It was a reminder that there are few things in sports that create edge-of-the-seat anticipation like a Beckham free kick -- and it was a preview of local coming attractions by the international star due to join the Los Angeles Galaxy in mid-July. Beckham's 68th-minute free kick from 30 yards out on the right side found John Terry's head at the left post and the England captain nodded it home. It was the last of about half a dozen times that he lined up for a dangerous free kick and the Fox Soccer Channel's British announcer said a variation of, "This could be the moment for David Beckham!"

The Guardian's minute-by-minute blogger called it a 7.5-out-of-10 performance and said Beckham was "England's best player by some distance," meaning best in this game. In case you think the Galaxy is getting an out-of-shape oldtimer, Beckham looked very fit today. Now, if the Galaxy can merely get somebody like John Terry to run on to the end of Becks' kicks.

That was persuasive to a man who had gone to work in the local racetrack press boxes practically every day since 1955.

Cambianica died Saturday night at Arcadia Convalescent Center after a brief battle with cancer. His last visit to Santa Anita had been Wednesday, when the fifth race was named in his honor. He had announced plans to retire closing day of the Santa Anita season, which was Sunday.

In the Santa Anita press box, where lately he was a virtually year-round fixture, he was beloved for his gentle sarcasm and his helpfulness. Colleagues never did figure out his penchant for sizeable place bets.

"Fermo has always been admired by his peers for his dedication, loyalty, friendship, sense of humor and willingness to help," racecaller Trevor Denman told the Santa Anita crowd Wednesday after the event named for Cambianica.

Though he pronounced his first name "Fairmo," friends generally said it simply as "Firmo." Invariably, as Denman announced that "the main track is fast and the turf course is firm," somebody in the press box would call out, ". . . and the turf course is Cambianica."

The first time I saw Fermo Cambianica, at Hollywood Park in the mid-1980s, I sized up the stoutly built man as a fearsome operator not to be messed with. Then I heard his distinctively squeaky voice and got to know him, and realized he was the gentlest guy in the box.

Handicapper Bob Ike knew Fermo for more than 20 years.

"But I don't remember the first time I met him," Ike said Sunday. "He was just always here."

Cambianica is survived by two brothers. No services are planned, but the local tracks should find a race to name in his memory for eternity.

An update, Sunday evening: During Cambianica's hospitalization, other handicappers helped out by making picks for him. The final selections under his byline appeared in Sunday's papers. On the 10-race card at Santa Anita, he had seven winners.

Kurt Vonnegut did it.

I was walking past Vons, where an employee stood in the doorway. I asked why every store had to close if there was no electricity. I mean, I could understand a restaurant being out of commission if it couldn't heat food. I could understand a grocer's trouble selling ice cream if it's half-melted. But what's the problem at the video store (the comedy shelf was going to spoil?), the baseball-card shop or the karate studio?

"We can't ring up sales," the Vons woman said, without computers.

"Just write down what you've sold and punch it in later," I said.

A man in a manager's tie appeared in the store's semi-darkness.

"We're not going to do that," he said of my pen-and-paper idea.

"Besides," he said, "we'd be worried about safety."

OK, there would be dark corners in a big grocery store. But what would be so dangerous in the smaller stores?

"There'd be liability issues," the manager said. "The lawyers would be first in line."

There was a quote from Kurt Vonnegut with one of the obituaries Thursday morning:

"The main business of humanity is to do a good job of being human beings, not to serve as appendages to machines, institutions and systems."

The power went out and all the human beings in one big shopping center in one little corner of the globe became useless appendages to machines, etc.

So thanks for the practical lesson in the pitfalls of progress.

Now, when is Fatburger open again?

But after dueling for the lead for most of the race, Lava Man threw in the towel at the top of the long stretch on the Nad al Sheba turf course and finished 16th and last behind winner Admire Moon.

Said jockey Corey Nakatani: "With about 3 1/2 furlongs left to run he said, ‘I’ve had enough,’ and that is just not him. It is disappointing.”

Instead of winning for the first time outside of California, Lava Man ran -- if you call that running -- his out-of-state mark to 0-5.

Worst of all, he caved in against top-class horses, following his pattern on the road, where he has never been better than seventh.

So, actually, on his worst days, Lava Man has said "I've had enough" before.

Meanwhile, in California, the 6-year-old gelding trained by Doug O'Neill has won nine races in a row, including two Santa Anita Handicaps, his second Hollywood Gold Cup and a Pacific Classic.

The arduous trip to the rich race in Dubai could require a several-months recovery and cost Lava Man a shot at a record-tying third straight Hollywood Gold Cup in June.

