There's a scene in the classic film "The Big Chill," where Tom Berringer's character, playing a famous TV actor, is approached by a child and asked for his autograph. Since it's at a funeral, Berringer asks "Are you sure this is the right time and place?" He then jokingly asks the kid for a buck.

Well, with all the fires raging in San Diego, Malibu, and all over California really...it made me wonder, if any collectors out there wonder about this. I've already seen Arnold Schwarzenneger refuse a few people that asked, here in San Diego. Over the years, I've always seen him sign, when the "govinator" turns up. Heck, it's great PR.

The best running back in football, Charger LaDainian Tomlinson, was supposed to spend Tuesday at the Food Bank with his mother. A soup company was going to have him get into a giant mock spoup spoon and weigh them, with cases of soup matching that weight, being donated.

I had to assume that event didn't happen, since LT had to evacuate his home because of the fire. The entire Charger team is practicing in Arizona the rest of the week, and there's a good chance their game won't happen in San Diego on Sunday.

A few other Chargers and Padre players and coaches had to evacuate. A famous local newscaster and comedian (Larry Himmel) was on TV crying, as we saw him standing in front of his house as it burned down.

Charger center Nick Hardwick said, "They asked guys to raise their hands if they were affected by the fire, and three quarters of the team, at least, raised their hands. It was pretty unreal. It was pretty somber."

Running back Michael Turner packed his belongs in his Del Mar home, one of the areas more severly affected.

Former Padre first baseman Phil Nevin commented in the San Diego Union-Tribune "It looks like Mars," regarding his neighborhood in Poway (just outside of San Diego). He said, "The house across the street was engulfed in flames. It burned down in like an hour. My whole yard, my trees, everything, burned. But my house made it"

He was headed to Orange County, with his house still in tact. Former major leaguer David Justice wasn't so lucky. His home was destroyed.

I would say, during a time like this, it's best not to ask for autographs. Offer your condolences. Offer your help. But I guarantee that holding out a pen and paper, won't come across so well. Even if the player signs, the people around you are probably thinking a lot less of ya.