Painting the Town

Don't stop believing

2008-10-05T04:06:08Z

The Dodgers just did a montage to Steve Perry's song, ``Don't Stop Believing.'' And, Kirk Gibson's home run was part of it. Of course, Perry was then shown here at Dodger Stadium....

Dodger Stadium flyover

2008-10-05T02:31:52Z

Game 3 of the Dodgers-Cubs series featured a different sort of flyover...this one was with two LA Fire Department helicopters. Game time was 7:10 p.m. and it was already dark, so you could see the helicopters in the distance by virtue of their lights. Thankfully, the helicopters aren't as loud as the jets, but they're much slower, too.

Jason Bay on Manny being Manny

2008-10-02T04:59:36Z

Jason Bay - who was involved in the deal that shipped Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers - has a view of Ramirez that not many of his former Bo Sox teammates share. He likes to watch him hit. I asked him what his reaction was when Ramirez's home run against the Cubs was shown live on the JumboTron during Red Sox batting practice.
``I think Mike Lowell said, `Geez, did you see the pitch he hit? Obviously, he's one of the best postseason players of all time,'' Bay said. ``A lot of us still enjoy watching him.
``We crossed paths in the air, so it kind of helped me a little bit. I didn't know him that much, and I didn't know the situation that was here before, so I think that works to my advantage.''

Angels fans give Manny a hand

2008-10-02T01:50:54Z

The Dodgers-Cubs game was shown live on the JumboTron at Angel Stadium before Wednesday's game between the Red Sox and Angels. While the Boston Red Sox were taking batting practice, Manny Ramirez - the former Red Sox player - homered. There was a big round of applause from Angels fans, who took much delight in Manny's home run. Of course, Angels fans would never cheer for the Dodgers, but this was a unique opportunity to rub in it while the Red Sox were on the field.

The legacy of Lyman Bostock

2008-09-23T23:04:35Z

Click hereto read a story I wrote today on Lyman Bostock, the ex-CSUN and ex-Angels baseball player who was tragically murdered 30 years ago today. Click hereto read an excerpt on Tom Hoffarth's blog. He talked to Dick Enberg, who was an assistant baseball coach at CSUN. Bostock was on the Northridge's 1972 team that made the Division II World Series but lost to Florida Southern, 5-1.

I completed the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer!

2008-09-14T21:38:02Z

I did it! I just completed the two-day, 39-mile walk in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Long Beach. I could use a new pair of feet, and I'm a bit sore, but I'm feeling good. There were 2,100 women that walked the race and as a group, we raised $5 million for breast cancer research and programs. What an accomplishment. The New York walk is in two weeks and that event is expected to raise $12 million. For more on my walk, check out tomorrow's Daily News sports section.

Carroll, Elway & Mahony

2008-09-07T21:17:49Z

I went to the Mira Costa-Loyola High football game at Mira Costa on Friday and had several ''celebrity sightings''. Among those in attendance were John Elway, Pete Carroll and Bishop Roger Mahony.
Elway was in town because he's opening a car dealership in Manhattan Beach.
Former NFL quarterback Ken O'Brien was there, too.
Elway, the former Granada Hills QB, had five dealerships in Colorado but sold them to Wayne Huizenga.

Take the poll: When will Manny cut his hair?

2008-08-05T23:24:57Z

Joe Torre asked Manny Ramirez to clean up his hair (ie cut it) and Ramirez agreed. He said his first day on the job as a Dodger that he didn't want to be treated like anyone else and that he'd cut his hair. This is Day 5 with the team. When do you think he'll cut his hair?

Fundraising for Avon Walk for breast cancer

2008-07-28T23:58:38Z

When you see a fundraising table outside a grocery store does it make you run to the other entrance or avoid eye contact? Well, I was the person some Ralph's shoppers were trying to avoid on Sunday morning. I am fundraising for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, Sept. 13-14 in Long Beach. I know the economy is tough, but many people were gracious enough to donate whatever they could, and I earned $205 over 2 1/2 hours. Several folks told stories of their loved ones who are battling cancer or how they've done a walk, etc. But for every nice person, there was someone who would race in to the story or not bother to respond to a simple hello. The worst was a lady who asked if she could donate $200. I couldn't believe my luck. The woman told me she had to go to her car to get the money. Instead, she just got in the passenger side of a vehicle and the car rode off. A simple no thanks would have sufficed.

Kenny G AND Stevie Wonder at the Greek

2008-07-28T21:19:06Z

I went to The Greek for the first time and saw Kenny G in concert on Saturday. What a great outdoor theatre. Kenny G and his band were superb. Stevie Wonder made a surprise appearance and played his harmonica with Kenny G for one song.
The percussionist was ridiculously talented and was smiling the entire concert. I love to watch people who love what they do. Kenny G did his best as a standup comedian, as well as incredible saxophone player. Kenny, known for his long curly hair, had this to say about the prospect of going bald, like his percussionist: ``I know if I cut my hair like that, my career would go down the toilet ... just like Michael Bolton's.'' Doh!

