Read Lisa's Blog

Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, NBA championships and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier,” “The George Lopez Show” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the award-winning family film, “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive-produced.

When I told a friend that I’d be writing for the L.A. Times, she told her husband. His response was, “Really? Did she get fat?”

Now I know from experience that the camera adds 15 pounds, but I had no idea that picking up a pen and pad would give me a big butt. However, one glance at the sportswriters in the Dodgers press box would confirm that theory.

When you’re hidden behind a laptop instead of preening in front of a camera, there’s a natural tendency to inhale a few more Dodger Dogs and let those pounds add up.

So at this point after noticing the byline and not-at-all retouched photo, you may be asking yourself, “Hey, isn’t that the chick that used to cover sports, got fired by ‘Monday Night Football’ and stripped down for Playboy?”

Um, yes, But despite these stellar qualifications, allow me to explain how I ended up here.

One day last June after muddling through yet another one of T.J. Simers’ rants — this time targeting me — I picked up a pen and delivered a shot of my own.

Inspired by Barack Obama and his “Change We Can Believe In,” I proposed my change for Page 2. I asked The Times to please allow me to go head to head with T.J. in a write-off. We would each write one column a week for one month and let your readers decide who should write for Page 2. I wasn’t kidding!

Amazingly, Sports Editor Randy Harvey contacted me and asked if I was really serious about wanting to write for The Times.

Yup.

In weeks to come, I’ll be writing about sports from an entertainment and pop culture perspective in the Fabulous Forum on latimes.com.

So here I am, armed with pen and paper and fueled by a strong cup of joe. But mostly strong opinions.

–Lisa Guerrero

original post

I woke up this morning unusually early. Normally, I don’t like to see the light of day till the crack of noon, but today was gonna be special. I threw on sweatpants, put my hair in a ponytail and grabbed my favorite T-shirt out of the dirty clothes hamper. … I really have to do laundry today.

At the ungodly hour of 9 a.m., I cruised into the parking lot, which to my surprise was pretty full. Didn’t know the people of Malibu were up this early. Must be surfers.

Then, with a smile on my face and a Starbucks in hand, I headed over to the post office to begin my patriotic privilege; today I would register to vote.

I walked in the door and was shocked to see a line of a dozen or so seniors holding letters or mailing boxes. Man, I thought, old people are early risers. Guess they were surprised to see me too, because they all turned around to stare at me and give me dirty looks. It took me a second to figure out why.

I was wearing an Obama ’08 T-shirt.

The older gentleman in front of me looked particularly disgusted. Donned in a USC sweatshirt and what appeared to be a ’70s-style trucker hat with a Rams logo on it (that he presumably bought during the Jack Youngblood era), he was none too pleased with my getup.

I was none too pleased with his breath.

“Obama, humph,” he grunted, then turned back around with his back to me. Under his breath he muttered, “Silly girl.”

Mind you, at my age being called a “girl” is a compliment, but he obviously wasn’t referring to my youthful looks. I could’ve let it go, but if you’ve been reading my blogs so far, you’ll know that I didn’t.

“Excuse me … what did you say?” I asked.

He turned around and looked at me.

I said, “How ’bout those Rams?”

He said, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

At this point I suppose I should’ve just taken a sip of my café mocha and left the old man to his memories, but instead the rest of the conversation went like this:

Lisa G: “They really stink this year, huh?”

Old man: “Well, (grumble, grumble) coaching changes, bad draft picks. Jim Haslett will do just fine. Next season …”

Lisa G: (feeling bad for the guy) “That’s right, maybe they can turn it around, but too bad they’ve got the Redskins this week.”

Old man: (pauses, looks at me suspiciously) “You a Rams fan?”

Lisa G: Yep. I used to cheer for them in the ’80s. I was on the field when Dickerson broke the record. … They weren’t any good back then either, but he was fun to watch.”

Old man: (still suspicious) OK then missy, who was your favorite Ram?”

Lisa G: “Easy one -– Vince Ferragamo. My dad preferred Haden, but Vince was the one that got ‘em into the Super Bowl in ‘79.”

Old man: “They lost.”

Lisa G: “Plus, he was cute.”

Old man: (laughs) “So, you like sports.”

