Tommy Lasorda...Grudging Respect

[qtlaw]

Even as a lifelong Giants fan who boo'd Lasorda hundreds of times over the 70's and 80's, I really enjoyed this:

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9136218/tommy-lasorda-big-dodger-sky

He's funny and sounds like a wonderful husband; had it been him in the Giants dugout, the Giants probably would have won a World Series before '10.

 

[Small Town Guy]

Interesting that no mention of his late son. Not that it has to be included in every feature on Lasorda, but he does talk about many others who have died, plus his wife. (speaking of which, has anyone ever found an online copy of Peter Richmond's GQ story on his son?)

 

[jr/shotglass]

You can read the Richmond story here, I think:

http://books.google.com/books?id=gGV7hWLTDUgC&pg=PA223&lpg=PA223&dq=peter+richmond+lasorda&source=bl&ots=4GoLTtvlSf&sig=spf1i3dkBP9jnZm5ksfR2wnEA7c&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HDFfUfSMJMrE0QHepIGACQ&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=peter%20richmond%20lasorda&f=false

 

[Steak Snabler]

Yeah, but what did he think of Kingman's performance?

 

[MileHigh]

What's his opinion of Kingman's performance? What the f*** do you think was his opinion of Kingman's performance? It was f-ing horses***.

 

[TigerVols]

I'd quote the OP but the long link has jacked the keys...


...anyhoo, the idea that Tommy Lasorda is considered a good husband is downright laughable.

 

[Corky Ramirez up on 94th St.]

I laughed out loud at the votive candle story. Thanks for posting this.

 

[Tom Petty]

**** sucker never met a dodger arm he didn't want to blow out.

 

[Riptide]

Lasorda can stick that "Big Dodger in the Sky" bull**** up his big fat Dodger ass. :)

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

Yeah, the candle story is funny. It's not true, of course, but it's funny.

Walter Alston stayed a year longer than he wanted to just to **** off Lasorda, who was pushing him into retirement.

This jolly old man is well known for mooching meals at restaurants when he can well afford to pay for them. He stiffs the wait staffers who stay late to serve them. He believes if he poses for a photo with them, that's all they need.

Real-life Lasorda isn't anything like the character portrayed in this piece of fluff.

 

[MileHigh]

There's no one full of more blarney than Lasorda.

 

[wicked]

Don't think I've ever heard/read anyone say one good thing about the guy. Hence why everyone thought this was hilarious.

 

[Uncle.Ruckus]

**** him.

 

[Armchair_QB]

 

[HanSenSE]

That was one heck of a correction at the end.

 

[LanceyHoward]

Don't think I've ever heard/read anyone say one good thing about the guy. Hence why everyone thought this was hilarious.

Interesting that no mention of his late son. Not that it has to be included in every feature on Lasorda, but he does talk about many others who have died, plus his wife. (speaking of which, has anyone ever found an online copy of Peter Richmond's GQ story on his son?)

I am going to buy the book tonight for my Kindle. I remember reading the Richmond feature when it first came out and have always thought it is one of the great feature stories of all time. If the anthology contains one more story as good as that it will be worth the money.

 

[Gold]

IMO, an overrated manager. The 1981 win was more a case of the Yankees screwing things up, and he was completely outmanaged by Whitey Herzog in 1985.

The famous Kingman rant was done to a young radio fellow (I think it was Paul Olden, who is now the public address announcer for the Yankees) who was filling in on the beat. The follow up question should have been, why did you keep pitching to Kingman?