Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda spoke to a ballroom brimming with U baseball players, coaches and supporters on Monday night at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City.
Lasorda spoke after dinner at the annual fund-raiser to commend Utah baseball supporters, but before the banquet got underway, he visited the team at practice to motivate, encourage and inspire the players and coaches.
?He really was talking to us about coming together as a team and playing for the name on the front of our jerseys rather than the name on the back,? said pitcher Brock Duke. ?He was getting fired up, we were getting excited ? we?re all ready to go and he just gave us a little more fuel for the fire.?
Lasorda is a proven motivator. He managed the Los Angeles Dodgers for 20 years, winning 1,599 games on his way to claiming two World Championships, four National League pennants and eight division titles. He continues his 64-year career with the Dodger organization today as vice president and constantly travels around the globe promoting the game of baseball.
?Put that uniform on and put it on with pride, dignity and character,? Lasorda said during his speech. ?When you play the other team, you win in glory and you lose in sadness. Put the uniform on and hustle. Give your team 100 percent.?
Utah head coach Bill Kinneberg has been helping to put fund-raisers like this together for nine years. Lasorda is the sixth Hall of Famer to speak at the banquet.
?This is a really special event for us ? we?re really honored to have him here with us,? Kinneberg said. ?He?s been a champion all of his life ? Anybody who?s employed by one group for 64 years, that?s pretty special and that indicates what kind of guy he is.?
Lasorda had the room rolling on the floor with laughter for almost his entire speech, as he recounted stories of dim-witted former player Steve Sax. He also told of the honor he felt winning a gold medal as the manager of Team USA at the 2000 Olympic Games. He encouraged the Utah players to study hard and take advantage of their opportunities at the U, but the most inspirational thing he told the players came in the form of a threat.
?I also told them that from today until next year, same date, I will be speaking to probably a million people,? Lasorda said. ?And if they don?t do good this year, I?m going to tell a million people how lousy they are.?
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