To Get Into Hall, He May Have Fight on His Hands

Fight On for ol’ SC

Our men fight on to victory ...

I’m thinking about beginning every column I write for the rest of my career this way after learning that the USC Athletic Hall of Fame inducts members of the media.

I should get something for being such a die-hard supporter. Before Saturday I thought there was nothing duller than a Clipper exhibition game, but that was before sitting through USC’s 38-0 yawner against Washington.

The only thing that would have made the game exciting would have been to know ahead of time whether Rick Neuheisel laid the 34 points, or played the underdog for old times’ sake.

I’d have gone home at halftime had I not known ahead of time that the Grocery Store Bagger was going to be there visiting. So I stayed for every minute of the big bore, the only thing saving the day being the stirring introduction of the seventh class of USC’s Athletic Hall of Fame, which included a former newspaperman.

UCLA does not honor members of the media, but the way things are going these days, it won’t be long before they run out of athletes and coaches to honor, and they might have to reconsider. I know that’s what Pete Thomas is counting on.

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OUR ATHLETIC director, the great Mike Garrett, was in the hall’s inaugural class in 1994 along with O.J. Simpson, who, I would like to point out, was found not guilty. Former Times sportswriter Braven Dyer was also selected, and according to the Trojans’ website, “His stories displayed his great appreciation for Trojan teams, coaches and athletes.” Who knew that Dyer and I had so much in common?

Times writer Mal Florence, who wrote a book called “The Trojan Heritage,” has been honored. I’m working on a book too, “My Conversation With USC President Steven Sample,” and it will be out as soon as I have one with him.

Former Times Page 2 columnists Allan Malamud and John Hall and former Times writer Harley Tinkham, who originated Morning Briefing, are also in the hall.

It appears USC has a particular soft spot for Times writers who do most of their work on Page 2, which bodes well for other potential Page 2 inductees.

It might also explain why former Times columnist Jim Murray, who dominated Page 1 in sports, is not on the list of USC Athletic Hall of Famers.

“I think he was a big Notre Dame guy,” USC sports information director Tim Tessalone said, and wouldn’t that be a hoot if they’ve got Murray mixed up with Sports Editor Bill Dwyre. First time that has ever happened, I’m sure.

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WHEN I told former USC baseball coach Rod Dedeaux that Murray’s name wasn’t on the list, he said, “That’s wrong. I’ll bring it up with Sample.”

“Then maybe you could have him call me,” I told Dedeaux, and he nodded. Like everyone else, I’m sure he can’t wait for the book to come out.

Tom Kelly, a Hall of Famer and the former voice of the Trojans before being unceremoniously silenced, said, “Murray’s not in? Boy, is that something.”

John Hamilton, who oversees the hall, said, “Murray’s in; I sat next to him the night he went in. It’s just a typo.” Murray would’ve gotten a kick out of that, the newspaperman left off the list because of a typo.

The Hall of Fame website, though, does not include Murray’s name, and several USC officials confirmed that as far as they knew, Murray has never been inducted into the hall. How odd.

I can tell you this: Laker owner Jerry Buss is in the hall. I guess it pays to date USC coeds, and although I was going to say I’m a little too old to try that, I might reconsider. (If the wife reads the paper, I know I’ll be free to reconsider.)

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THE RADIO show with the daughter continues today at 9:06 a.m. for a second week despite biting criticism from the program director at XTRA Sports 690 and 1150. Don Martin, the brains behind Hacksaw and Vic the Brick, doesn’t want us to sound rehearsed, which is tricky since we’ve lived together for 28 years and have things so down pat. He also wants us to take more phone calls, as if we could care what anyone who is listening to the radio at 9 in the morning on a Sunday has to say.

Today’s guest is King President Tim Leiweke, who obviously doesn’t have much to do these days. Next week look for the return of Jim Rome reruns or “The Don Martin Show.”

Last week’s guest, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, said that if a stadium site, such as the Coliseum (my choice), reached lease terms with the NFL, construction on a new stadium could begin after the 2005 USC season, which would allow an NFL team to begin play here in 2008. (The Saints will be marching home.)

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IN REGARD to the disgraceful way the Dodgers cut ties with broadcaster Ross Porter, I agree with every paragraph in Plaschke’s column. I fear the world will end now. On a bright note, whoever the Mascot Guy hires to replace Porter, there’s no way anyone listening to a transistor radio in Dodger Stadium is going to hear him with all the loud music the Mascot Guy now has them playing.

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TODAY’S LAST word comes in e-mail from Christian D. Orr:

“Well, looking over Pete Thomas’ ‘Six Games to Watch’ column, it looks like he finally came to his senses and picked our beloved Trojans to win. Apparently that e-mail campaign you started did the trick. However, he apparently still has miles to go before he sleeps as he picked Karl Dullard’s crew to win this weekend as well.”

The real Pete Thomas test comes when USC plays UCLA.

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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.