The distinguished president of Long Beach State, Dr. Robert (Fightin' Bob) Maxson, takes deep pride in his university, and often can be heard speaking glowingly of its diversity, academics, athletics and friendly campus ambience.

He is a passionate advocate of free speech and defends the right of a person to convey his or her views, even if the views happen to deviate from the mainstream, or are far removed from his private beliefs.

So, you can imagine Fightin' Bob's embarrassment the other day when his beloved school made the national news for a Three Stooges-type incident, as one of the California gubernatorial candidates, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was pelted by an egg as he got set to make a speech before a couple of thousand students.

"It was a cowardly act that was perpetrated by someone who security thinks was an outsider,' says Maxson.

For sure, Maxson wasn't referring to his luncheon guest that day, Mike Gallo, the Millikan High graduate and former Long Beach State pitcher who's now a reliever for the Houston Astros.

Gallo reportedly likes The Terminator, and he wasn't in a throwing mood, anyway, having yielded a home run the evening before to the Dodgers' Fred McGriff.

Actually, if the egg-thrower was trying to make some sort of bizarre political statement, he would have commanded far greater attention had one of those delicious Polly pies been his weapon of choice.

Remember a few years back when Bill Gates was the recipient of a banana cream right in the kisser in a photo that adorned newspapers around the world?

If Schwarzenegger's mug had been covered by remnants of a pie, his picture, too, would have been splashed everywhere and, suddenly, peaceful, tranquil Long Beach State might be perceived by some as a UC Berkeley- like hotbed of political activism.

"The good news is no one nailed Arnold with a pie,' I told Maxson.

Bob Maxson cringed perceptibly and ignored my sarcasm.

"We have an open forum at our university for people of all political stripes,' says Maxson, who smartly remains neutral in state political races and didn't appear on stage with Schwarzenegger. "I know that Cruz Bustamante and Gray Davis also have been invited to appear at our university.'

While Arnold Schwarzenegger wound up with a badly stained sports jacket for his efforts at Long Beach Statehe gave a mere 15-minute speechhe did receive some consolation.

Fightin' Bob Maxson, bless his kind-hearted soul, presented Schwarzenegger with an official Long Beach State sweatshirt and even had Arnold chanting, "Go Beach.'

I asked Bob Maxson if Long Beach State would be willing to pick up Schwarzenegger's cleaning expenses.

Fightin' Bob remained silent as he shook his head in disgust, and I swear he would have launched an egg in my direction had it been at his disposal...