Lisa G: “Um, yeah.”

Old man: (turns away for a while, we scooch up about 18 inches in line, then he turns back around to face me, looking down at my T-shirt.) “You know what that fella’s full name is, don’t ya?”

Lisa G: “Barack Obama.”

Old man: “Barack HUSSEIN Obama.”

Lisa G: Actually, it’s Barack Hussein Obama the second, but your point is?”

Old man: (whispering loudly) “It’s a terrorist name.”

Lisa G: (stunned for a moment not believing that some people actually believe this. I gather myself.) “Are you a Lakers’ fan?”

Old man: “Well, sure.”

Lisa G: “Did you like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?”

Old man: “Well, yeah, but that’s different. He won six championships -– a great Laker.”

Lisa G: “If Barack was a great Laker, would you forgive his name?”

Old man: (laughs) “You got a point, missy.”

We wait in line in silence for the next three or four minutes. I was actually starting to feel pretty guilty –- after all, this man grew up in a different generation with another set of values and fears. I was just about to say something to him when he stepped forward to the counter to mail his package.

In a minute, I moved to the counter to be helped by the woman on his left. He finished his business, then walked toward the door, but turned around.

Old man: “Are you a Dodgers fan?”

Lisa G: “Of course!”

And then he took two steps toward me and kissed me on the cheek.

Old man: “We’ll get ‘em today, right, honey?”

Lisa G: “You betcha!”

His breath wasn’t really so bad after all.
Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, NBA championships and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier” and “The George Lopez Show” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the film “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive-produced.

original post

The coffee I was sipping while perusing latimes.com this morning almost came out of my nose when I got a load of Last Call and the horrible/fabulous “Ram It” video. Not for the obvious reason that it is possibly the most embarrassing music video ever made, but because I am personally responsible for it.

Let me explain -– and apologize.

From 1983-87 I was a Los Angeles Rams cheerleader. We were known as “The Embraceable Ewes,” the “Los Angeles Rams Cheerleading Entertainers” (that was the official nickname) and the “Less Hot Professional Cheerleaders of Los Angeles” (that was the unofficial nickname).

The Raiderettes were hotter than we were due to their bigger pom-poms.

At that time, besides cheering, I was modeling and beginning an acting career. On a plane home to Los Angeles after shooting a commercial in Atlanta, I sat next to a gentleman who was a video producer. We got talking about what a huge deal the “Super Bowl Shuffle” was for the Bears the year before (1985) and I said wouldn’t it be great if the Rams did a video too?

A couple weeks later, we were at Anaheim Stadium shooting “Ram It.”

Unfortunately, I’m in it. Fortunately, I’m unrecognizable. About 2:45 into the video, I’m the tall skinny blond (!) in the back row, second to the left. By way of explanation, I was a bleached blond with acrylic nails and about 10 pairs of white pumps. It was the ’80s and what can I say? I also loved the Go-Go’s, so sue me.

As I recall, the only starting player of note who refused to participate was Jim Everett, making him look like a genius in retrospect. As bad as “Ram It” truly is, you simply cannot deny the genius musical stylings of Eric Dickerson (4:15 into the video). Spectacular.

On a separate note, who knew that the Rams organization would become a virtual breeding ground for embattled “Monday Night Football” sideline reporters?

The release of the video was met with a lukewarm response, which makes it even more curious that they also released a “Making of ‘Ram It’ -– Behind The Scenes” video. Believe it or not, that’s floating around somewhere too, and it’s even more brutal than the original — and, like, 30 minutes long!

Needless to say, “Ram It” was no “Super Bowl Shuffle.” And, as has been pointed out before, if the players had concentrated more on football than choreography, they might have actually won a Super Bowl themselves. Maybe not.

On a sad note, while watching this video (which I haven’t seen in 15 years) I noticed linebacker Carl Ekern on his motorcycle about the 3:50 mark. In 1990, two years after he retired, he died in an accident near Ridgecrest. He was 36 years old.

I hope “Carl-E” is up there somewhere smiling and rapping in that big football field in the sky.

– Lisa Guerrero

Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, the NBA Finals and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier” and “The George Lopez Show” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the film “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive-produced.

