Inside scoop

--Compiled by the Daily Pilot staff

Suddenly, Jim Finn is not looking so irrelevant any more.

Only a week after the fullback for the Indianapolis Colts botched a

short carry in a game against the New York Jets, 1999’s Mr. Irrelevant

came up with a play that looks a little better in his stat box: a

touchdown.

Finn caught a five-yard pass from quarterback Peyton Manning, but the

fourth-quarter play wasn’t enough to win the game. The Green Bay Packers

eked out a 26-24 victory.

But at least Finn now has a “1” in the touchdowns column to balance

the “1” under fumbles.

Bee careful, CoastKeepers

It’s hard enough fighting polluters and complacent bureaucrats, but

Orange County CoastKeeper never faced an opponent quite like this before.

Divers for the environmental group were checking out their kelp plants

off the Newport coast recently when a swarm of bees swooped in, attacking

the workers on the boat and stinging the divers as they emerged from the

deep.

CoastKeeper members survived with only a handful of bee-inflicted

injuries. And the rumors are apparently not true that the swarm was

released by a disgruntled developer standing on shore.

Overpass dangerous to bikers

The brand new Red Hill Avenue overpass saw its first accident last

week. There were no cars speeding on it. There was no high-speed chase.

The bridge was not even opened to traffic yet.

The ironic mishap Tuesday concluded the formal opening of the

$5.5-million bridge as cyclists attempting to drive through an inaugural

banner tripped on it and fell on the newly laid asphalt.

The banner was supposed to tear as the cyclists ripped through it in

one quick, dramatic motion. But instead, the bikes and the bikers got

entangled.

No one was hurt seriously; there were just a few scratches.