Lasorda: Drug Users Weak, Not Sick

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda was named grand marshal of the New Year’s Eve Fiesta Bowl Parade Thursday, and afterward he told reporters his thoughts about drug problems in major league baseball.

“A lot of people pass off drug-taking as a sickness,” Lasorda said. “It’s not a sickness, it’s a weakness. As far as I’m concerned, anybody who takes drugs is weak, very weak.

“Players need to be role models. Not very often do you see a 12-year-old youngster who wants to grow up to be a governor. He wants to be a ballplayer. The recent trial in Pittsburgh really hurt baseball. We got to try to clean out the guys who do drugs.

“But the players’ association seems like it’s trying to protect those players (by not allowing mandatory drug tests). Are we running a rehabilitation center in baseball? I think we should really clamp down on those guys. Drugs are harmful, they’re illegal and they lead you down the path to destruction.