Dodger Thoughts

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

Category: Other sports (Page 1 of 2)

The 75 greatest Lakers of all time, as chosen by a 53-year-old who really followed the Lakers in the 20th century but less so now (by the way, there are 83 names on this list)

By

On October 22, 2021

In History, Other sports

Butch Lee and Magic Johnson, May 16, 1980

  1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
  2. Tom Abernathy
  3. Lucius Allen
  4. Elgin Baylor
  5. Ron Boone
  6. Jim Brewer
  7. Chucky Brown
  8. Kobe Bryant
  9. Corky Calhoun
  10. Mack Calvin
  11. Elden Campbell
  12. Tony Campbell
  13. Kenny Carr
  14. Cedric Ceballos
  15. Wilt Chamberlain
  16. Don Chaney
  17. Jim Chones
  18. Jim Cleamons
  19. Michael Cooper
  20. Adrian Dantley
  21. Anthony Davis
  22. Vlade Divac
  23. Ernie DiGregorio
  24. Larry Drew
  25. James Edwards
  26. Derek Fisher
  27. Don Ford
  28. Rick Fox
  29. Pau Gasol
  30. Devean George
  31. Gail Goodrich
  32. A.C. Green
  33. Happy Hairston
  34. Ron Harper
  35. Connie Hawkins
  36. Tommy Hawkins
  37. Spencer Haywood
  38. Walt Hazzard
  39. Brad Holland
  40. Robert Horry
  41. Lou Hudson
  42. Andre Ingram
  43. LeBron James
  44. Clay Johnson
  45. Magic Johnson
  46. Earl Jones
  47. Eddie Jones
  48. C.J. Kupec
  49. Mark Landsberger
  50. Rudy LaRusso
  51. Butch Lee
  52. Ronnie Lester
  53. Mark Madsen
  54. Bob McAdoo
  55. Mike McGee
  56. George Mikan
  57. Swen Nater
  58. Chuck Nevitt
  59. Norm Nixon
  60. Shaquille O’Neal
  61. Keith Owens
  62. Anthony Peeler
  63. Sam Perkins
  64. Kurt Rambis
  65. Julius Randle
  66. David Rivers
  67. Cazzie Russell
  68. Byron Scott
  69. Brian Shaw
  70. Elmore Smith
  71. Larry Spriggs
  72. Earl Tatum
  73. Terry Teagle
  74. Billy Thompson
  75. Mychal Thompson
  76. Sedale Threatt
  77. Nick Van Exel
  78. Kermit Washington
  79. Jamaal Wilkes
  80. Jerry West
  81. Orlando Woolridge
  82. Metta World Peace
  83. James Worthy

Update!

The ones from longest ago

By

On May 27, 2019

In Dodgers, History, Other sports

Looking back at some old birthdays on this Memorial Day …

  • The oldest Ram I saw play in person: Charlie Cowan (June 19, 1938)
  • The oldest MLB player I know I ever saw play in person: Vic Davalillo (July 31, 1936)
  • The oldest Laker I saw play on TV: Elgin Baylor (September 16, 1934)
  • The oldest MLB player I know I saw play on TV: Hank Aaron (February 5, 1934)
  • The oldest athlete I know I saw play on TV: George Blanda (September 17, 1927)
  • The oldest athlete I know I saw play in person: Marques Haynes (March 10, 1926)
  • The oldest athlete I might have seen play, but I can’t remember if I was at a game when he actually pitched: Hoyt Wilhelm (July 26, 1922)

How John Wooden’s arrival at UCLA was covered

By

On March 15, 2019

In Other sports

April 13, 1948: The Times speculates that John Wooden will be hired by UCLA.

* * *

April 21, 1948 : The Times reports that the Wooden hiring is official.

* * *

Bonus – March 20, 1932: The <i>Times</i> praises Wooden after he is named an All-American.

MLB, the Oscars and fear

By

On February 12, 2019

In Entertainment, Film, MLB, Other sports

If Major League Baseball wants to feel better about the impression it has made during an offseason quite possibly to be remembered as a countdown to a major work stoppage two years hence, it need look no farther than the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, which seems to be on a mission to torpedo its signature event, the Oscars.

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Life as a Lost Angeles Rams fan

By

On January 8, 2019

In Dodgers, Other sports

For all my devotion to the Dodgers, my sports fandom was ignited by the Rams. For other sports fanatics out there, you can continue following your passion by using items like that golf at home.

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Lindsey Jacobellis: ‘I could be upset, but where is that going to get me?’

By

On February 16, 2018

In Life, Other sports

Lindsey Jacobellis in 2010

Eight years ago minus a day, I wrote the post “Why Lindsey Jacobellis rocks,” pouring out my joyful respect for how Jacobellis’ fun-loving response in the face of immense Olympic disappointment floored me in the best way.

Lindsey Jacobellis is my new role model. She threw herself into competition at a level few of us could possibly emulate, sacrificed so that she might be the best, and when that failed to yield the ultimate prize, instead of curling up in the fetal position, she had the self-esteem and presence of mind to appreciate the greatness of the effort and the joy of what she was part of, win or lose. I want my kids to be like her.

Four years later at Sochi, Jacobellis crashed and finished seventh overall. This video illustrates where Jacobellis’ state of mind was heading into 2018. To say the least, I was eager to see what would happen to her this time around.

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Bringing back the Miracle
on Ice — and on VCRs

By

On February 11, 2018

In Entertainment, Life, Other sports

Well, this was a good time — and really fun to play out on Twitter over the course of the weekend. In case you missed it there, I’m bringing it here. Keep scrolling …

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Video: Ellis and Kershaw take Green Bay

By

On January 5, 2016

In Humor, Off the field, Other sports

[mlbvideo id=”537534483″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Courtesy of SportsNet LA, here’s a fun video of Clayton Kershaw joining A.J. Ellis at a Cowboys-Packers game in Green Bay last month — a day that includes Kershaw picking up the football and sending a pass too deep, and yet shallow, all at once.

