Dodger Skipper Does the Waves for Charity

Who was that goggled man gliding smoothly through a pool of Dodger blue?

It was trim, slim Tommy Lasorda stroking his way through 55 laps at USC on Tuesday and raising at least $5,000 for a scholarship fund for disabled students.

The Dodger skipper swam nearly a mile in the event called “Swim With Mike,” after USC All-American swimmer Mike Nyeholt, who was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident in 1981.

Lasorda swam his laps Tuesday with Nyeholt and former USC baseball coach Rod Dedeaux because the Dodgers will be out of town when the full-fledged event is held at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

The event has raised more than $750,000 since it began in 1981, and swimmers can still sign up for Saturday, university officials said.