You can finally acknowledge that

youthful drive and his work on “American Graffi ti,’’ 20th Century Fox studio boss Alan Ladd Jr. decided to back the fi lmmaker’s 1977 space opera about a farmboy named Luke Skywalker, a plucky princess named Leia, and a roguish pilot named Han Solo as they battled an evil galactic empire and black-cloaked villain Darth Vader.

“Star Wars’’ shot past Lucas pal Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws’’ to become the colossus of the modern blockbuster era the two men helped usher in. Counting rereleases that include the 1997 special-edition version with added footage and effects, “Star Wars’’ still stands at No. 2 behind “Titanic’’ on the domestic box-offi ce charts with $461 million.

Lucas said he originally envisioned a bigger story arc that revealed Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia to be the children of Darth Vader, who fi nds redemption in his last moments of life through the good heart of his son.

In a stroke of blind fortune that now looks like the savviest business decision in Hollywood history, Lucas retained ownership of the fi lms and merchandising.

Lucas was getting paid next to nothing upfront and had to beg 20th Century Fox for more money to get the special effects close to what he had imagined. Ownership of the franchise was a bone the studio tossed him, and Lucas fi gured he would use it to make T-shirts and posters to promote the movie.

At the time, sequel and merchandise rights were about as valuable as a bucket of sand on the desert planet Tatooine, but the combined bonanza from fi lms, toys and other “Star Wars’’ products has made Lucas one of the richest men in show business.

“He would be the fi rst to tell you, he had no idea,’’ said Rick McCallum, Lucas’ producing partner since TV’s “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles’’ in the early 1990s. “When you’re getting nothing, you’ll take anything ... He knew there were sci-fi exhibitions out there that 5,000 kids would go to, so the idea was to go to anything that had to do with science

where people would lend themselves to science fi ction, and he could sell them T-shirts.’’

The “Star Wars’’ movies allowed Lucas to build an empire that includes the visual-effects house Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, which have driven moviemaking into the digital era. Lucas’ THX system has become a gold standard for theater and home-entertainment audio.

Even Pixar Animation, the company behind the “Toy Story’’ movies, “Finding Nemo’’ and “The Incredibles,’’ was a Lucas offshoot he sold in the mid-1980s.

“Revenge of the Sith’’ fi nally takes Anakin to the dark side as Vader, whose fear of losing the love of his life leads him into a bloodbath against the Jedi knights who raised him.

“You can’t really worry about it. I make the movie I feel I want to make, telling the story I want to tell, and how it gets received is how it gets received. At least it’s my fault. It’s totally mine. I don’t have to have any excuses about it. I don’t have to say, ‘The studio made me do this,’ or ‘I know that was wrong, but I had to do it.’ Whatever people don’t like or they do like is my fault.’’

The adventure will live on in an animated TV show and a live-action series Lucas has planned, set among minor characters from the fi lms in the 20 years or so between the action of “Revenge of the Sith’’ and the original “Star Wars.’’

Lucas also hopes to release three-dimensional versions of all six movies in theaters starting a couple of years down the road. The 3-D editions would be created using new digital technology that adds depth perspective to two-dimensional fi lm images.

Lucas said he can do whatever he wants without worrying if his movies succeed or fail, toiling in comparative obscurity and happy to be free of “Star Wars.’’

“The analogy I can use is, it’s like going away to college,’’ Lucas said. “It’s great to get out of the house. You miss your parents a little bit, but you get to see them at Thanksgiving. But it’s great to be in college, great to be on your own. It’s great to have a new life.’’

Photo courtesy 92.5 KISS FM.

The marketing effort being marshaled for release of the next “Star Wars” movie is approaching maximum density worthy of hyperbole.

There are, of course, toys. Hasbro has nearly 80 action fi gures on store shelves, at roughly $5 a pop. According to Toys R Us, there are “Star Wars” versions of Legos, Trivial Pursuit, Stratego, Plug and Play games, electronic lightsabers, Darth Vader voice changers, and a Mr. Potato Head toy called Darth Tater.

Another “Star Wars” veteran, Topps, is marketing a high-quality trading card set. In addition to the truly spectacular 90-card base set, which features images so clear and sharp they look multi-dimensional, there are enough special sets, or “chase cards,” to keep collectors busy for a year.

There are etched foil cards, lenticular morphing cards, handdrawn artist sketch cards, stickers, tattoos, holograms, embossed foil cards, tin cover cards, tin storyline cards, blister pack bonus cards. and promotional cards.