]]> Kenny G was like a kid in a candy store when Stevie Wonder came out for a song. Even though phones are banned at concerts, Kenny G kept saying: ``Someone take a picture of this!'' Then the flashes of cell phone cameras went off from every corner of the theatre. After the song, Wonder gave Kenny G his harmonica and walked off stage. Kenny G stuck it in his pocket and said he was keeping it. Kenny G gave away a saxophone that night, so he obviously didn't want fans getting any ideas about the harmonica.
During the concert, Kenny G showed people how he can hold a note on the sax for what seems like an eternity (and still breathe!). He can inhale at the same time he exhales. It's crazy. To prove he can do it, he stuck his nose just above the microphone and inhaled while he was still exhaling and playing a note.
``I inhale like Bill Clinton never did,'' Kenny G said.
Try it. I have no idea how he does it. Wonderful concert.

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

2008-07-26T15:07:00Z

I'll be doing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in September, and I haven't started training yet. Eeks! On Sept. 13, you walk 26 miles (the equivalent of a marathon) and 13 miles the following day. I figured I ran the marathon last year, so a long walk should be a piece of cake, right? (Famous last words).
Click hereto check out my Web page for the event.
There's information on the Web site in case you're interested in participating, too. In order to walk the event, there's a minimum fundraising requirement of $1,800. I know it seems impossible, but it's really not. And, it goes to a great cause. Some of the money goes toward helping underprivileged women receive treatments and mammograms, as well as research and development, etc.

The man who gave the Last Lecture has died

2008-07-25T22:47:03Z

Randy Pausch, made famous for his riveting ``The Last Lecture'' died this morning. If you haven't seen his lecture at Carnegie Melon, made famous by youtube., you really should. Click here to watch.

Wooden on the Lakers

2008-06-07T00:53:21Z

John Wooden was at John R. Wooden High School in Reseda this morning. He was honored with a 20 by 25-foot mural which depicted his life. Check out the photo of the mural here.
I asked Wooden what he thought about the Lakers' run to the NBA Finals, and here's what he said:
``Before the season started, I felt after the trade that wasn't made (Kobe Bryant) that they'd go all the way,'' Wooden said. ``One thing they needed was a tremendous player but also an unselfish player. In my opinion, I saw a great change in Kobe. He was (second in the league in scoring), yet he's a better team player than he's ever been. In many ways, he should be the greatest individual player. He's the most talented individual. He can do so many things offensive and defensively.
``Last year, he knocked his teammates. He hasn't done that this season.''

U.S. Olympic water polo team shines in Westlake Village

2008-06-01T04:12:51Z

The U.S. Olympic men's water polo team played Croatia tonight at Oaks Christian, and what an atmosphere. There were about 2,000 people sandwiched in the swimming pool stands and outside the pool on the grass. It looked like a concert in the park.
These are the guys you'll see on NBC in August in Beijing for the Olympics.
The U.S. beat Croatia - the No. 1-ranked team in the world - 8-5. It's not the Olympics, but that's a big deal for the Americans.

]]> Fans were chanting USA! USA! and waving flags. It definitely felt like a buildup event to the Olympics.
The match will be televised on MSNBC at 9 a.m. on June 15.
The U.S. team is training at Oaks Christian and Cal Lutheran University. The U.S. has matches with Australia in Goleta and Moraga next week, then plays Australia June 10 at Cal Lutheran.
``We've been very grateful both Cal Lutheran and Oaks Christian have opened up their communities to us,'' said U.S. coach Terry Schroeder.
The team was spotted in Ventura last week dishing out ice cream at Coldstone Creamery and singing along with staffers.

Wooden and Starbucks CEO share stage

2008-05-29T01:00:46Z

What do John Wooden and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz have in common? It's not java. It's the new John Wooden Global Leadership Award.
Wooden was scheduled to present the John Wooden Global Leadership Award to Schultz Wednesday night at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. This is part of the UCLA Anderson School of Management leadership program.
The event will include a conversation between Wooden and Schultz, which will be moderated by. Fortune magazine's managing editor, Andy Serwer.
This is Wooden's second public appearance in as many weeks following a February fall in his Encino home.
"John Wooden is an illustrious leader, and we are thrilled to present the first John Wooden Global Leadership Award to one of the most influential business leaders of today," said Judy Olian, dean of UCLA Anderson School of Management. "Howard Schultz embodies the leadership ideals and values underlying Coach Wooden's leadership philosophy and is an inspiring choice for the award."