Lasorda

Tommy, get some guts. If you want a player like (Kevin) Elster, say so. Not this stuff about it being Fred's decision. Who's the baseball man in the organization, anyway? MIKE THOMAS Chatsworth

At the outset, let it be noted that this book is for the faithful, those who bleed blue, who stay at the game until the last out (whatever the inning) and who don't think the day is complete at home until Uncle Vinny signs off with a cheery "good-night everybody. " "Dodgers From Coast to Coast: The Official Visual History of the Dodgers" is not an all-encompassing history, however, and the tone is far from objective. It has some wonderful bits of history and some glaring omissions.

When Tom Lasorda rode by on the City of Los Angeles float during the Rose Parade, Chris LaBonge of Glendale shouted, "Hey, Tommy, pitch Matt Young, he's my brother-in-law's brother." Shouted back Lasorda: "If he wins 15 games for me, I'll make him my son-in-law." When Texas was seeking a successor to Fred Akers as football coach, the Dallas Times Herald did some sketches on the leading candidates, listing their pros and cons.

PHOENIX — Outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. sounded noticeably excited about the news that a group led by Magic Johnson had agreed to purchase the Dodgers. "I'm pumped," Gwynn said. "I'm only pumped because I'm the biggest Lakers fan. I grew up a huge Magic Johnson fan. " He speculated that he wasn't the only one feeling that way Tuesday night. Matt Kemp told Gwynn that he wanted Johnson's group to buy the team. So did James Loney and Dee Gordon. "The big basketball guys were all pulling for Magic," Gwynn said.

When the manager for Toronto left his pitcher in for one pitch too many--Kansas City scoring three runs on a triple before he yanked him, my wife innocently said: "He pulled a Lasorda." Is it possible she coined a new phrase? PAUL MATTSON Anaheim Hills

What on Earth does Niedenfuer have on Lasorda and the Dodger organization now that he doesn't have it any longer (for whatever reason)? I love the Dodgers, but after blowing a 4-0 lead in the eighth inning, I am red all over. They must do something, or they will lose this Dodger fan. IVEY A. McNAIR Los Angeles

Calling it the "acid test," Kevin Elster, fielded ground ball after ground ball for about 30 minutes at shortstop Wednesday at Dodger Stadium and impressed Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda and executive vice president Fred Claire. Lasorda said Elster, who is signed to a minor league contract, has greatly improved since spring training. He will report to San Antonio this week. "I know I have Tommy in my corner and I have faith that (I will make the club)," Elster said.

The Dodgers' PR and publicity department do not get enough credit for the great job they are doing, selling this bunch of misfits to the fans. Dodger Stadium is full, game after game, with Lasorda giving excuses and Campanis saying, "be patient." I think both should be traded and start fresh. Peter O'Malley is the one whose patience must be wearing thin. STEVE URBANOVICH Burbank

I've got to know: What's Lasorda's opinion of Tatis' performance? MARK VALSI, Sierra Madre

After the Dodgers stabbed Lasorda with la sworda, Bill Plaschke [Aug. 24] neglected to mention whether he bled blue. CHARLES TORRES Pasadena

Right! Alas, it turns out Tommy Lasorda wasn't talking about Dodgers ownership but … Ontario International Airport? The Hall of Fame Dodgers manager for some reason is featured in a two-minute commercial sponsored by the city of Ontario, urging the city of Los Angeles to return the airport to local control. “I believe whatever business you're in, whether it's in baseball or the airport business, you have to know when to make the big change,” Lasorda says.   The Ontario airport has been under L.A. control since 1967, but has reportedly lost a third of its traffic since 2006.

Tommy Lasorda is still going strong at age 84. Yahoo Sports' Steve Henson hits it again with this wonderful piece detailing a spring-training day in the life of Lasorda . Henson, describing the scene as Lasorda navigates a golf cart behind a spring batting cage, writes: “This is Lasorda's turf. So is the clubhouse. So is a podium at a corporate banquet or college commencement. So is a dugout. So is the head of a table at a restaurant. But the ballfield during spring training is Lasorda's favorite place of all. “I love to teach the game,” he says.

