California is place for top sports venues

In the sort of exercise guaranteed to launch debates all across the country, ESPN.com’s Jim Caple compiled a list of what he considers to be America’s 100 “most important” sports venues.

Caple was quick to point out that the selections were not a popularity contest but simply ranked venues “that have had a profound influence on the way American sports are played or have enjoyed multiple historic moments or, better yet, have had both.”

So how did California fare?

Well, the Rose Bowl came in at No. 9; the L.A. Coliseum was at No. 12; Pebble Beach Golf Links ended up No. 21; Gold’s Gym in Venice was at No. 39, just ahead of Dodger Stadium at No. 40.

Also listed were UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion at No. 44; the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO) “because no facility is more notorious” at No. 56; the Forum in Inglewood at No. 64; Candlestick Park at No. 68; the Sports Arena at No. 73; AT&T; Park in San Francisco at No. 76; the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles at No. 85; the Oakland Coliseum at No. 87; Staples Center at No. 98 and Memorial Stadium in Berkeley at No. 100.

Surprisingly, Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar did not finish in the running.

Trivia time

What record did the 1946 heavyweight title fight at Yankee Stadium between Joe Louis and Billy Conn set?

It’s a steal

According to Fark.com, those 18 people arrested for stealing pieces of Yankee Stadium “were easy to catch late in the season, which means they were actually Mets fans.”

Revealing

The University of Idaho’s cheerleaders are giving up the skimpy uniforms that the Associated Press said were “flashing a little more than school spirit.”

Said Bruce Pitman, the dean of students: “To be fair, there were a number of fans who liked them.”

Age-old problem

Golfer Vijay Singh has won 34 titles on the PGA Tour, 22 of them since turning 40, but at 45 he is feeling his age.

“The older you get, the harder it is to feel younger,” he said.

Trivia answer

The fight had the first $100 ringside seats.

And finally

“Environmentalists say global warming could eventually destroy Ohio’s iconic buckeye trees,” noted Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, adding: “Sort of like USC destroyed the Buckeyes, but more gradually.”

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grahame.jones@latimes.com