Letters: A marvelous announcement by Vin Scully

Vin Scully’s perfect call of his own future plans:

“I’ll be back next year, folks.”

(Long pause while the crowd goes wild and Vin does nothing to interrupt like the young yahoos that have to hear themselves speak all the time.)

Then finally,

“Let’s go back to this one.”

Axel Kyster

Bradbury

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Instead of replacing the “Mannywood” signs at Dodger Stadium, why doesn’t the team simply change the first two letters from “M-A” to “V-I?” That way, it would appropriately fete Vin Scully signing on for another year broadcasting Dodgers games while subtly putting to rest the last two underachieving seasons from our former slugger.

Deneal Blouin

Compton

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My mother, may she rest in peace, couldn’t have told you what an RBI was if you spotted her “runs” and “batted.” But if you asked her to identify one thing that heralded the onset of springtime, she would have named the warm, comforting, familiar voice of Vin Scully.

Thank you, Vinny. You mean so much to so many of us, fans and non-fans alike.

Jeff Kandel

Los Angeles

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There is no one else broadcasting today who does what Vin Scully has done over six decades. He taught me as a 9-year-old how to keep score. How many readers participated in the 1965 “Score a Game with Scully” contest? He explained about the Battle of the Bulge, as he gave biographical sketches of players near the end of their careers in the early ‘60s. He still quotes Shakespeare with ease, and practices meteorology when storm fronts gather over places from Forbes to Wrigley.

Thank you, teacher, for deciding to give us at least one more year!

Ed Kaz

Oak Park

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Thank you, Vin, for making the most disappointing Dodgers seasons seem like championship-worthy ones. Audibly, we in the Dodger Nation win the World Series every year solely on hearing you paint pictures via airwaves. We deeply appreciate you continuing for yet another season. (And another after that in 2012 if you so choose … we won’t mind).

Mark J. Featherstone

Windsor Hills

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Dodger fans were panicked that Vin Scully would not return, while UCLA fans are panicked that Chris Roberts will return.

Wes Wellman

Santa Monica

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Perhaps Brett Favre could learn something from Vin Scully.

Paul Hunt

Sierra Madre

Back on the field

So Joe Torre will announce his future plans Labor Day. The Dodgers manager’s three-year contract is up, and he should know he can’t win without a $200-million payroll. But he should also take a hint from Lou Piniella and push the ejection button now.

Vic Bulaich

Inglewood

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The best thing that will come from this disappointing Dodgers season is that we will finally be rid of the cancer that is Manny. His “Manny Being Manny” card has expired in L.A. after fooling those who so readily embraced him upon arrival. So let’s send him on his Manny way with a ceremonial bonfire by using the Mannywood sign for kindling along with those fake (as his potential here was) dreads attached to greasy batting helmets that should keep the flames burning longer than his female- hormone-fueled career. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Jim Kozich

Arroyo Grande, Calif.

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With the Dodgers’ farm system deteriorating as evidenced by their inability to make any significant big-name pitcher trades, I would suggest that they sell some of those protected players who never bloomed.

Russell Martin has been a bitter disappointment. Five-tool player Matt Kemp needs to be traded because he lacks the sixth tool, which is a brain with a baseball IQ. Additionally, he needs to be in a town where Hollywood isn’t. Unload Ramirez while the unloading is good. Casey Blake’s tank seems to be running near empty. Raffy Furcal, a very good shortstop, is undependable. Every time he puts something together he winds up on the DL, reminiscent of another very good shortstop, Nomar Garciaparra.

On the brighter side, Podsednik. Theriot and Lilly were good acquisitions. Along with Carroll, Loney and Either, you have a nucleus of players who love to play the game and have the ability to think. I would much rather have a less talented player who uses his head, than a budding superstar who appears to be playing the game like a chicken with his head cut off.

J.J. Volpe

Long Beach

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Colletti, Torre, Bowa and Schaefer have a right to call Matt Kemp (or any other player) out for what they perceive as a lack of preparation, hustle and execution. It would probably be best if they did so in private, especially in the case of Colletti and Schaefer, who never played in the major leagues. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time around professional athletes over the years and I’m pretty sure that while Kemp doesn’t mind the things that Torre and Bowa have said, he probably resents the other two calling him out in such a public manner. After all, he’s not the only reason why the Dodgers have played poorly this season.