Photo at left: Lisa Guerrero interviewing then-Jets Coach Herm Edwards on “Monday Night Football.” Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Guerrero

Photo at right: Eric Dickerson, as part of a 2001 publicity shot for “Monday Night Football.”

original post

It’s that time of year so I’ve been counting my blessings. One of them certainly has been writing this blog at the Fabulous Forum. It’s given me a voice to express my views, but also an opportunity to hear from you … whether you agree with me on a given topic or not.

A lot of you have left your comments here on this board, but even more of you have contacted me on my website to share your feelings in greater depth.

One recent message really touched me and I thought I’d share it with you.

After reading my Oct. 3 “Father’s Day” blog about Joe Biden, I received a message from a father in Seattle. His wife had died of breast cancer last March, leaving him to raise his 7-year-old daughter alone.

He, too, was moved by Biden’s performance during the vice presidential debate. After reading that I had been raised by a single dad, he wrote to ask me for advice on helping him to communicate with his daughter.

I recommended a couple of great books: “Reviving Ophelia“ by Mary Pipher and “Motherless Daughters“ by Hope Edelman.

He wrote back a couple of days ago to ask about Christmas gift ideas for his daughter. After much thought, I came up with a gift list for those of you with young daughters who may have expressed an interest in sports.

A good deal of research shows that girls who get involved in sports at an early age are less likely to try drugs, cigarettes and alcohol. Athletes also have a greater chance of finishing high school and are more likely to avoid teen pregnancy (a subject that “Reviving Ophelia“ explores at length).

If your daughter loves movies (and who doesn’t), why not give her a collection of “girl power” DVDs to help develop her growing interest in sports?

Try these (for teens):

Gracie (2007, PG-13) – It’s about a young girl who wants to compete with the boys on the soccer field, and is loosely based on actress Elisabeth Shue (who played on several boys’ soccer teams in New Jersey).

The Longshots (2008, PG) – The true story of a girl who became the first female to play in a Pop Warner football tournament in its 56-year history.

Ice Castles (1978), PG) — A teenage figure skater overcomes adversity to realize her dreams.

A League of Their Own (1992, PG) – Madonna and Geena Davis play in a professional women’s baseball league during World War II.

The Next Karate Kid (1994, PG-13) – Stars Hilary Swank as a troubled teenager who, through karate, copes with the loss of her parents.

For younger girls:

Quarterback Princess (1983, not rated) – A girl quarterback, played by Helen Hunt, wins over her team and the entire town.

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (2005, PG) – Dakota Fanning plays a girl who saves an injured race horse.

National Velvet (1945) — The classic about a boy (Mickey Rooney) and a girl (Elizabeth Taylor) and a horse.

Moondance Alexander (2008, G) — Yet another movie about a girl and a horse -– this one features an appearance by figure skater Sasha Cohen.

The Longshots (2008, PG) – The true story about a girl who became the first female to play in a Pop Warner football tournament in its 56-year history.

These lists got me thinking about compiling a list of my Top 10 Chick Sports Flicks (for grown-up girls). Feel free to send us your ideas if I’ve left your favorite out.

Sports films about women are few and far between, unfortunately, so I’ve reached back quite a few decades to round out my list.

10. Bring It On (2000) –- I’m a sucker for cheer competitions, being a former rah-rah myself.

9. The Other Side of the Mountain (1975) –- The true story of ski champ Jill Kinmont. This cannot be viewed without a box of Kleenex. I’m warning you.

8. The Cutting Edge (1992) — Two words for ya: Toe. Pick.

7. Wilma (1977) –- The true story of Olympic track star Wilma Rudolph. Also marks the film debut of 23-year-old Denzel Washington.

6. National Velvet (1945) -– This film won two Oscars and stars and 11-year-old Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney. Classic.

5. Bend It Like Beckham (2002) -– The reason little American girls became aware of David Beckham (and big American boys became aware of Keira Knightley).

4. Heart Like a Wheel (1983) –- Starring an amazing Bonnie Bedelia as Shirley Muldowney, the first female top-fuel drag racing champion.

3. A League of Their Own (1992) –- This classic airs this weekend on guess which network:

A. ESPN
B. Fox Sports Net
C. Oxygen

The answer is C. Duh.

