The clincher came when I covered the first half of the Arrowhead Christian football game, only to discover we already had a reporter there. Ugh. My bad ... I guess.

So I repaired to The Bell, where nobody knows my name.

The Bella-Highland Cafe and Bar - also known as "The Bell" - is a modest-looking place on Palm Ave. in the Highland's quaint Historic District.

It is deceptively spacious and brightly lit, contrasting its drab exterior.

There's a small pool table and an old wood shuffleboard table - the latter lovingly maintained by the bar's owners. Mounted on the back wall is an ancient, weathered "HIGHLAND" sign that once welcomed visitors to the area.

On a previous visit, a gent named Brandon explained: "A train used to run through here and this was the sign for the train stop," he said. "The train stopped right here."

Above the bar hangs an actual bell, the color black as midnight. Patrons ask the bartender to ring it before they buy a a round.

As I plopped down on a barstool, I couldn't help but notice the big black sign on the wall: "The Bell's 4th annual "Pimp 'n' Ho" Party. Saturday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m."

Gotta ask about that, I thought.

"Gimme an O'Doul's," I said to the barkeep, who turned out to be co-owner Bryce Warren, 30, a 1997 San Gorgonio High grad.

The O'Doul's thing always draws the attention of working-class Bell types. They survey my grill and threads, drying to discern if I'm a cop, or a priest, or what the deal is.

Actually, neither. That night I was a reporter for The Sun. Tomorrow, a new gig awaits.

Turns out these are jubilant days at The Bell. The neighborhood watering hole Tuesday night got the Planning Commission thumbs-up for a liquor license. No longer will it be just a beer-and-wine place.

There are a bunch of conditions, which are too boring to list. Basically, The Bell can't revert to the biker haven it was some time before Warren and Ernesto Silva, 26, of Highland took it over in 2004.

It also has to avoid annoying the bejesus out of the six churches in the area, some of whom have clergy living in the area.

That's where the "Pimps and Ho's" extravaganza comes in.

"Don't put that in there," said Warren, worried about bad publicty and sneaking a nervous glance at my notepad. .

Hmmm, probably should of thought of that before he hanged the banner. .
.
As "Sweet Home Alabama" poured out of the speakers, Warren said the controversial promotion was a vestige from 2004 when The Bell rolled out a stream of gimmick nights, in an attempt to boost patronage.

"This is the last time we're having it," said Warren, who noted that it was a tongue-in-cheek affair, not to be taken seriously.

"Probably best," I said.

And with that I shifted in my seat and glanced pensively at the clock.

"Another one?" Warren said.

"Nah. I really have to go now."

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For more from the Prep-dog log onto:

http://www.insidesocal.com/sb/prepdog

Last Tuesday night I was working in the Sun sports department, taking calls. Well, working could be an overstatement. I was "in the office" drinking copious amount of coffee and typing volleyball and tennis results.

Glancing at a recent copy of The Sun, something caught my eye.

"Hey, we beat the P-E on that Jayson Allmond thing," I said to co-worker Pete Marshall.

Then I paused, recalling where I was headed soon.

"I'm not sure how I feel about that," I said.

Marshall: "Yeah, you should really clarify when you say "we."

These are strange, confusing days for the Prep-dog.

It's not a bad feeling for the moment, though it doesn't fit my budget for the long term.

I've been researching my next destination. As a Giants' fan, of course I knew The Bondses and Dusty Baker are from there. What I didn't know is that some rapper named "Saint Dog" hails from this land of navel oranges. Dang, Saint Dog. That has a ring to it. If I had thought of it first and then died and had a school named after me, it would be "Saint Dog High." How awesome would that be?

Can you envision the headline ... "Saint Dog bites Aquinas."

Yesterday me and the Caltrans girl decided to bop down to Riverside for lunch. But we yukked it up so much that we wound up ln Old Town Orange, one of my favorite places. That meant a trip to the Cuban restaurant there. I recommend it.

Stopped at Redlands WalMart on way back. Prominent in men's dept. were Redlands Terriers and REV Wildcats gear, side-by-side. No escaping this rivalry. It stalks me. Mentone Hater, are you out there?

"Yeah, he's done," said Greg Lathrop of Santa Cruz, a former co-worker and close friend of Murphy's "I've known about it for a few weeks."

Murphy recently raised the ire of Redlands Terrier fans by noting some smack-talk regarding arch-rival Redlands East Valley in the Terrier football game program.

Lathrop said the timing of Murphy's departure and the Terrier firestorm are not related.

"What's a Smudge Pot?" Lathrop said. "That isn't it. Have you tried calling John."

Murphy was unavailable for comment.

However, Catherine Murphy, 94-year-old mother of the veteran journalist, confirmed the news by telephone from the Mercy Retirement and Care Center in Oakland.

"Oh yes," she said. "I think he's going somewhere. You can't stay at a place forever, you know."

-0-

"Sources close to the situation" - I've used that a few times. Learned it from former Sun sports editor Paul Oberjuerge and my predecessor as the prep sports guy, Louis Amestoy. Amestoy is now second in charge of the Sun newspaper. He helped me get the job eight years ago at The Sun. He always had my back.

Many was the day I'd lean into Oberjuerge's cubicle at the old Sun office on D Street in San Bernardino. Or I'd call him at home. I'd have some hot news tip gleaned from a variety of anonymous sources. PaulO would mull over the problem for a moment, then steer me in the exact right direction. Story published.

"We're in a competitive situation here," Amestoy said (I'm paraphrasing) when he broke me in back in 2000. Sometimes we have to do things that are borderline, journalistically."

