Cautious Security Guard Didn’t Know Who They Were in League With

It seems as though we’ve entered a new era of marches and demonstrations. The police log of the Rancho Santa Margarita News said a Coto de Caza security guard “called to report a bunch of kids yelling at passing cars and holding signs. Deputies checked out the situation and found that Little Leaguers were trying to sell doughnuts to passersby.”

USC’s first pro football team? Athletic scandals in college sports are nothing new.

Author Kevin Roderick found a 1904 Times story detailing allegations that the captain of USC’s football team had been the recipient of checks amounting to a total of between $25 and $150 from the team manager (see above).

Faculty and students were said to be overwrought because the manager had “cast the stigma of professionalism upon the school.” The captain hadn’t kept all of the money, according to one account. The captain’s brother, also on the team, heard about the arrangement early on and “refused to play unless one half of the spoils went to him,” The Times said.

Strangely, this was long before USC became a big-time power -- unless you count the school’s 10-0 win over Los Angeles High in 1903 as impressive.

Getting a kick out of church: Mark Zeavin noticed that the Family Church International in Altadena “provides the necessary skills to maintain family harmony” (see photo).

Indiana fights back: “As a native Hoosier, I feel I must defend our sanity,” wrote Philip Spenny of Northridge about the Indiana sign that read, “No U Turn on Freeway” (see photo).

Spenny pointed out that freeways back there are intersected every few miles by small gravel roads, which are for emergency vehicles only (hence the signs). The roads are necessary because exits may be 20 or more miles apart in rural areas.

What makes no sense to Spenny about Southern California driving, by the way, is the installation of turn signals in cars, since no one seems to use them.

miscelLAny: A resident “called to report a bucket of pretzels was left on the sidewalk, and she was suspicious that there was a problem,” the Rancho Santa Margarita News said. “Deputies checked the bucket and found nothing wrong with the pretzels.” I apologize for ending with a story that had no twist.

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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LA-TIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012 and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.