I’d hate to see Kemp leave the Dodgers because he has the tools to be a great player for a number of years. But, if Joe Torre and his staff are here next year, it’s probably best for both he and the Dodgers to part ways this off-season.

Charles L. Freeman

Baldwin Hills

Divorce, Dodgers style

I would love to see the presiding judge’s face when the MLB lawyer suggests that an MLB document supersedes California divorce law. I recognize baseball as the American pastime, but puh-leeze! The biggest winner will be Frank McCourt’s lawyer, who is stoking this ridiculous position that Jamie is not co-owner.

Paul Zimmelman

Marina del Rey

Dogging it

At first I thought the “Bark in the Park” had to be Simers’ idea, as a way to drive home the “choking dogs” label, but when I saw the $25 per paw ticket price, I knew it was the McCourts

Charles Gillespie

Oxnard

Fallen Angels

I have been a fan of Mike Scioscia’s for as long as I can remember — and I am wondering if it is time for him to move on. His team is reflecting his lack of enthusiasm, energy, whatever you want to call it. I wonder how he can have the fastest center fielder and not ask him to drag a bunt once a game? And how can he call for a hit-and-run with Matsui on first base? And that staff of relievers — how can you explain his reliance on pitchers who continually don’t get the job done?

I would add that Tony Reagins can move on as well. Perhaps when fans don’t show up to fatten Arte’s pocket, he will decide adding “Los Angeles” to the name of the team won’t bring them from L.A. — or from Orange County either, unless he fields a winning team!

Carol Marshall

Anaheim

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Still think Scott Kazmir’s five-inning “masterpiece” against the Toothless Tigers on Aug. 7 meant he’s suddenly the top-of-the-rotation guy the Angels thought they traded for, Ben Bolch?

Clifford Burton

Santa Monica

Nay-sayers

In his Aug. 21 letter to the editor, reader Rick Rapp asks, “Are horses really athletes? I mean really?” All Zenyatta does is go out and thrill crowds with her talent, heart, personality and professionalism, which is what I thought athletes did — or used to — before performance-enhancing drugs, temperamental snits on and off the field and extraordinary salaries and bonuses reared their heads.

Yes, I’ll take Zenyatta, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Ruffian, John Henry and all the other four-legged legends who well deserve the American Heritage Dictionary’s definition of “athlete: one who takes part in competitive sports … possessing the natural aptitudes for physical exercises and sports, as strength, agility and endurance.”

Helen Lotos

Corona del Mar

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I take issue with the reader Rick Rapp who asked if Zenyatta could be considered a true athlete:

1) She races because she enjoys it. You can tell by her performances.

2) She doesn’t need contracts, money or endorsements to motivate her. She loves to run.

3) She gets a Guinness after the race. That’s her reward.

Mary Keller

Los Angeles

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They don’t lie, cheat on their wives, use drugs, assault fans, fake injury or tattoo themselves. I have owned and ridden them recreationally and competitively for 25 years. They always give their best, are beautiful to look at, and don’t talk back too much.

Who are they? Horses. The best athletes in the world.

Stephen Cooper

Hidden Hills

Too much?

So, the NFL wants an 18-game regular-season schedule. I can only think of two groups of people who will benefit from this arrangement:

1. The greedy owners; and

2. The 1972 Miami Dolphins

Craig P. Fagan

San Diego

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Concussions are the biggest problem in the NFL so what does NFL Commish Roger Goodell propose? More regular-season games! Teams can barely make it through 16 games as it is. All of this from a man who thinks that the NFL is better served with teams in podunk towns like Buffalo, Baltimore and Jacksonville than in the second-largest city in the nation.

Mike Gamboa

Buena Park

Trojan times

So, many of the same sportswriters that refuse to vote players into the Baseball Hall of Fame for steroid use are willing to vote for USC in the Associated Press college football rankings.

When USC allowed “lack of institutional control” in its football and basketball programs, USC put those programs on steroids. Allowing agents in the locker room and on the sidelines was the equivalence of injecting those teams with human growth hormones. The coaches’ willingness to turn their heads to players with fancy cars and televisions they couldn’t afford was the same as allowing the players to cheat on their drug testing.

Roland Armstorff

Burbank

Taking a powder

Being an offensive lineman at UCLA is akin to being the drummer of the band Spinal Tap.

Every time you turn your head, one disappears.

Al DaRodda

Hollywood

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