Kip

Since Irvin "Kip" Kipper founded Kip's Toyland in 1945, he's seen the rise of Toys R Us, Kmart and Wal-Mart, and he learned to adapt by capitalizing on his Farmers Market location and catering to his core customers. Kipper was interviewed by Karen Kaplan. In 1945, there was no such thing as a year-round toy store. Hardware stores used to put in a toy department in early November and that would last for a couple of months, and department stores would do promotions at Christmastime.

From the trunk of a rental car, Greg Arnet started a revolution. He crossed the nation with a secret weapon he and his son Kip created that changed the face of style. In four years, San Clemente-based Arnet sunglasses have generated phenomenal interest among consumers, the media and the entertainment industry.

Astrophysicists who can write are a lucky bunch. In books with titles that virtually proclaim them to be modern-day Sufi mystics or Jewish cabalists (recent publications include "Aspects of Eternity" and "Wrinkles in Time"), they get to bend our minds with a universe of astonishing-but-true facts. In a scientifically plausible story that opens this warm and wise book, for instance, Caltech physics professor Kip Thorne takes us near the "event horizon" or opening of a black hole.

Kip Gross did not join the Dodgers in their group embrace Monday after they swept their second doubleheader in four days, but that doesn't mean he didn't celebrate. Somewhere out on Interstate 10, maybe he honked his horn. After defeating the Montreal Expos in the first game, 8-3, Gross said he would listen to the second game, the Dodgers' 4-3 comeback victory, while driving a compact truck he recently purchased from teammate Dave Hansen. Destination? Albuquerque.

The Dodgers bid farewell to a veteran power hitter Wednesday, just in time to welcome another one. Eddie Murray is gone, but Eric Davis is on his way. Shortly after first baseman Murray signed a two-year contract with the New York Mets, the Dodgers acquired outfielder Davis from the Cincinnati Reds with pitcher Kip Gross in a trade for pitcher Tim Belcher and John Wetteland.

When Kip Didericksen rode Beda Cheng to victory recently in the Mr. California Handicap at Los Alamitos, the connection was not lost on the 22-year-old quarter horse jockey. The last time Didericksen rode Beda Cheng was in July 1987. The last time Didericksen was supposed to have ridden the horse was Aug. 2, 1987. "That was the horse," Didericksen said a few days after the Mr. California.

Kip Dukes' mind was racing. What had he done wrong? Why was the coach, to whom he had just been introduced, standing before the entire Cal State Northridge football team and demanding to know who had worn jersey No. 11 last season? That was his number all right, but he hadn't gotten in trouble, had he? Certainly not while wearing his uniform. . . . Nervously, Dukes clenched his teeth and raised one hand. With the other hand, he tried to steady his shaking knees.

When Kip Didericksen was 17, which was not that long ago, he was riding quarter horses in meccas like Le Bois Park, the Flathead Fairgrounds and the Cow Capital Turf Club. That was in 1983. By late 1984, Didericksen, the son of a retired trainer who has become a racing official in Boise, Ida., knew he wasn't in the sport's big leagues. "The guys around me at those small tracks were all struggling," Didericksen said. "I decided to try California.

The name is Kip. Disregard the multisyllabic addendum--Didericksen. There is no magic to Didericksen, no Huckleberry Finn innocence. But Kip. That name is reserved for matinee cowboys and heroes of teen-age mystery novels. And, for a 20-year-old from the country who has taken the big city--OK, Cypress--by storm. Kip Didericksen is a quarter horse jockey. As of Tuesday, he was the leading jockey in terms of victories (49) at Los Alamitos Race Course.