You know the old saying, it's not over until the fat lady sings or Tom Lasorda gives up on you. Well, with 12 minutes 29 seconds remaining on the Rose Bowl clock, Lasorda pronounced the UCLA football team goners and walked off the field. If Lasorda can't get a rise out of you, you're dead. The guy is 84. He makes the drive to the Bruins' Pasadena hotel Saturday morning, gives them everything he has in a pep talk, rides the team bus to the Rose Bowl, makes the Bruin Walk through the crowd sweating in his Dodgers sweater, and did I mention he's 84?

Rick Neuheisel and UCLA have my total support this year, and to prove it, I've asked Tom Lasorda to deliver a pep talk to the guys before they take on Texas. Lasorda, a gold medal miracle worker with the U.S. Olympic baseball team, says the football teams he has addressed are 15-2. Air Force failed to win, he said, because the referees didn't call a penalty that he would have called, and Wisconsin lost because it had a short attention span. "I had talked to Wisconsin before three different Rose Bowls and they won each of them," Lasorda said.

The Dodgers are not broke. Do not believe the message coming from Monday's legal maneuverings. Do not get sucked into the horror of the word "bankruptcy," or the doom associated with their owner declaring it. The Dodgers are not broke. It is Frank McCourt who is broke. His schemes are broke. His understanding of this franchise is broke. His ties to Los Angeles are broke. The Dodgers are not broke. The Dodgers are bigger than broke. The Dodgers pulse too deeply through a city's soul to ever be broke.

Former longtime Dodgers Manager Tom Lasorda was resting at home Sunday and is expected to make a full recovery after being hospitalized for four days at USC Medical Center for a bacterial infection, team spokesman Josh Rawitch said. Lasorda, 83, who serves as special advisor to owner Frank McCourt, retired as manager in 1996 after suffering a heart attack. He served as Dodgers manager for 20 years, guiding them to World Series titles in 1981 and 1988. —Ben Bolch

Along the way, Carl Erskine (no relation) has seen some things. A curveball artisan and one of the famed Boys of Summer, he was in the Dodgers' dugout during Don Larsen's perfect game and shared the bullpen when Ralph Branca was summoned to pitch to Bobby Thomson in what is probably still the most famous bomb of all time. "People always ask me, 'What's your best pitch?'" Erskine says, a twinkle in his eye. "I tell 'em that's easy. 'It's the curveball I buried in the bullpen that day. Otherwise that could've been me.'" Yep, along the way, Carl Erskine has seen some things, all right, played along Jackie Robinson and Duke Snider on those beloved Brooklyn teams of the '50s.

Along the way, Carl Erskine (no relation) has seen some things. A curveball artisan and one of the famed Boys of Summer, he was in the Dodgers' dugout during Don Larsen's perfect game and shared the bullpen when Ralph Branca was summoned to pitch to Bobby Thomson in what is probably still the most famous bomb of all time. "People always ask me, 'What's your best pitch?'" Erskine says, a twinkle in his eye. "I tell 'em that's easy. 'It's the curveball I buried in the bullpen that day. Otherwise that could've been me.'" Yep, along the way, Carl Erskine has seen some things, all right, played along Jackie Robinson and Duke Snider on those beloved Brooklyn teams of the '50s.

Joanne Woodward and Joan Miller were classmates at Greenville High in South Carolina. Joanne went on to marry Paul Newman . Joan — or Jo, as she's known today — married Tom Lasorda . It gets worse: Tommy borrows $500 to get married. "I didn't know he didn't have any money," Jo says. Kuroda, Gwynn trigger Dodgers' sweep of the Padres This week marks Jo & Tommy's 61st wedding anniversary, the obvious question: "How could anyone live with Tom Lasorda that long?"