Tides

On the beach at the Children's Pool, curious tourists and locals, many with cameras at the ready, approached the dozens of harbor seals sleeping in the noonday sun. From her vantage point on the sidewalk overlooking the horseshoe-shaped beach, Dorota Valli, a volunteer with the unofficial Seal Watch Campaign, was ready with her bullhorn. "Ladies and gentlemen," she announced sternly, "please stay behind the rope. The seals are pregnant and they need their rest. No picture is worth hurting the seals.

Large, powerful waves pounded the Southern California coastline Friday, causing one pier to close as officials warned beachgoers to exercise caution. A high-surf advisory through Saturday, issued by the National Weather Service, forecasts swells of up to 10 feet, high tides and possible flooding in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The monstrous waves drew thrill-seeking surfers into the ocean and observers to the beaches. But officials advised those in and near the sea to be aware of waves powerful enough to topple unsuspecting people walking on the beach.

Reporting from New Orleans -- Trent Richardson rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns in Alabama's national title win over Texas two Januarys ago at the Rose Bowl. You could look it up. He was in the team picture and everything. Yet Richardson will mostly be remembered as a contributing editor to the script. He was a freshman, playing behind Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner. Mark Ingram was the lead luminary on that team of stars that included Julio Jones, Terrence Cody, Javier Arenas, Rolando McClain and Marcell Dareus.

From New Orleans — The legend of AJ McCarron has only just begun in Alabama football. You can't be a legend, even when you are playing quarterback for one of the storied programs in the sport, if everybody sees your job as putting a few points on the board between spectacular plays by your defense. You can't be a legend if you direct your team to a total of six points in your biggest game of the year, the 9-6 overtime loss to Louisiana State on Nov. 5. You can't be a legend if your coach says it might be best for a first-year-starting quarterback to be shielded from the media all season during the week, and you agree.

For years, San Francisco's Ocean Beach has been under assault by such powerful surf that a fierce winter storm can scour away 25 feet of bluff in just days. The startling pace of the erosion near the San Francisco Zoo has compelled the city to spend $5 million to shore up the crumbling bluffs. The strategy has been simple: drop huge rocks and mounds of sand to protect the nearby Great Highway and the sewer pipes underneath from being destroyed by the crashing waves. But as the enormous rocks have piled up, adding to a jumble of concrete — chunks of curb and bits and pieces of gutters — from parking lots that have tumbled onto the shore, so too have the demands that the city get rid of it all and let the coastline retreat naturally.

It was hardly the Battle of L.A. That was last week, when Chris Paul ended up with the Clippers instead of their sun-is-always-shining rivals down the hall at Staples Center. Score another one for the Clippers, though, who beat the Lakers in an exhibition opener, 114-95, Monday night. It was a small-scale victory to be remembered by nobody in a week, but the Clippers will take what they can get against the Lakers. PHOTOS: Lakers vs. Clippers They looked younger and hungrier after the long lockout layoff, and they'll get another chance to prove it Wednesday when the teams meet again at Staples Center.

It's fitting only 0.0086 ended up separating No. 3 Oklahoma State from No. 2 Alabama in the final Bowl Championship Series standings. This is the year everything got 0.0086'd. It was never accurate to say before Sunday that Louisiana State and Alabama were "clearly" the two best teams in the country. And you still can't, because in the final BCS standings Alabama and Oklahoma State nearly ended up in a statistical draw. Had one BCS computer flipped and a few more voters considered Oklahoma State's case, we'd be getting an entirely more festive bowl season.

As people stroll Balboa Island's picturesque waterfront, some wonder how much one of those cozy cottages costs. City officials think about another price tag: how much it will take to defend those homes against rising sea levels. City engineers revealed last month that it could cost about $60 million to replace Balboa Island's aging seawalls; otherwise, residents could risk more high tides washing into their streets and homes. The island, 4 to 8 feet above sea level, represents only a small portion of coastal communities' looming problems from climate change.

reporting from atlanta -- Is it time for a rematch, or time to reconsider? Should the title game be a do-over between Louisiana State and Alabama or a move-over featuring LSU vs. Oklahoma State? Is everyone braced for college football's version of Truman's comeback victory over Dewey? Not even Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy believed his No. 3 Cowboys had a chance of passing No. 2 Alabama this week in the Bowl Championship Series standings. Gundy, foolishly, came out this week and said even he would vote Alabama No.2.

Auburn won the Iron Bowl against Alabama last season after trailing 24-7 at halftime. Auburn trailed by the same score Saturday. Could the impossible happen twice? Not without Cam Newton at quarterback for the Tigers. Auburn, this season, should have been checked for iron-poor blood. Thanks a lot. Louisiana State's Tigers did their part Friday by saddling a second loss on No. 3 Arkansas and knocking the Razorbacks out of the national title argument. Auburn's Tigers could have spared the nation a week of numbers-gnashing by putting a second loss on Alabama at Jordan-Hare Stadium.