In the biggest race on the Dubai card, 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor (Fernando Jara riding) pulled away from Premium Tap to win the $6 million Dubai World Cup. Discreet Cat, expected to challenge Invasor, finished last for his first defeat.

O'Neill did win earlier with Spring at Last (Garrett Gomez) in the $1 million Godolphin Mile. But that's little consolation for Lava Man's flop.

Now the second highweight belongs to Awesome Gem, Ball Four and Molengao, each with 116 pounds.

Here's the historical part: Lava Man becomes the first highweight to give away as many as eight pounds in the Big 'Cap since Gentlemen carried 125 to Don't Blame Rio's 117 in 1998. Silver Charm was given 124 that year but scratched the day before the race with a foot bruise. As you remember if you took the 1-20 odds, Gentlemen ran last in the four-horse field as barnmate Malek (115) won with Alex Solis.

The last highweight to concede more than eight pounds was Nodouble, who carried 130 to Figonero's 121 in 1970. Nodouble was a 6-5 favorite but finished eighth to Quicken Tree (118) and Fernando Alvarez.

7 Lava Man (124), Corey Nakatani, 4-5
If he runs as he has in his last eight starts in-state, it's hard to see how he loses
8 Arson Squad (117), Garrett Gomez, 9-2
Strub Stakes winner gets better as the races get longer, and has the leading rider
1 Awesome Gem (116), Tyler Baze, 10-1
San Fernando winner can resume rapid improvement at a price after Strub flop

Santa Anita also set the field for Saturday’s $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (formerly the Santa Catalina Stakes), for 3-year-olds pointing to the Kentucky Derby.

1. Tiago, Victor Espinoza
2. Scat Thief, Michael Baze
3. Hurry Up Austin, Jon Court
4. French Transition, Julian Leparoux
5. Saint Paul, Alex Solis
6. Tap It Light, David Cohen
7. Sam P., Garrett Gomez
8. Great Hunter, Corey Nakatani
9. Boutrous, David Flores

My second 10:
11. Scat Daddy; 12. Hard Spun; 13. Adore the Gold; 14. E Z Warrior; 15. Day Pass; 16. Forefathers; 17. Horse Greeley; 18. Belgravia; 19. Teuflesberg; 20. Drums of Thunder

Among non-players, the late Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley (44.4) and former Dodgers and Angels general manager Buzzie Bavasi (37.0) were among the top four -- but here, too, nobody hit the magic number.

Since their eligibility for the writers' ballot expired long ago, Wills, Newcombe and fans of the late Hodges have anticipated this day each year with the hope the Dodgers greats will be honored.

Wait 'til next year?

Furyk is No. 2 in the official world rankings, and Whatsisname isn’t here.

More important, Furyk has three qualities that most recent Nissan Open winners have shared: he’s experienced (rather than a young phenom), he’s accurate off the tee (instead of a long driver), and he’s in good form (not just a big name).

Furyk, 36, is third in the PGA Tour’s drives-in-fairway percentage stat, and is coming off fourth- and sixth-place finishes. Toms, 40, was 30th in drives-in-fairway last season, and has finished eighth, 13th and eighth in his latest tournaments.

Looking good in two of the three key categories: Mickelson, Vijay Singh (8-1), Luke Donald (15-1), Stuart Appleby (25-1), Mike Weir (25-1), and Allenby.

Furyk tied for 12th in the Nissan last year.

Here are Las Vegas’ full Nissan odds (cribbed from the Daily Racing Form):

6-1 – Mickelson
8-1 – Singh
10-1 – Ernie Els
15-1 – Donald, Furyk, Retief Goosen, Adam Scott
20-1 – Sergio Garcia
25-1 – Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, Stewart Cink, Padraig Harrington, Trevor Immelman, Weir
30-1 – Chris DiMarco, Charles Howell III, Justin Rose, Toms
35-1 – Allenby, Sabbatini
2-1 – Everybody else

"I thought it didn't matter what race, religion, etc., you were because here in the U.S. you always had the freedom to say what you believe. Thanks for setting us all straight that only the famous people given a pass are those that spew hate for America, our President or Christians. Now I understand who you are as a person."

"In a country that was founded 'under God,' why had it become such a big deal to mention his name? Why does everything have to be politically correct? Modesti, if you go along with that, you stand in jeopardy of ending the Constitutional Ammendments of freedom of the press or freedom of speech. ... Do you want to give up freedom of press? You offend us the reader more often than Dungy with some of the stuff you write. So I start writing your editor to get you censored? It is time that we all become big boys and girls and not get so frazzled about the small stuff."

