Catching playoff fever -- Southern California style

For a while, it seemed as though the Los Angeles Lakers were the talk on the Los Angeles sports scene, whether it be on the radio, television or in the newspapers.

There was also talk about whether the University of Southern California Trojans would repeat as NCAA champions.

There was even a mention about the NHL lockout, but who cared about that?

Overnight, or so it seemed, something happened.

Instead of talking or writing about the continuing misadventures of Kobe and Shaq, fans were calling the sports talk shows to talk about baseball and baseball players.

They were hooked on the exploits of players like Vladimir Guerrero and Eric Gagne.

Above all, they were asking themselves would Shawn Green really play on the Jewish high holy day of Yom Kippur.

Dodgers' fans even wanted to know if Adrian Beltre was the real deal.

When they found out, that, indeed he was, chants of "MVP" filled the skies high above Dodger Stadium.

The newest Dodger, Steve Finley made Dodger fans forget he was one of the replacements for Dodger fan favorite Paul Lo Duca.

Happy days were here in again in La-La- Land, people were talking about their Dodgers.

They were in first place and no one was leaving Dodger Stadium in the seventh inning anymore.

They found a way to come from behind to win ball games.

They weren't the only team in Southern California to provide some baseball excitement.

Over in the O.C., (that's Orange County, folks, just like the television show) the Anaheim Angels weren't about to let the Dodgers be the only ones to enjoy the playoff show.

They had overtaken the Oakland Athletics for first place to win the American League Western Division.

St. Louis baseball fans aren't the only fans to wear red at their games.

Fans of the Angels, aka the "A" team, have also been known to break out the red shirts to a game, along with those tomato red "Thundersticks."

Love it or really hate it with a passion, just like in 2002 when they last won the World Series, the "Rally Monkey" will again be making an appearance on a diamond vision near you.

For those of you who don't follow the team, there's really no way to describe the "Rally Monkey" and it's effect on opposing teams to you, so I'm not even going to try.

All I can and will say is that you've got to see it to believe it.

This past weekend, both teams clinched their divisions.

The Dodgers will open in St. Louis, come Tuesday, October 5th.

Later that day, Anaheim Stadium will also be a sea of red, as Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling and the rest of the Boston Red Sox will be coming to town.

Remember all those purple and gold Los Angeles Laker flags on the cars in Los Angeles?

They've been replaced by Dodger Blue flags.

(And I'm sure the same thing is happening in cities across the O.C., it's just that the Dodgers were in Southern California first and they have a bigger following.)

Los Angeles has once again caught "Dodger Fever" and it's spreading, even to those who casually follow the team.

Once again, "Think Blue" is the slogan to remember.

Blue -- Go Dodgers" signs can be seen all over the "City of Angels."

In April, who would have imagined, or even thought, that not one, but both teams would make the playoffs on the same day.

Playoff fever has struck Southern California and baseball fans hope there's no cure for it.