Stepping up to the plate one more time: Tommy Lasorda
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He was the guy we San Francisco Giants baseball fans just loved to hate. Why, we loved to hate him more than he hated the Philly Phanatic. But we felt that way because we really hated our archrivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tommy Lasorda was their manager for twenty years. To watch him scurry out for a head-bumping session with the home plate ump - bellicose belly heaving, veins popping and spittle flying, and gesticulating like a crazed Italian - was almost more entertaining than the game itself. As hilarious and lovable as he easily could make himself to be, we just had to hate him. It’s was our job as Giants fans.
So of course today I’m playing pickle with myself because the soon-to-be-80-years-old Tommy Lasorda has just announced that he is launching a new brand of Italian wines, and I really have to think hard about buying a bottle. After all, this is the guy who said:
“I walk into the clubhouse and it’s like walking into the Mayo Clinic. We have four doctors, three therapists and five trainers. Back when I broke in [to the major leagues], we had one trainer who carried a bottle of rubbing alcohol and by the seventh inning he had drunk it all.”
And you didn’t, Tommy? I’m sure you downed a big plate of ravioli first.
Ah, but he also said:
People say you can’t go out and eat with your players. I say why not. Â
I must admit, I like a man who likes people. (Al dente? With marinara sauce?) Really, it’s hard not to like the legendary Lasorda, so I hope I like his wines. At least today’s press release suggests that there’s a few promising bats in the lineup:
Legendary Baseball Hall of Famer, Tommy Lasorda, looks forward to sharing his Lasorda branded Italian wines with his family and friends throughout the world. The Lasorda wines have been carefully selected by Casa Torelli Imports from leading wine producing regions of Italy. Of the first six varietals to grace American tabletops, Lasorda is so very proud of the Trebbiano and Montelpuciano D’Abruzzo wines. These varietals hail from the homeland of his father, Sabatino Lasorda. Â
So there you go - baseball and wine, renewing their vows together. Tommy, it’s been a lot of years since I wanted to throw my hot dog at you, so I can’t hate you now. Really, I hope you wallop one over the fence, one more time.
