Dodger Thoughts

Jon Weisman's outlet for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball and life

Category: Community (Page 4 of 6)

Dodgers show pride and giving side

By

On November 19, 2014

In Community, International, Other sports

Justin Turner gets ready to drop the ceremonial puck between the Kings' Dustin Brown and the Panthers' Willie Mitchell. (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Justin Turner gets ready to drop the ceremonial puck between the Kings’ Dustin Brown and the Panthers’ Willie Mitchell. (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

111814JO_LAD_USOBy Jon Weisman

Dodgers Pride Night at Staples Center, hosted by our friends at the Los Angeles Kings, took place Tuesday. Click this link to visit a Juan Ocampo photo gallery from the evening, and click here for video.

Also on Tuesday, Tommy Lasorda, Ned Colletti and Tim and Lori Wallach helped serve Thanksgiving meals to approximately 300 service members at the 9th annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the Troops at the Bob Hope USO, located at Los Angeles International Airport. The event was part of the Dodgers’ 2014 Season of Giving.

111814JO_LAD_USO

And on his last off day before returning home from the Japan All-Star Series, Drew Butera joined Jeff Beliveau of the Rays in visiting a children’s hospital. David Venn has more at MLB.com.

Ben Platt/MLB.com

Ben Platt/MLB.com

[mlbvideo id=”36943971″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers celebrate, honor veterans at the ballpark

By

On November 12, 2014

In Community

It was a special day at Dodger Stadium as the Dodgers welcomed approximately 300 past and present service members and their families to Dodger Stadium on Tuesday for the annual Veterans Day Batting Practice. Read the story from Chad Thornburg of MLB.com, and enjoy the photos and videos here.

– Jon Weisman

Read More

November doings: Greinkes in New York, Kershaw’s Challenge in Dallas

By

On November 7, 2014

In Celebrities, Community, Social media

By Jon Weisman

In between winning awards, the Dodgers’ top two pitchers have kept busy this week.

Zack Greinke is in New York for tonight’s Gold Glove award ceremony, and his wife Emily has shared pictures on Instagram of their travels to Rockefeller Center and “Jersey Boys” on Broadway.

Screen Shot 2014-11-07 at 7.41.59 AMScreen Shot 2014-11-07 at 7.41.40 AM

Down in Dallas, Clayton and Ellen Kershaw hosted the city’s first Kershaw’s Challenge event Thursday, featuring guest musician Clay Walker, and there are photos of the event from Instagram as well.

Screen Shot 2014-11-07 at 8.23.38 AM

Screen Shot 2014-11-07 at 8.23.15 AM

A true Dodger fireman

By

On October 20, 2014

In Community

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTq8WLpDOL4]

You only get the briefest glimpse of him in the five minutes of video, but news of the man in the Dodgers cap who risked his life to rescue another man from a fire at a Fresno home Sunday has gone viral. USA Today, among others, has details.

— Jon Weisman

Union Rescue Mission’s Ethier Learning Center nears completion

By

On October 15, 2014

In Community

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Erin Edwards

In addition to scholarship funds and educational support, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) and Andre Ethier granted $100,000 to the Union Rescue Mission toward the renovation of URM’s Learning Center — soon to be the Andre and Maggie Ethier Learning Center.

Teamwork and collaboration led to the reality of URM now having a functional, comfortable and inviting space that will provide inspiration to hundreds of homeless men and women.

Moreover, recognizing the importance of continuous learning and skills development, the collaborative efforts extended beyond the physical renovation of the Andre and Maggie Ethier Learning Center. The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, facilitated access to an online virtual training lms platform. This platform will enable the homeless men and women served by the Union Rescue Mission to expand their knowledge, acquire new skills, and enhance their employability prospects. By providing this digital learning resource, the collaboration embraces the transformative power of education, empowering individuals to break the cycle of homelessness and build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

Read More

More than 4,000 enjoy LADF 5-K at Dodger Stadium

By

On September 22, 2014

In Community, Dodger Stadium

5K RUN

Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

The first annual Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation 5-K run enjoyed the benefit of a cloudy September morning on its way to great success. There were 4,050 total participants: 3,805 in the 5K and 245 in the Kids Fun Run. Dodger alumni Tim Leary, Derrel Thomas, Dennis Powell and Al Ferrara were on hand to provide support.

