Way back in the last ice age, there was a popular song with words about the "...hazy, lazy days of summer," or something close to that.

Well, something resembling summer has arrived, but these certainly are not "lazy days."

The July 4th fireworks, of course, are haze-creators. And with the Freedom Festival fireworks program at Edgewater Park and an Indians-Royals game with fireworks at the Jake on the same Independence Day night....well....how does one spell, "gridlock?"

And, of course, we're into All Star days and nights!

There's FanFest at the Cleveland Convention Center (July 4-9)with 300,000 square feet of more than 30 baseball-related attractions. It is not free, but they have tried to make it affordable (adults: $13, kids 12 and under, seniors and military, $8) and it's a "timed-ticket" system with entry every hour on the hour. Once in, stay as long as you like.

Confused? Call 216-556-4847. Hey! What the heck, even if you're not confused, you can get more information on the whole show at that number.

The city has put a "Courtesy Corps" of friendly folks in blue tops and black pants/shorts onto the streets to give visitors (and locals, too) information and directions during All-Star days. "Rapid Recovery" put cleanup crews (they are all volunteers, bless 'em!) to work along the Rapid tracks between the airport and Terminal Tower, so the expected "thousands" of out-of-town riders will have a spruced up view of that entryway to the city.

The game itself is July 8. David Justice is the only Indian voted to the starting lineup. Of course, he's been sidelined with an elbow problem since June 24. And other Tribe players well could get into the game!

(A personal sidebar note here: I have my OFFICIAL -- yes; the tag and logo are there and "correct" -- All Star Game white baseball cap! Nyaa-nyaa-nyaa!

(But, seriously, folks: if you want All-Star souvenirs, be careful: authorities say there'll be a bunch of counterfeit stuff out there! Phony goods probably will look phony, the officials say. Look for a detachable hanging tag that has the Major League Baseball logo on it and says the product is licensed, and look for a sewed on tag that identifies it as being licensed.)

In keeping with these days of All-Stars, next comes a plug for a product: it's a 30-minute videotape (Oh, okay: it only runs 28 minutes...big deal!) called, "The Pride of the Indians." The focus is on Mel Harder, legendary pitcher and coach of the team, who made four--count 'em, four!--All-Star appearances, pitched 13 innings in those four years and never gave up a run! He played with the Indians for 20 years.

The local husband-wife (wife-husband, if you prefer) production team of Bob Becker and Luanne Bole-Becker put it together. It's been on WVIZ, Channel 25, a few times, has all sorts of good words said about it ("A well crafted and affectionate tribute to a worthy subject": Bob Costas, NBC Sports..."Magnificent": Russ Schneider, author, 'The Cleveland Indians Encyclopedia'")and part of it may be played on the Jumbotron during the Cleveland Orchestra performance, July 5 on Public Square (8:45 p.m. free).

The tape is $19.95 and is available at the Cleveland Indians Team Shops and Borders Bookstores and at the WVIZ Store of Knowledge in some shopping centers. For more information, go to http://www.cleveland.oh.us/melharder

Oh! Baseball trivia of sorts (and in keeping with the timeframe): July 1, 1951: Bob Feller set a baseball record as he pitched his third no-hitter for the Cleveland Indians.

Taking a deep breath, one might add that July 1, 1966, is reportedly the birthdate of former world heavyweight boxing champion Michael Tyson.

Does one dare add anything to that note?

Yes!

On July 2, 1921, Jack Dempsey knocked out George Carpentier in the fourth round of a fight in Jersey City, NJ. It was the first prize fight offering a million-dollar gate, and it was broadcast on radio!

There are no reports of either boxer biting the other boxer's ear...no matter the "gate" on radio or TV.

Upcoming: The Cleveland Grand Prix. And other stuff that belong to this season we call summer.

OTHER STORIES by John Herrington

RETURN TO Cleveland, The New American City