The Chargers-Mariposa ice cream connection/disconnection

Dick and Anna, the owners of Mariposa Ice Cream in Normal Heights, were worried. Chargers wide receiver Malcolm Floyd had just caught a pass and had his neck rammed back into his shoulders by a Philadelphia Eagles defender during the Chargers’ 33-30 win at Philadelphia on September 15.

Floyd lay sprawled motionless on the grass as a crowd of Chargers and Eagles players, officials, coaches, and medical personnel gathered. Floyd was strapped to a stretcher and taken to the hospital with his helmet on. Neck scans at the hospital indicated no severe injury and Floyd flew home with the team that day, though he is out indefinitely.

A few years ago, Floyd visited Dick and Anna’s store, ordered vanilla, and seemed to like it just fine. Fast-forward to a Chargers home game later that year: Dick and Anna are reading the Chargers team program and note an interview with Floyd, in which he is asked: “What is your favorite kind of pie?” Floyd’s response: “I don’t like pie, actually. I love ice cream. My favorite is vanilla cream from Coldstone.” Ouch.

Since then, Floyd is only known by the name “Coldstone” around Normal Heights. Anna says, “I actually have a hard time remembering his real name because we’ve called him 'Coldstone' for so long.”

Mariposa’s connection to the Chargers goes deeper.

Former Chargers safety C.J. Spillman, who now plays for the San Francisco 49ers, also likes ice cream. Spillman, who maintains an off-season home in San Diego, stops by Mariposa whenever he is in town. During the season, Dick and Anna ship ice cream packed in dry ice to Spillman and the 49ers team.

In the store, a #27 “SPILLMAN” 49ers jersey hangs high on the wall, next to a #17 Chargers jersey with the name “MARIPOSA” stitched on the back. Asked if Spillman has a store nickname, Anna says, “No, just C.J.”