Top male participants
1)     Justin Patananan, age 34, Palmdale, (16:43)
2)     Mario Lopez, age 23, Los Angeles, (16:47)
3)     Jeff Ambos, age 52, Riverside (17:09)

Top female participants
1)     Karina Vega, age 29, Chino Hills, (20:07)
2)     Lauren Kern, age 26, Phoenix, AZ, (20:16)
3)     Nevaeh Walla, age 12, Fillmore, (20:25)

Here’s a nice writeup of the event from Sons of Steve Garvey. More photos from Jill Weisleder below:

Read More

LADF 5K at Dodger Stadium is coming fast — sign up now

By

On August 25, 2014

In Community, Dodger Stadium

LAD_14 5k Medal Montage

Remember: The first annual Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation 5K Run and Kids Fun Run at Dodger Stadium. is rapidly approaching, on September 21. Signups are moving toward maximum capacity. Find out all the details and register at dodgers.com/5K.

— Jon Weisman

 

Little League team supported by Carl Crawford reached World Series title game

By

On August 25, 2014

In Community

[mlbvideo id=”35611323″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Chicago’s Jackie Robinson West fell short against South Korea in the Little League World Series championship game Sunday, but that doesn’t take away from what the U.S. champions achieved. Above, Carl Crawford talks about his support of the young standouts.

Crawford will have a chance to meet the kids when the Dodgers go to Wrigley Field in mid-September.

— Jon Weisman

ThinkCure! Weekend is coming Saturday and Sunday

By

On August 18, 2014

In Community

Think Cure Logo copy

RAYS AT DODGERS Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Think Cure logo2Today and every day in Los Angeles, one hundred families will learn that a loved one has cancer. ThinkCure! takes on the fight to stop this.

ThinkCure! Weekend at Dodger Stadium arrives Saturday and Sunday, when the Dodgers host the Mets. An official charity of the Dodgers, ThinkCure! pushes toward a cure for cancer with teamwork and entrepreneurial philanthropy — investments in high-risk, high-return cancer research projects that would otherwise go unfunded.

All support to ThinkCure! goes to City of Hope and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Text “CURE” to 50555, and don’t forget to confirm your donation by entering your zip code when prompted. Or, donate online.

There’s plenty more information — to see it, please visit thinkcure.org.

Dodgers RBI receives $35,000 — keep it going by tweeting #Whiff @Dodgers

By

On August 18, 2014

In Community

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM VS LOS ANGELES DODGERS

By Erin Edwards

As you might know, Head and Shoulders has partnered with MLB to create a healthy competition between teams that benefits the community — and you can participate.

Each time a Dodger pitcher strikes out an opposing player, tweet “#Whiff @Dodgers.” The teams with the highest number of tweets each month earn money for their RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) team.

Two weeks ago, Sam Riber of Head and Shoulders presented a check for $35,000 before that night’s game to support Dodgers RBI to Dodger outfielder and RBI alum Carl Crawford and Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation executive director Nichol Whiteman.

Dodgers RBI is a comprehensive, urban youth baseball program for boys and girls, ages 5-18. Working together with local organizations, parents and volunteers, Dodgers RBI offers 2,400 youth the opportunity to learn and enjoy the games of baseball and softball with special emphasis on education, recreation and healthy habits for young people. Dodgers RBI is a cornerstone program of the LADF, the official charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The LADF provides uniforms and equipment, recruitment assistance, cash grants and education/health resources to all teams.

The #whiff competition is far from over. The Dodgers and their fans can still score thousands of dollars in donations through September. Continue to include “#Whiff @dodgers” in any tweet after each strikeout for the rest of the season. Tweet away …

 

 

Dee Gordon, Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp pour themselves into ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

By

On August 16, 2014

In Community

Dee bucket

By Jon Weisman

Some Dodgers have taken on the ALS Ice Bucket challenge, to fight what’s commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Having donated money and my 1985 Scirocco to the ALS Association myself in the past, I’m happy to see it.

