Vin Scully

And now deep from the vaults at KTLA, comes that devastating video of Vin Scully interviewing Mike Piazza. You know, the one where the villainous Scully just crushed poor Piazza , managing to turn an entire city of Dodgers fans against him. Or maybe not. It is true, that dastardly Scully had the temerity to ask Piazza about the contract situation, what with it being only about the biggest story of that 1998 Dodgers spring....

Mike Piazza has not set foot in Dodger Stadium since his retirement. When the Dodgers offered to honor him with a bobblehead night last season, Piazza declined. "He doesn't want to come back because he thinks the fans will boo," former Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda, the godfather to Piazza's brother, told The Times last month. Piazza did himself no favors on that score in his new book, "Long Shot. " In the book, he blames iconic Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully for turning fans against him during the contract stalemate that preceded his trade to the Florida Marlins in 1998.

Mike Piazza has not set foot in Dodger Stadium since his retirement. When the Dodgers offered to honor him with a bobblehead night last season, Piazza declined. "He doesn't want to come back because he thinks the fans will boo ," former Dodgers Manager Tom Lasorda, the godfather to Piazza's brother, told The Times last month. Piazza did himself no favors on that score in his new book, "Long Shot. " In the book, he blames iconic Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully for turning fans against him during the contract stalemate that preceded his trade to the Florida Marlins in 1998.

Jim Palmer choked up when talking about his autistic son. Fellow Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins paid tribute to the Philadelphia Phillies scout who signed him. Tom Lasorda showed he could still make a room full of people laugh. But Vin Scully was the undisputed star on Saturday night at the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation's annual fundraising dinner. The 1,000-plus people who packed the banquet hall at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza stood and applauded when Bud Selig introduced Scully, who received a leadership award named after the baseball commissioner.

The annual "In the Spirit of the Game" gala, which raises money for baseball scouts who have retired or lost their jobs and need assistance, will be held Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. Increased focus on statistical analysis has resulted in the elimination of some scouting positions across baseball in recent years. "It absolutely cost scouts jobs," said Dennis Gilbert, chairman of the Professional Scouts Foundation, which is hosting the event. However, that trend could be reversed.

Once in a great while, you know a phone call is going to be enjoyable long before you reach for the handset. Could you have a bad phone call when it's directed to Los Angeles' greatest treasure? Vin Scully picks up his cell, sees my name flash on his screen and is giving me the warmest of greetings long before I can even get around to the reason for the call: Happy 85th birthday, Vin. Scully has been receiving phone calls all day Thursday at the Los Angeles home he shares with his wife, Sandra.

Some of the other notable sports statues around Southern California: STAPLES CENTER: Jerry West Magic Johnson Wayne Gretzky Chick Hearn Oscar De La Hoya ANGEL STADIUM: Gene Autry Michelle Carew USC: John McKay John Wayne Ricky Bell Tommy Trojan Traveler UCLA: Jackie Robinson SANTA ANITA: Seabiscuit John Henry Zenyatta Bill Shoemaker Laffit Pincay Jr. ...

This column is dedicated to the 42,473 who were at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night when the flame finally flickered out. You missed out. Yes, we couch potatoes saw you, squirming and grimacing and putting your hands over your eyes as the drama churned like boiling water. If your spine didn't tingle, then you don't have one. Sure, part of us sitting at home were envious of not being there, of not being amid the crowd in the perfectly climate-controlled Southern California night when so much mattered.

Click here to download TV listings for the week of Sept. 16 - 22 in PDF format This week's TV Movies SATURDAY Good Morning America (N) 7 a.m. KABC McLaughlin Group 6:30 p.m. KCET Piers Morgan Tonight  2 a.m. CNN The Chris Matthews Show Middle East events; Romney campaign missteps: David Ignatius, the Washington Post; Helene Cooper, the New York Times; Katty Kay, BBC; and Major Garrett, National Journal. (N) 5:30 a.m. KNBC SUNDAY Today Celebrating 25 years of weekend "Today" with clips of memorable interviews, stories and profiles.