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Bartender, gimme a shot of cardinal and gold

LOLITA HARPER

All signs are pointing to a very good football season this year.

I am still reeling from the stellar play of my beloved Trojans in

their season opener against then sixth-ranked Auburn -- now knocked

down to 17, thanks to the spirit of Troy.

The cardinal and gold defense absolutely rolled over the Tigers

and took a lot of the pressure off their own quarterback Matt Leinart

by forcing three turnovers and setting up 17 points. I wasn’t sure if

I was watching a football game, or a circus, with all the juggling

Auburn was doing.

So, I go out to celebrate not just a Trojan win but a shut out,

and who do I see? San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia just

chillin’ at the Newport Brewing Company (Fellow Pilot reporter

Deirdre Newman, possibly one of the biggest Niners fans I know, is

probably dying right now reading this.)

As my friends and co-workers know, I am not exactly a San

Francisco fan, but I respect the game and admire the amount of

physical discipline, strength and talent it takes to play at that

level. So it was an honor to introduce myself to Garcia. He was

polite and totally forgiving of my interrupting his night to shake

his hand.

Moments later, Newport Brewing Company owner Jerry Kolby put the

quarterback to work behind the bar, and Garcia happily poured drinks

for the thirsty crowd. It was like a scene from the movie “Cocktail.”

My fortunate run-in with the football star was a good omen for the

upcoming season (more on that later) and a wonderful sample of

professional football, which makes its debut Thursday night. Woo hoo!

That’s right: the Redskins and the Jets will go head to head to

kick off the official season of the National Football League. It

should be an interesting game, considering the Redskins recently

signed four former Jets to their roster. (One of them being former

Trojan running back Chad Morton. Fight on.)

My best friend Adrienne Whipple and I have been waiting for 6 p.m.

Thursday since Jan. 27. Thursday is the start of hours down at a

beachside bar -- properly equipped with plenty of big screens -- or

home on the couch with NFL Ticket. It is the start of watching John

Lynch punish running backs who have made it passed the line of

scrimmage and Deuce McAllister juke linemen out of their shoes.

It is the start of trash talking in the office and there is plenty

of that at the Daily Pilot. Editor Tony Dodero is a huge UCLA fan and

Managing Editor S.J. Cahn is a graduate of Notre Dame, so I am in

extremely hostile territory. Both of them were not-so-happy Tuesday

morning when I gleefully rubbed SC’s trouncing of the Tigers in their

faces.

It is finally football season and it seems my unfortunate jinks is

a thing of the past. (Quick, knock on wood.)

Allow me to explain: My first year at Woodbridge High School in

Irvine coincidentally marked the beginning of a 26-game losing streak

for the football team. It wasn’t until two years after I graduated

that the Warriors finally won a CIF championship.

In 1996, USC won the Rose bowl but by the time fall rolled around

-- and I had begun my freshman year -- the team didn’t even get a

bowl bid. They slowly went from barely winning seasons, to break-even

seasons to pathetic losing seasons. At least we beat UCLA my senior

year (1999) when both teams were playing for the coveted title of

worst team in the PAC 10. Yikes.

Two years after I graduated, USC went 11-2, sharing the conference

title with Washington State, and lifted quarterback Carson Palmer to

Heisman trophy greatness.

Think this jinx thing is silly? Look at the last time USC won a

national championship: 1978, under coach John Robinson. Guess what

year I was born?

But, like I said, I think my jinx is wearing off, which means I am

even more excited for football season. See you in the bars for the

big games, save me some pretzels and fight on!

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