June 22, 2007

Take us out to the Doll game
Paul Oberjuerge

Maybe you can be one of those silly people who gets in the background of a shot and shouts "Hi, Mom!" ...

Footage for an episode of "Pussy Cat Dolls: Search for the Next Doll" will be shot at San Bernardino's Arrowhead Credit Union Park on Tuesday night, before and during the Inland Empire 66ers' 7:05 game vs. San Jose.

The footage will air in January as part of Season 2 of the CW network's reality show, according to Raj Narayanan, Sixers director of entertainment.

He said four of the 12 Season2 contestants will be at the stadium, along with the production crew - which will bring its own lighting and sound systems.

"They want shots of our dance team and some crowd footage," Narayanan said. "It gives fans an idea of what goes on in a reality show and a sneak peek at a future reality-show episode."

For the hopelessly unhip, the Pussy Cat Dolls are a singing/dancing troupe of, uh, underdressed women best known for their hit song, "Don't Cha." (Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me...?)

The Sixers did their Kevin Costner bobblehead giveaway on Saturday. We can't say it really looks like the Academy Award-winning actor/director. But it's a bobblehead, so it's automatically cool.

The Costner bobble has No. 16 on its back because that's the number Costner wore when he played shortstop for San Bernardino in the memorable exhibition game vs. the Seattle Mariners at ACUP on March 28, 2002. Kostner wore No.8 in "Bull Durham" and No.14 in "For the Love of the Game."

Ever wonder how much a Chinese-made bobblehead costs a team? Between $1.50 and $3 each, according to Loren Foxx, Sixers general manager. Some bobble nights pay for themselves in extra attendance. Others are loss-leaders intended to draw new fans.

The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes have two "figurine" dates on their remaining schedule: Boston's Matt Clement on June 30 and Chicago's Derrek Lee on Aug. 31. Both played for the Quakes in the 1990s. And no, the dolls aren't bobbleheads. They are figurines.

Laura Tolbirt is the 66ers' director of corporate communications. She also is married to former San Bernardino Aquinas and San Bernardino Valley College baseball standout Terry Tolbirt - infamous for having perhaps the most-often-misspelled name in modern IE newspaper history.

"Was that Perry? Larry? Carey? Last name Colbert? Hulbert? Tolbert?"

Finally, when a reporter named "Jim" misspelled Tolbirt's name one more time, a frustrated Tolbirt sent a scathingingly funny letter addressed to "Dear Gym."

Interleague play has outlasted its usefulness. Aside from obvious rivalries (Dodgers-Angels, Yankees-Mets, Cubs-White Sox) the matchups are of limited appeal. Plus, at least one club is playing unnaturally (with/without the DH) in every game.

Final standings shouldn't hinge on how you did against an also-ran in the other league. But they often do.

It would be grand if the American League ditched the designated hitter, and the major leagues played under the same rules. But that probably won't happen after 30-plus years of it.

Sammy Sosa's 600th home run was treated as a grand occasion by some media outlets. Not here. The stain of baseball's Steroid Era is all over Sammy. He trails only Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire as The Most Suspicious Character of the era.

Reader Henry Dorr wishes we would discontinue the "Chasing Henry" item on the sports cover, which tracks Barry Bonds' pursuit of Henry Aaron's career homer record. Wrote Dorr: "What a waste ... following the progess of someone (who) has disgraced the game of baseball, himself and the whole concept of what is clean and correct in the world of sports."

Ned Colletti isn't having a good season. The Dodgers general managed signed Juan Pierre for $44 million and Jason Schmidt for $47M. The former is a daily bust. The latter is out for the season after shoulder surgery. Oops.

Ever notice that the Dodgers are just good enough to contend until September - and draw their annual 3 million fans - but not good enough to actually win a championship?

The club has had only two losing seasons since 1990 ... but only four playoffs appearances (and a 1-12 postseason record) during that span.

The NBA draft is Thursday, and Ohio State freshman Greg Oden likely will be the No.1 pick, to Portland. Reader Gary Libby, on the young 7-footer's craggy face: "I hope that Greg Oden's insides aren't as old as his face. He is the oldest-looking 19-year-old I have ever seen."

The Clippers pick 14th, and should get someone useful in a deep draft. The Lakers have the 19th choice. Each could be looking for a point guard; look for Acie LawIV to end up with one or the other.

Gabe Pruitt of USC might make sense for the Lakers. He is athletic and can shoot the 3.

What will not happen next Thursday: The Lakers trading Kobe Bryant.

Super-recruit O.J. Mayo already is on campus at USC and apparently looking very good in pickup games.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere signing with the Ducks on Thursday had to be a pleasant surprise for Anaheim fans. The star goalie looked to have priced himself out of the club's salary structure with his stellar play in the postseason.

The National Hockey League draft is today, but unless you follow Canadian junior hockey it's not worth paying attention.

U.S. soccer's 2-1 victory over Canada was the warmup act in Thursday's Gold Cup semifinals at Soldier Field in Chicago, with Mexico-Guadeloupe the main event.

Why? Because organizers knew tens of thousands of Mexico fans would get up and leave during Game2 if the Mexico game were first, and that would embarrass the U.S.and Canada.

Landon Donovan of Redlands, who scored his third goal of the Gold Cup (all on penalty kicks) should know by Monday if he has to go to Venezuela for the Copa America. Donovan prefers to return to the Galaxy.

Kudos: To Big West members UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton for making the College Baseball World Series.

Condolences: To Irvine and Fullerton, stuck in the same half of the World Series bracket despite being from the same conference.

Look-alikes: U.S.Open champion Angel Cabrera, a million other chubby duffers all over the world.

Where are they now? Terry Tolbirt is a chiropractor with offices in the mountain community of Blue Jay.

They said it: "Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me ... Don't cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me?" - additional lyrics from the Pussy Cat Dolls' big hit.

And finally: The ballplayers may have trouble keeping their eyes on the field, next Tuesday.

SBSUNFor more musings from columnist Paul Oberjuerge, check out his blog at www.sbsun.com/sports.