Is it "back to the future" in 2011?

This sports year has begun with a retro renaissance of sorts, including this matchup of NFL bluebloods in the Super Bowl. My post on ESPN.com's Page 2: http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=6077236

Stories from a veteran cop

Lt. Dan Willis has been with the La Mesa Police Department for 21 years and done almost every duty imaginable. He's been involved in homicides, cold cases and the famous "Bumfights" saga. His profile, for "A Living in La Mesa": http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/seeking-bad-guys-and-balance-21-year-veteran-policeman-dan-willis

Baseball's most ardent fans

The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) is a group of more than 7,000 fans worldwide who like to crunch numbers, analyze the game and study its trends, characters and personalities. My feature on national SABR Day 2011, that ran on ESPN.com: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?id=6063583&sportCat=mlb

Student of the Civil War

Bob Bell of La Mesa has spent nearly 50 years studying about the American Civil War, visiting battlefields and taking part in San Diego's Civil War Round Table. As the 150th anniversary of the start of the war approaches, he hopes Americans pay more attention to the people who were a part of it and the causes, issues and ramifications of the conflict. http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/civil-wars-slaughter-taught-la-mesan-the-preciousness-of-life

Strong in his faith

Mark Menacher's goal was to study science and become a doctor. But his faith stepped in and pointed him in another direction. Now the pastor of a small congregation in La Mesa, Menacher has helped heal past wounds. His profile for "A Living in La Mesa":  http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/pastor-mark-menacher-rebuilds-st-lukes-with-quiet-strength#c

It's been a long time since Jets' super season

Will the New York Jets return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1969? Maybe, maybe not. But a lot has happened since Joe Willie Namath and the Jets upset the Colts in Super Bowl III. My item on ESPN.com's Page 2: http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=6030237

She has a way with dogs

Aleita Downer found a talent she didn't know she had -- for training dogs -- when she lost her longtime job as a telephone operator. Her profile, for "A Living in La Mesa": http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/golden-opportunity-how-summerdog-retrieved-a-life-for-out-of-work-operator

A teenage digitial dinosaur ...

More on Dennis Enarson, this time from a post on ESPN.com's Page 2. He's a 19-year-old kid who isn't into Facebook and Twitter, but would rather meet people face-to-face: http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=6019190

Personal trainer provides the "push" that many need

Stacia Weisbach is part coach, part teacher, part psychologist and part "pusher" when she works with a client. As a personal fitness trainer, her goal is to reach her client any way she can. Her story, in my "A Living in La Mesa" column: http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/no-screaming-jillian-michaels-impersonation-for-this-personal-trainer#c

Where's the "delay of game" penalty?

When Oregon and Auburn meet for the championship of college football Monday night, it will have been 36 days since the Ducks and Tigers last played. That's a big gap. What can be done in 36 days? Read my piece that ran on ESPN.com's Page 2: http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=5998194

No fear, no worries ... just a BMX star

Dennis Enarson is just 19 years old, an age when most people have no idea what they'll do for a living. But Enarson is a pro BMX star, a standout on the Dew Tour and at the X Games and a sensation because of what he does in BMX videos. A profile of Enarson: http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/grossmont-high-grad-enarson-finally-gets-a-break-from-injuries-on-bmx-circuit#c

La Mesa's "Secret Stairs"

In the hills of La Mesa are some almost century-old public stairways, reminiscent of ones I've walked on in San Francisco. These are the "Secret Stairs" of La Mesa. http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/secret-on-the-mount-quad-busting-public-stairways-are-heaven-to-hikers

He has the golden touch

Terry Whyte found his calling when he watched a teacher demonstrate silver soldering during a class in college. From that point on, he's made jewelry of all kinds, while getting much of his inspiration from the world around him -- particularly the ocean. His profile, for my "A Living in La Mesa" column: http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/surferjeweler-has-one-of-oldest-shops-in-the-village-but-fresh-with-creativity

Keeping up with the Smiths

Alex Smith and Troy Smith, quarterbacks for the San Francisco 49ers, are a one-of-a-kind combo in the NFL. Check out this item that ran on ESPN.com's Page 2: http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=5946741

Remembering "San Diego Stinkin' State" ...

Before SDSU tasted its success in both football and basketball under coaches Brady Hoke and Steve Fisher, it went through some tough times and a lot of dissing. Remembering some of those embarrassing moments on ESPN.com's Page 2 blog: http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=5943252

The former Brown still bleeds Red & Black ...

Brian Sipe once was an All-America quarterback at SDSU and the MVP of the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns. Now, he's back at San Diego State as quarterbacks coach and the Aztecs are in their first bowl games since 1998. http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/whos-your-daddys-quarterback-brian-sipe-returns-to-bowl-season

The place to go for a cup of Joe...

Jitters is a cool name for a coffee shop. It's an old-fashioned little neighborhood place in downtown La Mesa with a lot of character. And Jessica Beedy, a barista at Jitters, is a fun woman with a lot of character herself, who feeds the caffeine cravings of her customers. My profile of her for my "A Living in La Mesa" column: http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/doing-the-daily-jitterbug-beedy-the-barista-fuels-her-customers#c

A holiday movie guide for sports fans

Here's something I wrote for ESPN.com's Page 2 on what the plot lines of current movies might be: http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=5923572

The Man in the Red Suit

Sean Celecki has been playing Santa Claus for 24 years, the last 14 in the same mall. You wear the red suit that long, you have some stories. My profile of him in my "A Living in La Mesa" column: http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/grossmont-centers-gift-to-children-sean-celecki-aka-santa-claus#c

The Padres' "Curse of the Iguana"

With the trading of Adrian Gonzalez, the Padres have protected one of the longest records in the major leagues: Nate Colbert's puny team home record of 163, set back in the early '70s. My item on the "Curse of the Iguana" that ran on ESPN.com's Page 2: http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=5891495