Amestoy took me on his Athlete of the Week rounds, where we took photos of the athletes and asked questions. The two athletic directors I met were Jim Taylor of Yucaipa and John Powell of San Gorgonio. Amestoy said they were good guys to know. He was right.

They've both been retired for several years, but I still speak to them. Just got an e-mail from Taylor, in fact.

My tenure began on Sept. 15, 2000. I remember, because my son Kyle was born the day before. My first assignment was Apple Valley at Cajon football. Cajon's Exnor Cox ran for 250 yards. I met Cowboy coach Rich Imbriani. He's now the Cajon athletic director and another stand-up guy.

A lot happens in eight years. A son born, 9-11, my Giants blow the World Series, my father dies, the Sun sports department merges with the Daily Bulletin, etc.

I worked in three different newspaper buildings, had four sports editors and watched scads of co-workers come and go. It was challenging, but it was also fun. I learned so much at The Sun.

My main worries in going from Victorville to The Sun were these: Could I get the stories first, as PaulO demanded. And could I write the hard story? I had little experience with either.

It was tough, but I guess I adapted. By last spring I was feeling like the Dirty Harry of prep sportswriters. I'd call an athletic director and there'd be this pause, as their mind raced for some possible indiscretion.

One day I got a tip that eight players had been booted from the Carter baseball team. I made a few calls, but I knew people were BS'ing me. So I hopped in my car and drove to Carter, which had a game that day. En route I called Lions athletic director Joe Paluba.

"Joe, I can't understand a word you're you're saying - you're breaking up," I said to Paluba.

"Maybe that's a good thing," Paluba said. We both laughed.

David Dash. Pacific athletics in turmoil. REV forfeits track title. Loma Linda Academy's baseball coaching staff ejected. Fire Ants on the Rialto football field. What a ride.

At the Rialto district, the dialogue was always the same. I'd call information officer Syeda Jafri and hear "Oh God, John Murphy. Everyone in the office just rolled their eyes when they heard your name. What do you want NOW?"

I'd laugh nervously, then ask my question.

As for the San Bernardino district, well, I hope they lift the district-wide ban on blog-reading soon. It cost me a lot of page hits.

The news wasn't all bad. There were blind runners at Kaiser, a Western Regional ump who kicked drugs, a one-handed football player at Serrano, a gutsy cancer survivor in Twentynine Palms.

Just last week I interviewed REV volleyball players Tori Brummett and Casey Tidwell. Delightful girls. Talented, humorous and so intelligent. As a writer, meeting such upbeat, achieving kids is a boost to the spirit. Always has been for me. The story and photo will be published soon, I'm told.

A month ago I was approached indirectly by another newspaper. An interview followed. The situation sounded good. Close to my home, Prep-kid and the Caltrans girl. We prayed about it, and two weeks ago i accepted.

Then came the hard part. I informed Amestoy and sports editor Louis Brewster, giving my two week's notice.

They took me up on the two weeks, which is unusual in that I'm headed for the competition.

It was awkward, but it ended on a positive note. Louis Brewster and I shook hands yesterday and wished each other well. As I said recently on Oberjuerge's blog, there is a core of very talented, hard-working people in the Sun sports department. Besides Brewster, they are Brian Goff, Michelle Gardner, Peter Moberly, Pete Marshall, T.J. Berka, Clay Fowler, J.P. Hoornstra, Lindsay Czarnecki and part-timer Mark Garcia. Recently a college kid named Mike was hired to take phone calls. He's stellar, too.

While Brewster and I chatted, executive editor Steve Lambert came by. "I should be mad about you going over to the Evil Empire," he began. In the same breath he said there were good people at the competition, as well.

"I'll drag 'em down," i joked.

Well, today's my last day, then a new adventure begins. Thanks for putting up with me, Sun and Prep-dog readers.

Special thanks to co-workers Wes Hughes, Jerry Rice, all the photographers, my family in the Bay Area, the Prep-Kid, the Caltrans Girl and all who took the time to comment on my blog.

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

When she was a 6-foot-1 14-year-old and had just graduated from middle school, and after being named to the USA Select Gold Team, Krista Vansant was already being compared to former Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach) star, and current Stanford All-American sophomore, Alex Klineman.

Now, she's a 15-year-old high school sophomore at Redlands East Valley, 6-foot-2 and still growing, and one of the nation's top volleyball recruiting prospects.

"She may still grow another inch or two according to the doctors, her mother and coach, Tricia Vansant, told CalHisports.com about her sprouting young daughter.

"Part of the reason for Krista's success is she's been around the sport since she was a baby, says Tricia, a fourth-grade teacher in Redlands, who's in her eighth year coaching the Wildcat girls' volleyball team.

"She's always paid attention and absorbs so much, and she truly loves the game, said the 6-2 Tricia, a basketball and volleyball player in high school at La Mirada, and a basketball player in college at Loyola Marymount.

"Krista is really smart on the court and picks up opponent's weaknesses quickly, continued Tricia, who last year led Redlands East Valley to the CIF Southern Section Div. IIA title before a first-round loss to Carlsbad in the Southern California Regionals.

This year, the Wildcats are off to a 26-1 start thanks to the excellent play of Krista and teammates, including Victoria Brummett, a 6-4 senior middle hitter, Casey Tidwell, a 6-2 senior middle blocker, and 5-11 junior setter Johnna Fouch.

The Wildcats certainly are not lacking in height.

They're not lacking in stats, either, with Krista leading the overall charge.

To read the rest of the article, visit www.calhisports.com. And to read Prep-dog's upcoming feature on REV middle hitters Tori Brummett and Casey Tidwell, visit sbsun.com soon.