Dad Surely Would Have Bet the Idea Was a Winner

My sister called with an idea.

The last time she had one of those was 30-some years ago. We were coming down the hill on snow-covered Elm Street and she wanted to see how fast the family station wagon that I was driving could go while still making the turn onto South Washington.

I remember sitting in the middle of Gary what’s-his-name’s lawn after doing a 360 and narrowly missing the big tree in the parkway, wondering if my father would do something to me before or after I dug the car out of the snow with my bare hands.

It’s Father’s Day, but our father is no longer with us, and yet when my sister said she had an idea, I could hear my father saying, “Watch out, mister.”

Funny how it works that way after all these years, his voice clear as a warning bell in my head, some things never changing, like his Cubs not winning a World Series.

My sister lives in Louisville, Ky., which is usually far enough away, but she persuaded everyone to join her for a family reunion this summer -- the first time mom and dad’s four children and all their children will be together in the same place.

We will be arriving by RV, and I will leave it up to the daughter to explain to everyone why we brought along a Grocery Store Bagger.

As for my sister’s idea, she has rented a bus to take everyone to Churchill Downs and a private suite at the finish line, somehow arranging for the fourth race on the card to be called the “Simers Classic,” with everyone in the family wearing “Simers Classic” baseball caps and meeting in the winner’s circle after the race for photos.

As she said, it will be the ultimate tribute to Dad, who spent much of his life trying to figure out which pony might win -- losing most of the time and passing that trait along to his children.

Now I’m sure my own daughters will have nice gifts for me today, and I won’t even think twice about paying for them when my credit card bill arrives.

But my sister’s idea, to have everyone meet in a place that my dad would have loved, to demonstrate just how successful he was as a father, is a Father’s Day bonus.

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JENNIFER ALLEN, daughter of legendary football coach George Allen and author of “Fifth Quarter: The Scrimmage of a Football Coach’s Daughter,” will be on the father-daughter gabfest this morning at 9 on 570 as part of a two-hour show dedicated to the sports’ relationship between fathers and daughters. Miss Radio Personality has even agreed on this special occasion to maybe let me say something.

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I’M NOT sure there are six words more scarier than this for Angels fans right now: “Put your faith in Bill Stoneman.”

But essentially that’s what everyone is saying around here when it comes to the ridiculous demotion of Jered Weaver, the Angels beginning the day seven games below .500 and sending to the minors a pitcher who is 4-0 in four starts.

The Angels lack offense because Stoneman couldn’t pull the trigger on a trade in the off-season. They now have six quality starting pitchers and will probably try to trade one of them for more offense, so long as Stoneman pulls the trigger.

Stoneman’s seven-year track record suggests the next great trade he makes will be his first. The Angels’ media guide lists 15 deals made by Stoneman, the biggest impact player acquired being Adam Kennedy for All-Star outfielder Jim Edmonds.

Stoneman’s reluctance to make trades, because of his affection for hanging on to prospects, has arguably sabotaged this season to date.

“I’m obviously reluctant to pull the trigger if I don’t think someone is going to move us forward,” Stoneman said, and since most people outside the inner offices of the Angels don’t know what trades Stoneman has passed on, it’s difficult to gauge his effectiveness in knowing who might or might not move the Angels forward.

“We’re not going to let you into our meetings,” Stoneman insisted, which goes to show you he’s obviously not interested in doing whatever it takes to win.

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GARRET ANDERSON, the Angels’ second-leading slugger on the team with seven home runs and just as shockingly now a fun guy to talk to after games, said he’d have someone check the videotape to see if his eyes were open or shut when he hit the ball out of the park Saturday.

I asked Anderson what he thought about Weaver’s demotion, and he said, “I can’t tell you what I really think,” while adding, “It’s just not his time right now.

“I had a similar thing happen to me in ’95. I had some good years in the minors, but there was no room for me, so I know exactly how he feels. It’s really out of his hands.”

It’s in Stoneman’s hands, of course, and so I asked Anderson about that, and although we’ve come a long way in our relationship, we haven’t come that far.

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TODAY’S LAST word comes in e-mail from Alexi Lalas, president and general manager of the Galaxy:

“I’d like to invite you and your family to an upcoming Galaxy game. By attending, you will not only experience the excitement of Galaxy soccer, but you will also live up to your end of the deal you made with Cobi Jones. Not only did he score a crucial goal following an appearance on your radio show, but he basically called the shot on your show. All Galaxy fans look forward to seeing you at the Home Depot Center and living up to your word.”

So much for me agreeing with everyone else and thinking no one listens to that show.