Above: Dee Gordon. Below: Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp.

[mlbvideo id=”35386773″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Kemp bucket

Jr. Dodgers RBI team reaches semifinals at RBI World Series

By

On August 13, 2014

In Community

Blog_RBI World Series Pic

By Erin Edwards

Playing amid challenging weather conditions, the Jr. Dodgers RBI team beat worthy opponents from Texas, Maryland and the Dominican Republic before losing to a strong Miami team in the semifinals of the MLB RBI World Series in Arlington, Texas.

Read More

Dodgers host Japan Night on July 30

By

On July 23, 2014

In Community, Theme Games

Japan dogJoin the Dodgers as we host our annual Japan Night.

Fans will enjoy a Japanese-themed pregame, including a performance by the Japan Pom Pom Girls, a Taiko performance by LA Matsuri Taiko, an appearance by the 2013 Nisei Week Court and our National Anthem sung by 2011 Nisei Week Queen Erika Olsen.

In addition, stop by the Right Field Plaza before the game to learn how to make origami.

Special food items will be available for Japan night, including the Teriyaki Dog: a beef dog with Japanese mayo, teriyaki sauce, caramelized onions and nori seaweed, located at the Extreme Loaded Dodger Dog stand. Sushi, Sapporo and Kirin Frozen Draft are also available at select areas of the ballpark.

Tickets for the event are still available at www.dodgers.com/japan. Groups of 30 or more that order in advance will receive a Hello Kitty Mini Bobblehead.  If interested in bringing a group, contact (323) 224-1421.

— Afton Kurth

Read More

LGBT Night Out at Dodger Stadium set for August 22

By

On July 22, 2014

In Community, Dodger Stadium

lgbt275x117By Jon Weisman

The second annual LGBT Night Out at Dodger Stadium will take place at the August 22 game against the Mets, the Dodgers announced.

mary_lambert275x344LGBT Night Out at Dodger Stadium will feature a special performance of the national anthem by Mary Lambert (pictured), as well as a celebrity first pitch and more. The evening will conclude Friday Night Fireworks, with music by DJ Manny Lehman.

“Baseball recently showed the importance of inclusion at the All-Star Game with the hiring of former Dodger Billy Bean as its ambassador,” said Dodger executive vice president and chief marketing officer Lon Rosen.  “We look forward to once again welcoming and recognizing the LGBT community of Los Angeles to Dodger Stadium.  They are an integral part of this great city of ours and the Dodger community.”

Read More

Coaching coaches with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation

By

On July 7, 2014

In Community

[mlbvideo id=”34204117″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Erin Edwards

Vital to a positive baseball experience is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic coach. The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) is committed to ensuring that the coaches of their Dodgers RBI are the best possible.

Read More

Page 4 of 6

← Previous

Next →

Buy ‘The Catch: A novel’

What happens when three old friends in crisis fall into an unexpected love triangle? In The Catch, Maya, Henry and Daniel embark upon an emotional journey that forces them to confront unresolved pain, present-day traumas and powerful desires, leading them to question the very meaning of love and fulfillment. The Catch tells a tale of ordinary people seeking the extraordinary – or, if that’s asking too much, some damn peace of mind.

Click here to order The Catch in paperback.

Click here to order The Catch on Kindle.

Buy ‘Brothers in Arms’

‘Brothers in Arms’ coverage

Instagram

Twitter

Recent posts

Other writing by Jon

Archives

Commenting guidelines

Thank You For Not ...
1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with

Attendance

1991-2013
Dodgers at home: 1,028-812 (.558695)
When Jon attended: 338-267 (.558677)*
When Jon didn’t: 695-554 (.556)
* includes road games attended

2013
Dodgers at home: 51-35 (.593)
When Jon attended: 5-2 (.714)
When Jon didn’t: 46-33 (.582)

Note: I got so busy working for the Dodgers that in 2014, I stopped keeping track, much to my regret. 

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén