Dodger Thoughts

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

Tag: Larry King

Maury Wills to receive lifetime honor at scouts dinner

Wills Sliding (steals record)
By Jon Weisman

Dodger legend Maury Wills will receive the Player Lifetime Achievement Award at the 13th annual “In the Spirit of the Game” Sports and Entertainment Spectacular, benefiting the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 16.

The PBSF, founded and led by Dennis Gilbert, has helped raise more than 1.6 million that is awarded in grants to scouts (or their immediate family) whose circumstances have created a financial need.

The foundation’s mission is to create a financial bridge for those scouts by generating funds through contributions so that the PBSF may continue to help them get back on their feet. The foundation helps with such items as house and car payments, medical services including insurance, and daily living expenses up to and including funeral costs.

In addition to the essential financial support provided by the foundation, securing health and life insurance becomes a critical aspect of safeguarding the well-being of these individuals and their families. Health insurance ensures that medical services, including necessary treatments and preventive care, are accessible without the burden of overwhelming costs. This protection is crucial in maintaining stability and peace of mind during challenging times.

Life insurance, on the other hand, offers a safety net that extends beyond the immediate financial needs, providing for loved ones in the unfortunate event of a scout’s passing. By working with trusted platforms like simplyquote.co.uk, the foundation can guide beneficiaries in finding suitable insurance options tailored to their specific needs. This not only helps cover funeral expenses but also ensures that families have the financial support they need to move forward with dignity and security.

Dodgers president Stan Kasten will present Wills with the award.

Read More

Larry King to host Dodger show on SportsNet LA

Time Warner Cable Sports Headshots

By Jon Weisman

Longtime TV/radio host Larry King will take the helm of “Larry King At Bat,” where he will interview celebrities, baseball legends, Dodger personalities and other luminaries in a series of hour-long episodes on SportsNet LA.

The new series was announced tonight shortly after SportsNet LA launched with “Access SportsNet: Dodgers” and will premiere March 18 at 7 p.m., with Orel Hershiser as the interview subject.

“In addition to being a talented and renowned TV personality, Larry King is an incredible Dodger fan,” said Dodger president and CEO Stan Kasten. “We are so excited to officially bring him into the Dodger family.”

Said King: “With my love of sports and my interviewing skills, I think it will be a happy combo.”

Hey, what’s going on?


Some midweek news and notes …

  • Best friend of Dodger Thoughts and ESPN reporter Molly Knight and her friend and fellow ESPN contributing writer Anna Katherine Clemmons have had the story of their cross-country road trip (which began as fodder for a magazine article) optioned for a movie. My Variety colleague Jeff Sneider has the details.
  • Larry King is reportedly joining the Dennis Gilbert-headed group bidding to by the Dodgers, reports Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
  • Hank Aaron inquired whether Medallion Financial Corp., on which he serves on the board of directors, might make a bid to by the Dodgers, according to Bill Shaikin of the Times. The answer: No.
  • A bow-hunting trip (no, not the kind where you hunt Ken Rosenthal’s ties) with Royals outfielder Jeff Francoeur and manager Ned Yost helped lure Jonathan Broxton to Kansas City, writes Kevin Kernan of the New York Post (via Hardball Talk).
  • Jim Breen of Fangraphs takes a closer look at Kenley Jansen’s dominant fastball, an interesting piece given what we’ve heard of Jansen’s eventual desire to emulate Mariano Rivera. “The 24-year-old not only threw approximately 87% fastballs in 2011, but he also filled up the strike zone,” writes Breen. “Only relievers Matt Belisle, Octavio Dotel, and Matt Capps threw more pitches inside the zone than Jansen. So opposing hitters knew which pitch he was going to throw and knew that it would more than likely be within the strike zone, but opposing hitters still struck out 44% of the time.”
  • Here are some childhood photos of Clayton Kershaw with longtime buddy Matthew Stafford, the Detroit Lions quarterback.
  • And, here’s a great prep school picture of birthday boy Vin Scully via Tom Hoffarth of the Daily News.
  • Some nifty portraits accompany this interview by Ernest Reyes of Blue Heaven with artist Tommervik.
  • Evan Bladh looks back at the 2003 Dodgers at Opinion of Kingman’s Performance.
  • Ken Arneson discusses the two systems of thought with regards to statistics, and how they relate to kids learning to read.
  • In a guest post for The Platoon Advantage, Dan Hennessy explains why “the less I hear my team’s name associated with free agency, the happier I am.”
  • Very, very cool skiing and outdoors footage in “Winter,” which will screen at the Village in Westwood on Sunday.
  • Finally, if you haven’t seen “Beginners” with Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Melanie Laurent and Goran Visnjic, I really recommend it.

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén