PHOTO by DANIEL DEBOOM

Tues | July 24 Have you seen the Villa Riviera lately? You really must.

Wed | July 25 The Amgen Tour of California announces Long Beach won’t be part of its 2008 race course. The city hosted the tour’s climax this year, and I think we all remember where we were when the cyclists crossed the finish line—not at the finish line. So all we’re losing is something most of us never knew we had—you know, like the tail you had as a kid . . . What? Ask your mother. Anyway, we should forget about cycling races with their garish, tight-fitting outfits and performance-enhancing drugs and focus on things Long Beach does great like the Lesbian and Gay Festival with its garish, tight-fitting outfits and performance-enhancing drugs.

Thurs | July 26 I’d like to continue on the cycling tack and say a few words about cyclists: I hate them. I don’t mean the top-notch, racer types; I mean the losers who think they are top-notch, racer types and insist on riding by you on the beach pedestrian/bike path yelling “On your left! On your left!” as if pedaling faster is going to make the wife come home. And then there’s the lot that likes to pretend they have every right to share the road with the adults in the cars. Look, just because you have a beverage-holder on that thing DOES NOT MAKE IT A CAR. And what is the deal with the clothes? Look, I get that you want to be visible, but dressing up in what appears to be Liza’s laundry-day duds only makes people want to hit you more . . . unless it’s Pride Week in which case You go, girl!

Fri | July 27 Someone sent me a blog item by San Bernardino Sun sports columnist Paul Oberjuerge today. He wrote about LA Times sportswriter Christine Daniels, who until recently was known as Mike Penner. Christine announced several months ago that she had struggled with gender identification most of her life and had now found the strength to live as a woman. Christine’s transformation was met mostly with compassion and reflection. Mostly. Here’s what Oberjuerge wrote:

“I hate to be judgmental about these things, but Christine is not an attractive woman. Which probably isn’t a surprise when you’re 50 and have spent your in-the-world life as a fairly drab guy.”

So, while Daniels’s evolution was written about by others in thoughtful terms of what it means to be human as well as changing attitudes in society and sports, Paul Oberjuerge’s contribution to the canon was: “Would I bone her?” Classy. Shocking you never managed to write your way out of San Bernandino, Paul. I dunno if you’re aware, Paul, but I was a sportswriter for a decade, and I know what’s going on. You’ve probably had it in for Mike Penner for years since he was everything you weren’t: talented, idolized, hailed as one of the nation’s great journalists and finest people. But apparently you thought Christine Daniels was in a vulnerable position—and, being a coward, you figured you’d attack. But you didn’t have the balls to drop her head-first into the toilet, so you figured you’d do a bit of bathroom scrawling. Except that your blog item was met with immediate outrage in the writing community, and I’ve been told it’s already been pulled from the Web. So it disappeared with little to no notice—you know, like everything else you write. What it comes down to, Paul, is that Christine Daniels remains one of the most beloved and respected people in our business. You? You’re a cautionary tale.

Sat | July 28 Activists on either side of the immigration debate congregate in front of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. A 29-year-old woman named Liliana asked for, and received, sanctuary from the church, and that outraged the anti-illegal-immigrant camp who showed up to protest—which outraged the pro-immigrant camp who showed up to protest their protest. Now, I think the anti-illegal-immigrant folk have some good points to make. Unfortunately for them, they don’t have a clue when, where, or how to make them—and St. Luke’s is a perfect example. To them, the woman inside the church symbolizes a broken system and millions who are taxing services already stretched thin. Problem is, the woman is holed up in the church with her INFANT SON, who happens to be a US CITIZEN. Then the woman’s two other children, ages seven and four—and both American citizens—came out of the church holding a sign reading, “We Want Mommy Home!” after which the four-year-old, Susi, says, “I love my mommy!” You guys ever hear about doing a little research? Who’s advising you, Ann Coulter’s less-tactful cousin? And even with all this, they didn’t get it. Jan Culberton of the anti-illegal immigrant group Save Our State, said this: “I understand their plight, but rules have to be followed.” She later added, “DESTROY ALL HUMANS!” excused herself, and had a complete diagnostic check.

Sun | July 29 Love us some Tony Gwynn.

Mon | July 30 Did I mention that Jan Culberton was holding a sign saying “Even Heaven Has A Gate”? Mmm-hmm. Yeah.

Tags: , christine daniels, cyclists, villa riviera