OC INSIDER
by Rick Reiff
Bond Baron Gross Grills Bill Ford, Golfs with Tiger
William Clay Ford Jr. visited Bill Gross recently, docking his boat in Newport Harbor and entering PIMCO’s Newport Center HQ accompanied by a finance officer and six bodyguards. The Ford Motor heir/new CEO was there to discuss his company’s planned $2 billion debt offering. Questioning by bond guru Gross and one of his analysts was described as tough. A few days later, Gross, a 16-handicapper at Big Canyon CC, was all smiles when he got into the final-day foursome with Tiger Woods at the AT & T; Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
Fred Glusman’s purchase of The Ritz is a done deal, finally. Fifi Chao has the details, page 40
Hadi and Barbara Makarechian are co-hosting a New Majority bash ($250 a person) at the St. Regis Hotel in Monarch Beach March 22 that promises to feature a “senior Bush Administration person” and a “well-known television or movie personality.” Scuttlebutt is that if Fox News’ Sean Hannity can’t be lured, likely attendee Arnold Schwarzenegger might be asked to emcee
Dick and Lynne Cheney are set to visit Chapman U next week for some invitation-only events
The Insider hears that supe Jim Silva gave $10,000 to the anti-Great Park “No on Measure W” campaign during a $500-a-plate fundraiser at Antonello’s last week. At the other extreme, George Somogyi of Laguna Niguel is offering 10 Disneyland tickets to the kids who raise the most money for the “Yes on W” effort by selling lemonade
El Toro International: Before heading for Salt Lake City, six Swedish Olympic snowboarders drove around El Toro in sports cars to help countryman-turned-SoCal race instructor Samuel Hubinette kick off his Scandinavian Driving School. Hubinette’s website is www.drivesds.com
OC Congressman Chris Cox told the National Review, “The looting at Enron is not over. It’s now the lawyers’ turns.” More on page 51
Happy 40th to The Busch Firm managing partner Rick Weiner
Jack and Arnie won’t be there, but rookies Fuzzy Zoeller and Ben Crenshaw will join Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Hale Irwin and other greats at the Toshiba Senior Classic, benefiting Hoag Hospital Foundation, March 4 through 10 at Newport Beach CC. Call (949) 660-1001
Let’s end this column with a Valentine from EE RR to Ms. DDG and a few appropriate OC license plates ( * = heart symbol ):
*UCUTY
HTDOG*R
HRTM8S
I WUD*2
*BNSASY
I*USCTO
