Quick, act surprised

VAN NUYS - A routine trip to the Social Security office Monday turned into 30 minutes of shock, disbelief and irritation for Lapriss Gilbert, who was forced to leave the federal building by a guard who objected to her "lesbian.com" T-shirt.

As she headed for a line to pick up a Social Security card for her son, Gilbert was stopped by a guard who said her T-shirt, naming an educational and resource Web site for gay women, was offensive.

She said the guard, who works for a private company hired by the Department of Homeland Security, demanded that she leave the building or face arrest.

This will end in tears

It's an interesting dilemma. Let's say you're a top athlete, 24 years old and one of the best in your field in the three years you've been a pro. Your team has been scratching at the gates of brilliance, and this season stands to be the best it's ever seen. But you've got ligament damage, two ligaments torn in your knee.

You could get surgery to fix it, but you'd sit out this season, and who knows how much of the team, the staff, its cohesion would last through a full season of free agency and drafts?

On the other hand, if you opt to play this season without surgery, the doctors -- multiple, after multiple opinions were sought -- warn you that damaging the knee could end your entire career.

It's not a hypothetical situation, sadly. The player in question, Shawne Merriman, has apparently chosen the former route, to play on that injured knee, roll the dice on this one season. Reaction has been mostly on the side of disappointment to horror -- the man is one illegal block away from professional oblivion, and the Chargers play the Oakland "Rules? What Rules?" Raiders twice each season.

On the other hand, the average NFL career is three and a half seasons long, and I gotta respect what he's trying to do here. I thought the man was a colossal dick for using steroids, not just for risking his own health but depriving the team of his talents for four games after suspension. It strikes me that the easy way, the safe way, the eventually-more-lucrative way is to get that surgery, take the year off, come back and sign a long-term contract after recuperating. Maybe it's his personal drive to get a ring, realizing this is probably as close as his team will ever get to that magical season. Maybe it's self-interest to cash in, strike while the iron is hot. Maybe there's more to it.

Still, it's a gusty if stupid call, and I can't help but like it.