RAINBOW BASEBALL
CRAIG KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Tommy Lasorda will receive an honorary degree -- his sixth such honor -- from the University of Hawaii tomorrow.
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Lasorda plugs away for Classic
The former Dodgers manager speaks tomorrow at UH
Tommy Lasorda is openly passionate when talking about America and baseball.
It only seemed natural that Major League Baseball commissioner Bug Selig would appoint Lasorda his ambassador for the inaugural World Baseball Classic, a tournament this March that features 16 teams
Rainbow Baseball Grand Slam Celebration
When: Tomorrow. Doors open, 5:30 p.m. Program, pupus and silent auction, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
Guest speaker: Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who will receive an honorary degree from UH
Tickets: $75. Parking free when presenting ticket at parking kiosk. Tickets available at the door or at etickethawaii.com
More information: Call 956-6247
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"I felt it was an honor," said Lasorda, the featured guest speaker at tomorrow night's UH Baseball Grand Slam Celebration at the Stan Sheriff Center. "I've been trying to make people aware of what the Classic is all about. They are going to see the best baseball players in the world. It is like the World Cup of soccer."
The 78-year-old Lasorda, a player, coach and manager with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization for 57 years, arrived here on Thursday from Japan, where he was spreading the word about the Classic.
One question he was asked in Tokyo when he spoke to the foreign correspondents was about New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui's decision not to play for Japan.
"I told them he should play because he has a chance to give back to his country, where he made a good living," said Lasorda. "Ichiro (Suzuki, of the Seattle Mariners) is playing."
"When I was asked to manage the U.S. Olympic team, I wasn't doing it for any one team. I was doing something for my country.
"The Olympics are bigger than the World Series," Lasorda continued. "When the Dodgers won the World Series, only the fans in Los Angeles were happy. When we won the Olympics, all of America was happy.
"I took the position that I love my country and wanted to bring the gold medal back where it belongs for baseball. The coaches don't get medals, but my medal was watching the flag raised, hearing the national anthem and seeing the medals around our players' necks."
Lasorda says the Classic is a great opportunity for American players.
"If they are selected and turn it down without having a legitimate reason, then I would be very disappointed in them," Lasorda said.
"I know some (major league) managers don't like it, but they don't realize how important this Classic is. They are thinking about their own team rather than realizing this is for their country."
The U.S. State Department has decided not to grant visas to Cuba's national team players.
"It was the right decision," Lasorda said, "because they would have received money (against the law).
"The Cubans think they have the greatest baseball in the world, but if they get in they will find out how good they really are. Castro might not want to come because he knows he is going to get his ass kicked."
Major League Baseball is still working through channels to get the decision reversed.
If Lasorda was picking a long shot to win the inaugural Classic, it would be Japan.
"They have some real good players now. They have two pitchers who are outstanding," said Lasorda, who is a special adviser to the Dodgers' chairman of the board, Frank McCourt.
Lasorda said he was impressed with San Diego and how that city has embraced hosting the semifinal-round games March 18 and championship game March 20.
"We went down there and were on all the TV and radio stations and by the next day they had calls for 20,000 tickets. It is my understanding they have sold out," said Lasorda, who still remembers the short right-field wall at old Honolulu Stadium when he managed the Spokane Indians against the Hawaii Islanders.
Lasorda does not wear any championship rings, just the one from the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 1997.
"Getting into the Hall of Fame is the next thing to heaven. And I thought I had a better chance of getting into heaven first," said Lasorda, who will also receive an honorary degree from UH, his sixth such honor.
Lasorda still has more traveling to do, with a trip planned to Mexico and Puerto Rico, possibly one to Italy and a stop in Phoenix, where Group B plays.
The next Classic is scheduled for 2009, and then it will be held every four years after that.
This year, the Classic begins in Tokyo with China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan playing pool games March 3-5.
Group B, with the U.S., Canada, Mexico and South Africa, plays March 7-9 in Phoenix.
Group C, with Cuba (which is still on the official schedule), the Netherlands, Panama and Puerto Rico, plays March 7-9 in Puerto Rico.
Group D, with Australia, the Dominican Republic, Italy and Venezuela, plays March 7-10 in Kissimmee, Fla.
The top two teams in Groups A and B meet in pool play in Anaheim, Calif., March 12-16, with the top two teams in Groups C and D playing pool games in Puerto Rico, March 12-15.
Here is one more thought from America's baseball ambassador:
Once asked how he handled being booed by fans, Lasorda said, "I try to look at things positively. When they are booing me, they are leaving someone else alone."