For the more literary-focused, there are nearly 20 novels, coloring books and related books for “Sith,” plus dozens of comic books that carry the preludes and aftershocks of the storyline. Entertainment Weekly recently offered six covers for its “Sith” issue, and TV Guide is offering fi ve different covers.

But the fun doesn’t end at the toy store and hobby shop. Your local grocery store will have “Star Wars” characters looking back at you from dozens of products. Kellogg’s is producing two “Star Wars” cereal boxes, and using character images on everything from Crispix to Frosted Flakes.

There are also “Star Wars” Pop-Tarts, fruit snacks and cookies, plus boxes for Cheez-Its and Twisters.

M&Ms are offering dark chocolate candies with dozens of different packages showing M&Ms dressed as “Star Wars” characters. Skittles alone has two dozen different packages.

And you can wash it all down with Pepsi from “Star Wars” cans. If you’re eating on the go, Burger King is putting nearly three dozen different toys in its kids meals.

There are “Star Wars” cell phone deals, bandages, Kleenex, key chains, pins, shoes, bean bag chairs, sleeping bags, even tents. It’s not available in America yet, but Australian fans can purchase “Sith” toilet paper.

This will be the biggest marketing effort in movie history, to commemorate the very last, absolutely final “Star Wars” flick.

Until 2007, when all six movies will be released in IMAX 3-D. — Michael S. Miller

Reid Ahlbeck, TFP Contributor:

“No need for me to ‘join.’ My pronounced culturally conservative tendencies and mad desire to subjugate humanity and be proclaimed absolute ruler of the universe leave little doubt that I was born on the Dark Side. I have also always preferred Darth Vader’s tailor and really like the fact that you don’t need sunscreen over here on the Dark Side.”

Michael Brooks, TFP Staff Writer: “Defi nitely the Dark Side. They have a better benefi ts package and they have cool uniforms.”

David Coehrs, TFP Staff Writer:

“Of course I would join the Jedi. The only way I would be tempted to the Dark Side is if I could have Darth Vader’s cool baritone voice, so I could make it rich saying, ‘This ... is CNN.’ ”

Robert Holman, TFP Contributor:

“I would be a Jedi. The force is strong in me and Darth Vader and his Empire would have been completely destroyed in Episode IV, sparing us the horror of the ewoks.”

Stacie Klewer, TFP Art Director:

“Jedi all the way. Dark side powers require a level of anger and hatred, you can

not calmly use Force lightning or Choke.” Chris Kozak, TFP Staff Writer:

“Defi nitely the Dark Side. Much better theme music and black is slimming.”

Vicki l. Kroll, TFP Staff Writer:

“While I prefer the black attire, I would join the Jedi. Nobody would believe I would use evil to do my bidding.”

Scott McKimmy, TFP Staff Writer:

“I would join the Jedi; I’ve been to the Dark Side, and it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”

DM Stanfi eld, TFP Photo Editor:

“I would have joined neither the Jedi nor the Dark Side. I would have joined the Rebel

Alliance. I can’t picture myself casting electric fi reballs or levitating. I can see myself, wingman for Red-5, sizzling in a brilliant explosion as Luke goes on to use the Force.

Mark Tinta, TFP Staff Writer:

“I’d initially join the Jedi to train under Yoda, then I’d join the Dark Side because the villains are always cooler.”

Josh Trust, TFP VP Sales/Marketing:

“I would defi nitely join the good guys. How cool would it be to be called a Jedi, plus have a two-foot robot at your beck and call? In today’s technologically advanced society, that beats a blackberry!”

Toledo Free Press photo by DM Stanfi eld

By Chris Kozak Toledo Free Press Staff Writer ckozak@toledofreepress.com

There are simply some things that make you shake your head in disbelief: People are selling parts from Kellen Winslow’s crashed motorcycle on eBay? Saddam is writing poetry in prison? Limp Bizkit is still releasing CDs?

And then there’s the story of Hayley Wiemer, one of the top girls high school pitchers in Ohio. All-State last year as a junior, she pitched the St. Ursula Arrows to the 2004 state championship and is poised to repeat both accomplishments as the 2005 state tournament is getting under way.

Wiemer is one of the most sought-after prospects in Northwest Ohio. She narrowed her college choices to Ohio State, Notre Dame, Yale and Bowling Green. Ultimately she chose to wear the brown and orange of BG. When asked if she considered playing at the University of Toledo, she responded, “They didn’t really contact me. I don’t even know the coach’s name.”

I know, last issue I went on about Owens Community College pitcher April Nietrzeba, touting her skills to Rocket coach Jo Ann Gordon. And before you think my column title should be changed to “Girls Fast Pitch Weekly,” please allow me to go off.

In 2004, Wiemer was fi rst team