Manny Ramirez being put on waivers generates excitement
Manny Ramirez has generated more excitement at the waiver deadline than he did at Dodger Stadium this season. …
The spectacular Dodgers debut of Santa Fe Springs Santa Fe High graduate Rod Barajas reminds that the greatest locally produced Dodgers were Hall of Fame members Jackie Robinson from Pasadena Muir High, Duke Snider from Compton High and Don Drysdale from Van Nuys High. …
At Van Nuys, Drysdale graduated with the Class of 1954, which also included Robert Redford. …
Strikingly similar to Barajas’ debut was Dave Skaggs’ first game with the Angels in May 1980, when the journeyman catcher from North Torrance High had three hits, including a home run, and drove in five runs against the Cleveland Indians. …
Skaggs had four more hits in his next two games and then only six the rest of the season, his last in the majors. …
“One of the greatest gifts I have ever given to my 12-year-old son,” reader Norman Sapoznik Sabin of Thousand Oaks e-mails to note, “is that of the voice, wisdom and wit of Vin Scully.” …
It’s a gift shared by many — for at least one more year. …
Ryan Howard’s going 0 for 7 in Tuesday night’s 16-inning Philadelphia Phillies loss brought to mind Hall of Fame member George Kell, who once went 0 for 10 in a 24-inning game. …
Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers, in a radio interview this week, said of the Lakers, “They still have not beaten our starting five. … We will be back strong and Perk [Kendrick Perkins] will be there next year if there’s a Game 7.” …
Will he be rooting for the Lakers or the Miami Heat? …
Duke will pick up its opponent’s entire tab, airfare and lodging included, when Kyle Singler and the NCAA Division I defending champions play host to Division II champion Cal Poly Pomona in an exhibition game Nov. 4 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. …
Both programs are led by Coach K: Greg Kamansky at Cal Poly Pomona and Mike Krzyzewski, of course, at Duke. …
Newly divorced Tiger Woods, winless in nine events this year, has broken 70 only once in his last 17 rounds. …
Phil Simms, a former Super Bowl most valuable player, says of Aaron Rodgers, “I look for weaknesses … and I don’t see them.” …
Several readers e-mailed to note that, contrary to a report this month in the Oregonian, the single-game ticket price for Oklahoma-Oklahoma State this fall — face value: $125 — is not the highest in college football. …
The face value of top-line tickets for Notre Dame’s game against Army at Yankee Stadium is $175. …
End-zone seats are $125. …
Also, several readers e-mailed to note that the best seats for the USC- UCLA game, available only to donors, are $104 — $24 more than the highest price for USC-Notre Dame tickets. …
In a cameo appearance this week on HBO’s “ Entourage,” Kevin Love was identified as a “UCLA legend.” …
At UCLA, a banner-free season does not a legend make. …
Noting that Brenda Warner would like to see husband and ex- NFL quarterback Kurt Warner portrayed onscreen by Denzel Washington, reader Craig Lesly of Chino Hills e-mails to ask, “I wonder what Brenda would think about the concept of George Clooney playing the lead in ‘The Willie Mays Story’?” …
Considering that Cate Blanchett wrung an Oscar nomination from her portrayal of Bob Dylan, anything is possible. …
Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s most popular driver, has won once in his last 158 races. …
Good thoughts go out to friend and former Times sportswriter Lonnie White, an ex-USC football player whose wrenching two-decade battle with a rare skin disease is documented in an episode of “Mystery Diagnosis” that airs again Saturday at 2 p.m. on the Discovery Health Channel. …
Organizers probably won’t reprise this quote from Andre Agassi’s autobiography in promoting the U.S. Open: “I play tennis for a living even though I hate tennis, hate it with a dark and secret passion, and always have.” …
J.K. McKay, associate athletic director at USC, was quick with advice for old friend Pat Haden last Friday after the Trojans women’s soccer team lost to San Diego, 1-0, in the first event since Haden took over as athletic director. …
Offered McKay: “Fire the A.D.”
jerome.crowe@latimes.com
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