2. Girlfight (2000) –- Michelle Rodriguez is slightly more intimidating in her boxing picture than I am in mine. She wins.

1. Million Dollar Baby (2004) –- One of the best sports films ever, regardless of gender. Won four Academy Awards, including best picture. Scoreboard, Clint Eastwood. And Morgan Freeman. And Hilary Swank…

– Lisa Guerrero

Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, the NBA Finals and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier” and “The George Lopez Show” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the film “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive-produced.

Photo, left: Michelle Rodriguez in “Girlfight.” Credit: Andrea Morini / Screen Gems/Sony Pictures.

Photo, right: Lisa Guerrero

original post

Tuesday, a pitcher who once signed a Major League Baseball contract for $32 million signed a $6,500 deal with Aguilas de Mexicali and was happy to do so.

That, of course, was after he was asked to try out. So he woke up at 5 a.m. on Tuesday and drove six hours to Calexico to prove he can still throw a baseball.

The man who tossed the first no-hitter in the Metrodome threw 40 pitches off the mound at El Nido Stadium to earn the privilege of starting his first game in more than three years. It will be this weekend against the Naranjeros de Hermosillo, and he’ll take an eight-hour bus ride to get there.

The last time he earned a paycheck as a professional baseball player was in 2006. He was a New York Yankee.

For the last 24 months, he has been working his way back to the place where he can compete again as a starting pitcher, something he hasn’t done since a frustrating and injury-plagued season in 2005 as a Dodger.

In the past, the goal was to get to the World Series. In fact, in 1991, he won one.

This time around he wants to reach the Caribbean World Series and earn an invitation to spring training.

As a sports fan, I understand how difficult this will be for a 40-year-old with a couple of surgeries under his belt and who had been bouncing around the league at the end of his career.

As his wife, I couldn’t be prouder.

Right now, you may be sitting at your computer, rolling your eyes and grumbling about how these “old” athletes simply can’t let go. Why don’t they just retire, play golf and collect a pension? Do they need the money, the attention, the adrenaline rush?

Probably a lot of a little of all of the above.

Scott Erickson just loves to play baseball.

Truth is, if you could ditch your job, that suit and that computer for a chance to lace up your spikes, pull on your glove and play a game for a living, you’d do it so fast there would be a skid mark next to your desk.

Since 2006, Scott’s been preparing for this last shot. He’s been in the gym 2 1/2 hours a day, six days a week. He hasn’t eaten cheese or butter, nor has he touched a French fry.

He has a MetRx shake every morning for breakfast and skips dessert at night. He’s in better shape now than he was at 35, and has added another pitch to his arsenal.

Once a sinker/slider guy with a mid-90s fastball, Scott never had a changeup … didn’t need it. In the last year, while working out with the Pepperdine and UC Santa Barbara baseball teams, he developed one, spending the last six months getting comfortable with his new grip.

His fastball has been gaining velocity recently, and by adding the changeup, he’s hoping to fool batters better than he did in the past. We’ll see.

His new teammates include former Angel Benji Gil, several young American players and vetran pitcher Juan Acevedo. Scott, at 40, will be the oldest player on the roster.

He is thrilled.

So, Mexicali it is. I’ll join him next week, and we’ll be there until after the holidays. If we’re lucky, we’ll be there through the Caribbean World Series in January.

His 17-year career may end this month, once and for all, in an Aguilas uniform just south of the border.

Or it could be the first step on the long road north to a comeback.

– Lisa Guerrero

Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, the NBA Finals and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier” and “The George Lopez Show” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the film “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive-produced.

Photo (top): Scott Erickson. Credit: Mark Duncan / Associated Press

photo (inset): Lisa Guerrero. Credit: Lisa Guerrero

original post

I have a girlfriend who will believe anything.

At 35 and old enough to know better, she’ll date the wrong guys, put up with rude and selfish behavior, then believe their pathetic excuses when they inevitably let her down.

She once caught a guy cheating on her and later forgave him, buying his excuse that was just being “young and stupid.”

Sound familiar?

The recent “revelation” that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and his admission/confession/forgiveness-gravel on ESPN reminded me of every unfaithful dude who has to say “I’m sorry” but only because he was caught.

