Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Columnist Dissents on Lasorda's Induction

Richard Griffen's column in the Toronto Star in Sunday's paper was headlined 'Why Mr. Lasorda shouldn't be in our hall of fame'. He begins by congratulating Canadian inductees, Ron Stead, Ron Hayter, and the late Larry McLean, then writes about Tommy Lasorda that 'unlike his well-nurtured public image, he's in reality a mean-spirited, egocentric, homophobic bully who has done nothing for Canadian baseball.'

I have no problem with Griffen's characterization of Lasorda but if being a nice guy were the criteria for being inducted then 'richly deserving Canadian inductee' Larry McLean would have no chance. McLean was a drunk who brawled on and off the field and at age 39 was shot dead in a Boston speakeasy.