"Buzinski ... is not a good source since the site it (his column) is on is immoral."

"I am thinking you probably didn’t have much of a problem with Janet Jackson’s nipple display. So, do you teach your kids to hate God but excuse public nudity? You need to rethink what drives you."

"I find it very refreshing to hear someone give the glory to someone else … even if that someone else is our creator. Stirring up a hornets nest among liberals, atheists and ACLU pundits is, well, what those groups seem to salivate for anyway. Besides, believe in Him or not, it doesn’t change the fact …He is our creator."

"Why is it that former Dodger Shawn Green is praised by the media when he doesn't play on Jewish holidays? Why isn't he condemned by the same media when he consistently states he is proud of his faith? May that be because it is politically incorrect to criticize Jews but entirely acceptable to criticize Christians?"

"Dungy did what every faithful follower of Christ would do, that is to glorify God. Read Jer. 9:23-24 or I Cor. 10:31 if you doubt the importance of this for a believer. A disciple of Jesus is under a constant mandate to witness (Acts 1:8) and that Dungy, (Colts owner Jim) Irsay, and (Chicago Bears coach Lovie) Smith did quite well, to the consternation of those seeking their own racial triumph "angle" to the contest."

"Should believers of other religions take offense from any or all of this? No. Dungy is proud of his beliefs and how he acted and believes that he is being a positive role model. If others don’t feel the same way about what they believe and how they act, they might want to reconsider what they believe in and how they act."

"When I see Tony Dungy, I see a fine Christian man, an excellent coach, and an excellent example before I see that he is black. Our society would be light years ahead if everyone saw things this way (my opinion, of course)."

"Give the man his due and back down on your righteous interpretation of his alleged superiority. Respect for others' beliefs means everyone's beliefs, not just non-Christians."

"You see, Kevin, what we have is not a 'religion.' It's a relationship with Jesus Christ! And the last time I looked at the Constitution, it guaranteed us 'freedom of religion,' not freedom from religion!"

"I find it both bothersome and disturbing when journalists take it upon themselves to write articles sparking debate and questioning the simple statements made by individuals, especially those made by Tony Dungy, a highly respected man in and out of pro football. ... (Y)our article and other oral commentary by sportscasters only creates heated debate. Is this what you want?"

"You secular progressive sportswriters can't handle a Christian coach giving glory to God. But it's nothing new. Skip Bayless made a career by ripping Tom Landry 30 years ago. You can't understand how central faith can be to a person's life and work."

"Does someone always have to be offended? Give the guy credit. He's got his priorities in order. Great article. Thanks!"

Here's the entire line from my play-by-play notes about the incident that led to Kobe Bryant's suspension by the NBA for one game without pay, Tuesday night's game at New York, costing the guard six figures in salary:

(2.7) / x24 bx20
OT

On the next line of the notebook, I wrote:

(20 hurt?)

Ginobili had sunk to the floor, clutching his face, and begun OT on the bench, attended by the trainer.

But there was no hint of controversy or anger from either side. I remember that as the teams lined up for the OT center tip, Bryant's lips could be read asking Bruce Bowen, "Is Manu all right?" And repeating it when the question couldn't be heard over the crowd noise.

By all appearances, Bowen did not answer, "Manu's lucky to be alive, no thanks to you, and he says he'll see you in court!"

What a stupid suspension, also costing fans at Madison Square Garden a chance to watch Bryant and (we'll find out shortly) maybe costing the Lakers a victory. Bryant swung his arms, apparenty trying to draw a foul, and his right elbow caught Ginobili in the face. But no foul was called on Bryant or Ginobili, the Spurs guard was back on the court in minutes, and nobody thought twice about the brief episode.

It's instructive to look back at what was written about these incidents at the moment. I checked the Daily News, the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register. None of us even mentioned it in Monday's papers.

It was an accidental collision in a contact sport.

So having licked all of its other problems, from violence on the court to players' sloppy dress off it, the NBA front office has sent out another message by suspending Bryant:

Accidents will not be tolerated!

OK, whatever you say.

Writing sports, I'm always around people who are in to win. I notice that unless they're underdogs desperate to be taken seriously, they never need to point it out. So why does a politician with far more than an Orange Bowl at stake, one favored in the polls to win her party's nomination, punctuate her presidential candidacy kickoff by stating the obvious?

She is refreshingly blunt compared to mealy-mouthed candidates who vow merely to be the voice of the voiceless, further a just and productive society, restore America's respect around the world, etc.

In to win? Maybe she likes the rhyme and the easy fit for one-column headlines, which we in newspapers believe should be the first concern of all public figures.