— Jon Weisman

Who was the Dodgers’ Kobe?

By

On November 30, 2015

In Other sports

Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant at Dodger Stadium, July 31, 2013. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant at Dodger Stadium, July 31, 2013. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

It’s hard to be a sports fan in Los Angeles and not be affected by the end of Kobe Bryant’s career. Twenty seasons in a Los Angeles uniform? For one attempt at perspective, here’s the Dodger starting lineup on June 26, 1996, the day the 17-year-old Bryant was drafted.

Delino DeShields, 2B
Roger Cedeno, LF
Mike Piazza, C
Eric Karros, 1B
Raul Mondesi, RF
Mike Blowers, 3B
Todd Hollandsworth, CF
Greg Gagne, SS
Tom Candiotti, P

Candiotti, the starting pitcher that day, is now 58 years old.

On the way to work this morning, I asked myself who would be the Dodgers’ closest equivalent to Bryant, a spectacular, championship-winning (future) Hall of Famer who wore only one team’s uniform (albeit with two numbers). It won’t surprise you that there’s no exact match, but I do think there’s a closer one than you might realize.

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By Jiminy, cricket coming to Dodger Stadium in November

By

On October 5, 2015

In Dodger Stadium, Other sports

CricketBy Jon Weisman

After the World Series and the 2015 MLB season have ended, anyone for cricket?

On November 14, Dodger Stadium will host its first-ever cricket match — as part of the inaugural Cricket All-Stars Series. Cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne headline a stellar lineup of renowned cricket players from around the world.

The historic tour marks the first time these super stars have played in the U.S. Sachin and Shane will each captain a hand-picked team featuring some the best cricketers to ever play the game including Wasim Akram (Pakistan), Brian Lara (West Indies), Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Jonty Rhodes (South Africa) and Michael Vaughn (England), among others.

The format will be T20, a much shorter and boisterous form of cricket with the games taking around three hours instead of multiple days.

Tickets go on sale to the public Thursday at 10 a.m., but there are two presales: Tuesday beginning at 10 a.m. for anyone who wants to purchase with a Mastercard, and Wednesday for Dodger season-ticket holders (with any credit card).

Read more about the Cricket All-Star Series at ESPN.com, the Wall Street Journal or Time.  Visit dodgers.com/cricket for information or to purchase tickets when sales open.

Dodger fantasy football breeds strange tweetfellows

By

On August 18, 2015

In Other sports

The Dodgers held their annual fantasy football draft Monday, an event that seems to beg for wider media coverage, if these tweets above and below are any indication.

— Jon Weisman

https://twitter.com/redturn2/status/633547774693236736

 

Clippers, Lakers and Kings ticket packages at Dodger Stadium — special ticket required

By

On June 19, 2015

In Other sports, Promotions

lakers_tshirt275x286Clippers Shirt For WebsiteBy Jon Weisman

kings_tshirt275x272The Dodgers have partnered with the Clippers, Lakers and Kings for three special nights at Dodger Stadium this summer.

Fans who purchase special tickets for Clippers Night (July 28, when the Dodgers host Oakland at 7:10 p.m.), Lakers Night (August 11 vs. Washington) and Kings Night (August 12 vs. Washington) will receive limited-edition, co-branded T-shirts.

The Dodgers-Clippers co-branded shirts includes the Clippers’ new logo unveiled this week.

Players from each teams will be in attendance for pregame ceremonies, along with the Laker Girls on Lakers Night. In addition, the Lakers’ 1988 NBA Larry O’Brien championship trophy will be on site, commemorating the year both the Lakers and Dodgers brought championships to L.A.

To receive the shirts, you must purchase special tickets for the respective nights at dodgers.com/clippers, dodgers.com/lakers and dodgers.com/kings. These are not stadium-wide giveaways.

The Dodgers offer special ticket packages throughout the season, all of which can be accessed by visiting dodgers.com/events.

Video: Kershaw, Seager win ping-pong title

By

On March 18, 2015

In Other sports

[mlbvideo id=”49205283″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

There’s no such thing as an exhibition when Clayton Kershaw and the words “ping” or “pong” are involved …

– Jon Weisman

Screen Shot 2015-03-18 at 7.42.08 PM

Mattingly makes big play in football title tilt

By

On January 12, 2015

In Other sports

Screen Shot 2015-01-12 at 8.07.22 PM

Danny Mattingly, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound redshirt freshman linebacker whose third-quarter interception keyed Oregon’s comeback attempt in the college football national championship tonight, is a distant cousin of Don Mattingly, according to this August feature by Andrew Greif in the Oregonian. Click the image above for video.

– Jon Weisman

The footballiest Dodger games of all time

By

On January 7, 2015

In History, Other sports

Jamey Wright celebrates a Dodger touchdown in their 17-0 victory over San Francisco in September. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Jamey Wright celebrates a Dodger touchdown in their 17-0 victory over San Francisco in September. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

I’m not the world’s biggest football fan anymore, but it still amuses me when the Dodgers go up by a touchdown, so to speak. (Less so when they’re losing by a touchdown.)

With football playoffs in gear and the Dodgers offseason having one of its quieter weeks — though Jimmy Rollins will be making an appearance at Dodger Stadium at 4 p.m. today, airing live on SportsNet LA and Dodgers.com — I thought it’d be fun to check out the Dodger games that looked the most like football scores. (The NFL and AAFC Brooklyn Dodgers not included.)

If one other person finds pleasure out of this, it will have been worth my while. (I’m counting on you, Eric Stephen.)

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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. 

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