Shoutout to Tommy Lasorda
 

As hard as this is for me being a Giants fan, I just wanted to take a minute to recognize how much of a class act Tommy Lasorda is. I was at the dodger game yesterday, and happened to see Tommy in the dugout club before the game started (he was there to recognize a military foundation that I cant remember at the moment). He was patiently greeting the several fans that came up to him and asked him for autographs and pictures, and continued to be friendly and gracious with people that came up to his seat throughout the game. Its nice to see guys that made the game what it is today giving back to the fans and people that appreciate them so much. Thanks Tommy!

[IMG]http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/...psx9lpwocj.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/...pse5iwjn9l.jpg[/IMG]

Amazing, because he was a complete a$$hole at the winter meetings last year, and all I said was hi, shook his hand, and thanked him for all he had done in the game. Did not even bother with a 'graph request.



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wow thats interesting. Maybe he was putting on his sunday best for dodger stadium? haha

Guy is a menace at spring training too. He likes to set up a table and have people wait in line for autographs. Which is nice and all. But the whole time he complains about signing and does this really annoying thing where he makes you hand him your ball so he can then sign it and roll it across the table back to you.

He is really nice to children though.

He was definitely on his best behavior for the military appreciation because he does a 180 to the general public.


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I had a very pleasant experience with him a few years ago and posted about it at the time....

LaSorda story

Tommy used to get clothes for his wife Jo from my dad when I was a kid. Went to a few Dodger games and he always gave us the first class treatment. Once when he was still a 3rd base coach after the game we met him outside the locker room. He brought out Steve Garvey and the Penguin to meet me and they both gave me autographed bats and balls. I remembers Garvey's forearms being huge. Another time went when it was family day and all the players had their kids play a game before the main attraction. I was allowed to sit in the dugout for the short 2 inning affair hanging out with the players. Went to the WS versus the Yanks and sat with his wife and son.

No wonder Garvey was such a good batter. Anyone with four arms had an advantage....:D Sorry, couldn't resist.

Now that is comedy!! :D:D:D

...as a fellow Giants' fan, you do realize that you'll burn in hell for this post, right? :D

...although he was good for the rivalry.

THIS is how I remember Tommy... (great shot from a friend of mine, from a game at Candlestick Park)

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...aVsSFPD_LR.jpg

I met Tommy at a Branch Rickey awards dinner in Portsmouth Ohio when I was in high school. I liked him because he was driven and intense. The a**hole is more that he doesn't really give a sh*t about opinions, IMO(insert jokes here). Plus, he's been old for a long time and seemingly grumpy but, I think he's just geniune to who he is. Kind of like Pete Rose and he was a real a**hole. I despised living in Ohio for the years I did and I took it out on Pete by rooting against him.

Who did more for the game? Tommy or Pete?

I met Tommy at a Fred Hutchinson Award function a few years ago, a fund raiser for cancer research. First of all, I think it speaks volumes about a man that he would go out of his way to Seattle to support this cause. At the function, he signed a card and a ball for me, and posed pleasantly for a photo with me and my wife. It was a great experience.

...

Say what you want about Lasorda but as a lifetime Dodgers fan I don't ever remember cringing at his managerial decisions the way I often do with Don Mattingly.

How would that be irritating? Must suck to have someone say hi to you and thank you for all you've done.


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Aaah, that was the battery chuck game if I remember correctly...which I probably don't lol

This is what I think of when Tommy's name is mentioned...


http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view6/392...r-tumble-o.gif

+1


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When I worked for the Cubs we always looked forward to the Dodgers coming to town. My first few years I worked for the security detail that stayed with the players and Tommy would always order Chicago style pizza from his favorite local Italian pizzeria for the team (usually about 25 pizzas) and would give the leftovers...and there were many leftovers to the security detail. We would then carry them down to our office and feed the whole crew on what the Dodgers had left for us.

I also had the chance to hang out after a game with Tommy in the dugout as he was photographed for a new book he had coming out (I believe it was The Artful Dodger). It was me, Tommy and the photographer and I can tell you it was great hearing his stories for the few hours we were down there but that guy had a mouth that would make a trucker AND a sailor blush.

Tommy was always good to me but then again it could be because I never asked for an autograph, a baseball, a hat or anything else.....except for maybe pizza!

Dude.....no self respecting Giants fan gets his picture taken with fat Tommy. Yeah, he helped the rivalry but he is a big fat blowhard who I wouldn't give the time of day. :mad:

I have always enjoyed this clip of Lasorda, there is a fair amount of bad language for anyone with virgin ears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzjWQF1oP2M

Bevacqua had it right....."that fat little Italian" :D

I will admit, I enjoyed the last Giants-D**gers game at Candlestick where Tommy strolled around blowing kisses to the crowd (with his name misspelled "Lasodra" on the jacket he wore). That doesn't mean I would EVER get my picture taken with him.