEN SHAQUILLE O’Neal says, “I’m mad about everything,” I wonder if that includes the $19 million he’s paid a year--before endorsements--to play basketball.

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AFTER SHAQ told Coach Phil Jackson to shut up, the Lakers lost and Rick Fox said, “This was an early let’s-see-if-they-can-work-it-out-themselves game by Phil.” I’m familiar with this kind of thing--in my house it’s called “getting the silent treatment.”

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I RAN into Alonso Aguirre, jockey Laffit Pincay’s brother, at Hollywood Park Friday night, and he was asking me for a tip: UCLA or USC? I helped him out, of course, about the same way his brother helped me in the fourth race. I believe his horse finished a strong ninth in a field of 10.

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ONLY ATLANTA has fewer points in the standings among the 30 NHL teams than the Los Angeles Kings. Thank heavens Atlanta doesn’t have Jason Allison.

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THE DODGERS have raised prices an average of 5.6% a ticket. What do you think the chances are of the Dodgers raising their level of play this season 5.6%?

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TODAY’S LAST word comes in an e-mail from Gshanberg:

“Thanks for bashing the Trojans all year. I guess what you said is correct: when you bash a team they seem to play better.”

Keep in mind, like a parent, it hurts me more than them.

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T.J. Simers can be reached at t.j.simers@latimes.com