Organizers of the women's tennis tournament being held at the Home Depot Center in Carson arranged for Russian teen-age sensation Maria Sharapova to visit the Chargers' practice field following yesterday afternoon's workout. QB Doug Flutie helped the 16-year-old put on a pair of shoulder pads and a No. 7 Chargers jersey and then played catch with her.
Sharapova – who plays top-seeded Kim Clijsters tonight – wasn't just going through the motions. After one toss of about 20 yards, she let out one of her trademark grunts.
"I have to grunt, sorry," she said.
The two later volleyed a tennis ball before posing side-by-side for photos.
"No fair," Flutie said as he looked up at the 6-foot Sharapova, "with the pads she looks even bigger than me."