At Least He Didn’t Drive in That Condition

As with any good sports commentator, Tommy Kendall, who will work the Spike TV coverage of today’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind.

That has been the case ever since he first strapped on a headset in 1997 for an Indy-car race at Elkhart Lake, Wis., that ABC was televising.

Kendall was there to drive in a Trans-Am race when ABC recruited him, mainly because he was having an unbelievable year. He had won nine consecutive Trans-Am races and was on his way to an unprecedented 11 in a row.

At first, he told ABC he wasn’t interested.

“On that Saturday, I was either going to win my 10th straight race, or the streak was going to end,” Kendall said. “Either way, I was going to be celebrating that night and didn’t think I’d be in any shape to go on television the next day.

“Well, they talked me into it, and I think the reason I did so well is that I was so hung over I didn’t care what I said.”

Trivia time: Who has the most Long Beach Grand Prix victories?

More on Kendall: It figures to be quite a day for the UCLA graduate from La Canada. Kendall retired from racing after winning his third consecutive Trans-Am title in 1997 but will make his comeback today in the Trans-Am race that follows the Grand Prix.

He’ll exchange his television headset for a racing helmet between races.

It’s fitting that he is making his return at Long Beach.

“I grew up going to the Long Beach Grand Prix,” he said. “I’ve been going since 1980.”

So why did he choose Trans-Am racing over open-wheel racing?

“At my height, I can’t fit into those cars,” said the 6-foot-5 Kendall.

Right place, right time: When Britney Spears aggravated an old knee injury while performing in Moline, Ill., last month, she had her manager call the Chicago Bears, according to the team’s website.

Team trainer Tim Bream went to Spears’ Chicago hotel on consecutive days to administer treatment.

Basic necessities: Asked what is needed to have a championship team, Bill Russell said on NBA TV, “You have to have intelligent players, willing to work together, who are talented, dedicated ... and rich.”

Grateful son: Rookie San Francisco Giant pitcher David Aardsma, on ending Hank Aaron’s 50-year reign atop the alphabetical list of big league players, was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle as saying, “I owe it all to my parents.”

Trivia answer: Al Unser Jr., with six. He won in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994 and 1995, earning the nickname “King of the Beach.”

And finally: Not that Unser was superstitious or anything like that, but after his sixth victory in 1995, he said, “Every time I pull in here, driving my motor home, I hope I’m taking the same roads and hitting the same stop signs.”

Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.