New Charger Game Plan: Two and Out at Carson?

The Chargers left La Jolla, they said, to train in Carson because they wanted a place where their team could bond. You would have to say it worked last year, with San Diego exceeding everyone’s expectations and winning four whole games.

But apparently the allure of warm summer days in Carson are wearing off on the losers, because now I’m hearing the Chargers, who are in the second year of a five-year commitment to conduct training camp at the Home Depot Center, are hoping to take advantage of an escape clause and not return next summer.

An Anschutz Empire spokesman confirmed that if the Chargers don’t get a firm commitment from them on building a hotel near the Home Depot Center by the end of the year, the team can begin training elsewhere.

What a loss that would be, losing the worst team in the NFL, and the chance to watch preparations as it begins another losing campaign.

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YOU HAVE to wonder about a team that claims it came to Carson so it could get out of San Diego for the summer.

But that’s what the Spanos Goofs wanted everyone to believe -- even though it was a blatant move to throw a scare into San Diego and make everyone think a trip to Carson was the first step in moving to L.A.

It worked. The Chargers redid their lease, and will be fined $3 million if they talk to another city before Jan. 1, 2007, about moving. They will be free to leave San Diego after the 2008 season.

If the NFL gets its way, it already will have a team (best guess: New Orleans or Indianapolis) playing in L.A., beginning in 2008, which means we might never see the Chargers again.

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THE FIRST thing I noticed at the Home Depot Center was the team’s chief negotiator, Ed McGuire, the guy who is supposed to get No. 1 draft pick Philip Rivers signed, sitting outside in the shade, head back and snoring -- confirming speculation for years the Chargers’ brain trust has been asleep on the job.

The Chargers offered Rivers a contract with a clause that will pay him $5 million if he leads the team to four Super Bowls, and makes four Pro Bowls. No mention if he also has to come up with the cure for cancer. And some people wondered why Archie Manning didn’t want his kid playing for the Goofs.

I congratulated Coach Marty Schottenheimer on being a good judge of talent in the past and asked how he was going to win this season without any. He said the Chargers have talent.

I said, “Name it.” He said, “LaDainian Tomlinson,” and I said, “That’s one.”

He mentioned a tight end I have never heard of, and I gave him that one -- making it two. He couldn’t come up with a third name.

I talked to quarterback Drew Brees, and the coach never mentioned his name, now that I think about it. Last year Brees and I got into it when he talked about all the progress the Chargers were making after an 0-3 start and I suggested he was nuts. I asked him if he was still nuts.

“I’m still optimistic,” he said, while proceeding to tell me about all the character the Chargers have, and how well the players will respond to adversity. At least he knows what’s coming.

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TALKED TO jockey Alex Solis, who fell off a horse a couple of weeks ago at Del Mar, broke a bunch of stuff and underwent surgery. Challenged him to a round of golf. Offered him five strokes a side because I’m generous like that.

“You could give me 18 strokes and still beat me,” he said, and it’s nice to hear him finally admit that.

Solis, who was on his way to making a case for Hall of Fame consideration, will be in a brace for another month and then begin rehabilitation. The horse racing game misses him, because I know if he had been riding that nag Monday, he would never have allowed it to get beat at the wire and cost me a superfecta.

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IT HAS become an annual tradition, spending a day at Del Mar with boxing promoter Bob Arum, who doesn’t seem to know a lot about horses.

I suggested he put some of the money he has taken from boxing fans and put it on Passion For Words. Instead, he went for One Excessive Lady, and I’ve met his wife, and I don’t think that’s a fair description of her no matter what Arum says. One Excessive Lady finished fifth behind the winner: Passion For Words.

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I FOUND The Times’ Southern California bestsellers’ list for nonfiction books interesting reading. John Wooden’s “My Personal Best: Life Lessons From an All-American Journey,” was ranked No. 10 the week of Aug. 1, but dropped off the top 15 the week of Aug. 8. “My Life” by Bill Clinton, meanwhile, remained No. 1, and “Inside the Kingdom” by Carmen bin Laden ranked No. 5 -- both weeks.

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BILL FEINSTEIN e-mailed to say his daughter checked the Dodger website, which had parking for the Hollywood Stars game at $7 only to arrive and learn it was $10. The Boston Parking Lot Attendant is behind in payments on a loan in Boston, and I guess we know how he’s going to repay it.

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AL DAVIS had a two-day party in Las Vegas last month to celebrate his 75th birthday, with Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme making up a song in Davis’ honor to the tune of “Mr. Wonderful.” That had to take some imagination.

TV interviewer Jim Gray was invited to the party; Marcus Allen was not.

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TODAY’S LAST word comes in e-mail from Chuck Scheid:

“Your Sunday column was headlined: ‘No Steroids Were Used in Writing This Column.’ I suggest you try some.”

I’m afraid one of the side effects is sending stupid e-mail to people.

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T.J. Simers can be reached at t.j.simers@latimes.com. To read previous columns by Simers, go to latimes.com/simers.