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It's time La Russa got his due.(My Turn)
Along with my duties as the play-by-play guy with FOX Sports, for the past 14 years I have called St. Louis Cardinals baseball on both television and radio. I grew up around the organization as a kid, hanging on to my dad's coattails, which I still sometimes ride to this day.
In 1996, Tony La Russa was named manager of the Birds, and nobody knew what to expect. My personal (and, as it turned out, ignorant) opinion was that he was sure to be a great manager and a cold, arrogant person to the media. That was his reputation.
I hadn't read George Will's Men at Work, but I was aware of the "genius" label and the law degree, and I thought we all were in for a big wake-up call. After all, he basically was taking over for Joe Torre, a favorite with fans, media and Cardinals personnel because of the classy way he handled people and situations.
Ironically, when Joe left his perch in St. Louis in 1995, people's perception of him was the opposite of their perception of La Russa. Remember the headlines when Torre was hired to manage the Yankees? "CLUELESS JOE," they called him. The genius headline writers in New York obviously were wrong about Torre, and I was wrong about La Russa.
Tony La Russa is the best manager in the game today. That's easy to say now with the way his team is running away with the National League Central, but after all of these years, I believe that is the case no matter the standings during any given season.
That is not a popular stance for me to take with those in the game who never have had the chance to get to know him. So many seem to judge La Russa from an opposing dugout, believing they know what he is all about by reading his body language. They can't wait to chalk up a knockdown pitch to "just more of that La Russa B.S."
He is intense. He lives the spring and summer in a city far from home, without his wife and two daughters, in a rented house, driving a rented car, with one purpose--to win. La Russa wants to win more than the players, more than the owners and more than the fans. If his intensity means he rubs people the wrong way and he doesn't come off as a good ol' boy, then so be it. Fans in St. Louis don't get him. I don't think I did, either, until this year.
- TEAM YOUR COMPUTER UP WITH THE SPORT OF THE SEASON; SSI INTRODUCES 'TONY LA...
- Press release article from: PR Newswire May 24, 1994 700+ words
...for the personal computer, "Tony La Russa Baseball II(TM) 1994 Season...isn't for minor leaguers; "Tony La Russa Baseball 1994" has souped-up...version of the highly successful "Tony La Russa II" provides baseball fans with...
- The Philadelphia Inquirer Stephen A. Smith column: the darkness behind La...
- Newspaper article from: Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) Smith, Stephen A. July 13, 2007 700+ words
...The story never ends there with Tony La Russa. There's always another moral...baseball figure. In the real world, La Russa epitomizes a scandal before the...when you take a closer look at who La Russa really is and what actually courses...
- Central Garden & Pet and Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation Form a...
- Press release article from: Business Wire January 4, 2005 700+ words
...markets, has joined forces with Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation...saving programs. Joining host Tony La Russa on this special evening will be...to working with them," said Tony La Russa, founder of ARF. About Tony...
- STORMFRONT STUDIOS ANNOUNCES TONY LA RUSSA BASEBALL 3: 1996 EDITION
- Press release article from: PR Newswire March 13, 1996 700+ words
...today announced plans to deliver Tony La Russa Baseball 3: 1996 Edition, an...fans of the game. In addition, Tony La Russa Baseball 3: 1996 Edition will...to-head stats, in the new Tony La Russa Baseball 3: 1996 Edition...
- La Russa switches up his rotation.(baseball manager Tony La Russa)
- Newspaper article from: Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) Salisbury, Jim October 13, 2006 700+ words
...Salisbury Oct. 13--The numbers say Tony La Russa is taking a risk, but the St...Championship Series to last night, La Russa decided to shuffle his pitching...pitcher and it's his fifth day," La Russa said in explaining his decision...
- La Russa picks Weaver for Game 5.(baseball manager Tony La Russa and player...
- Newspaper article from: Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) Smith, Claire October 26, 2006 700+ words
...ST. LOUIS _ Cardinals manager Tony La Russa tabbed Game 2 starter and hard...it will be his natural day," La Russa said of Weaver, who pitched Sunday...pitched for us makes sense," La Russa added, referring to Weaver's...
- La Russa, Leyland have a long history.(baseball managers Jim Leyland and Tony...
- Newspaper article from: Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) Salisbury, Jim October 20, 2006 700+ words
...Series managers Jim Leyland and Tony La Russa are wound together as tightly as...get tighter now for Leyland and La Russa. The two men, best of friends...those bounces, Jim Leyland and Tony La Russa are rival World Series managers...
- La Russa throws a changeup, will start Carpenter in Game 2.(baseball manager...
- Newspaper article from: Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) Salisbury, Jim October 12, 2006 700+ words
...Salisbury NEW YORK _ The numbers say Tony La Russa is taking a risk, but the St...Championship Series to Thursday night, La Russa decided to shuffle his pitching...pitcher and it's his fifth day," La Russa said in explaining his decision...