I finally got sick of hearing about these jerks who broke my friend’s heart, so a couple of years ago I bought her the book, “He’s Just Not That Into You.” It was recently developed into the film with the same title.

Basically it’s supposed to help desperate women read the signals from men who are clearly not interested (or are toxic) instead of constantly making excuses for them and expecting these guys to be Prince Charming instead of the frog that they quite obviously are.

One seemingly obvious bit of advice is, “He’s Just Not That Into You … If He’s Cheating On You.”

Which brings me to you, sports fans.

Alex Rodriguez didn’t just cheat on baseball, or the record books, or the Yankees, or his teammates or opponents. He cheated on you.

You are the one who pays his salary (one way or the other) but more important, you are the one who pays him the attention he desperately craves.

With ticket prices at the new Yankee Stadium ranging from $500 to $2,500 behind home plate and $75 to $100 in the front part of the outfield, his team is probably willing to forgive and forget in order to get fans to fork out and sell out.

Just like the woman who makes ridiculous excuses for her jerk of a man, how much longer are sports fans going to overlook the boorish behavior of the athletes they adore?

As I told my girlfriend, “Kick ‘em to the curb.”

– Lisa Guerrero

Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, the NBA Finals and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier” and “The George Lopez Show” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the film “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive-produced.

Top photo: Alex Rodriguez stretches on the practice field during spring training today. Credit: Mary Altaffer / Associated Press

original post

From the moment little boys first lace up their cleats, break in their gloves and head off to practice they are taught to play hard, listen to their coaches and, above all else, don’t cry.

When they strike out swinging, drop the ball in center field or scrape their knee sliding into third, they are warned not to shed a tear.

Crying is for girls. Or for sissies.

Boys hear stuff like, “Big boys don’t cry” or “Take it like a man” or “There’s no crying in baseball.” Americans, especially, don’t like our athletes displaying much emotion –certainly not tears.

In fact, Latin ballplayers, particularly pitchers, are often derided for being too emotional on the mound. And how about those crazy European soccer players? They flop around like drama queens and even go so far as to weep on the pitch after a win or loss.

Of course, this makes sense. An athlete who can control his emotions and focus solely on the task at hand can concentrate on getting rid of the ball calmly during a blitz or getting the next batter out after having given up a home run. After all, these guys can’t break down after a sack or a missed jump shot. Suck it up, move on.

Because sports is such an important part of our identity as a nation, its lessons and culture bleed over into other parts of American life as well.

Like politics.

Last night’s vice presidential debate was anticipated like a heavyweight prize fight. Pundits discussed “the matchup,” who would deliver the most significant “blows” and would there be a “knockout?” Scores are kept, playbooks prepared and, eventually, one candidate would be deemed “the winner.”

It was a great surprise then when the most significant moment of the night came not when the woman showed up and talked tough, but when the man showed emotion and choked up. It was an honest, unscripted and heart-wrenching display that hardly ever happens in politics, much less on live TV.

Joe Biden defended his paternal love by saying that “just because I am a man” he wouldn’t understand the devastation of possibly losing a child in a life-threatening situation. He was referring to the tragic car accident that killed his wife and daughter and left both of his sons seriously injured.

In 1972, a similar display of emotion ended Edmund Muskie’s presidential campaign. Voters didn’t respond well to his perceived lack of strength while defending his wife from political attacks.

But interestingly in last night’s debate, quite the opposite was true for Biden. The undecided voters in both the CNN and CBS polls scored that moment incredibly high for the senator from Delaware. That moment was particularly moving for fathers and those of us that were raised by single dads.

My mom died of cancer when she was 29 years old and left my father a young widower faced with raising my little brother and I alone. We were 8 and 6. When I get done writing this, I’m going to call my dad to ask if that was as moving for him as it was for me.

It’s unfair to assume that women have the monopoly on parental love or concern or even emotion.

I hope that while America’s sons enjoyed watching the Boys in Blue potentially seal the deal for the series, they were able to flip the channel and see a man whose brief emotional moment may have sealed the deal for the election.

Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, NBA championships and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier,” “The George Lopez Show,” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the family film “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive produced.

Top photo: Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) is overcome by emotion during the vice presidential debate Thursday night. Credit: David McNew / Getty Images

original post