'I hate Tommy Lasorda!'
People say we don't talk enough sports here on Stuck in the 80s. We also don't do enough podcasts about cartoons. Or play enough new wave music. Or have enough female co-hosts. Well, fans, that's quite a list.
Here's my olive branch: Today's Fernando Valenzuela's birthday. Our favorite LA Dodger turns 47 today. Whoo-hoo!
Actually, when I think back to baseball in the 80s, all my memories are Dodgers-related. And I'm not even a Dodger fan:
- There's Valenzuela, of course, with his "lava lizard" windup. He pitched a hell of a year in '81, winning his first eight games with a 0.50 ERA.
- There's Kirk Gibson in '88, hobbling around the bases after his World Series homer for the Dodgers against the Athletics. Easily my favorite moment in baseball history.
And of course, there's "Fletch." One of my favorite lines from the flick. "Hey, you and Tommy Lasorda?" (punches photo) "I hate Tommy Lasorda."
Tomorrow: I attempt to go 12 hours without quoting a Chevy Chase film. Of course, that goal is not Paraguayan in and of it is as it were the United States government would never have if the president, our president, had not and as far as I know that's the way it will always be. Is that clear?
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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Where'd you learn your Russian - JC Penny?
I love that film.
Posted by: Tonianne | November 01, 2007 at 06:42 PM
It always creeped me out how Valenzuela would roll back his eyes during his wind-up. It was like Linda Blair was his pitching coach.
And what about the early 80's skin-tight polyester uniforms? If there was ever someone built for today's baggy uniforms, it was Lasorda (and of course, Sean Daly).
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | November 01, 2007 at 10:00 PM
Sean Daly in a baseball uni is something I don't need to picture right now. Of course, somewhere I have a pic of my in a baseball uni in some over-30 league I played in a "few" years ago. Something no one else needs to picture right now.
Posted by: Spears | November 01, 2007 at 10:07 PM
Steve, anyone ever tell you, you're a tremendous slouch?
Posted by: chase | November 01, 2007 at 11:07 PM
double shudder :)
Posted by: Marissa | November 01, 2007 at 11:10 PM
Be the ball, Danny.
Posted by: Mr. Underhill | November 03, 2007 at 08:28 AM
We also have a pond . . . I think the pond might be better for you....
Posted by: John | November 04, 2007 at 05:35 PM