Special Olympics is now the largest global public health organization dedicated to serving an often neglected population—–those with intellectual disabilities. Volunteer health professionals are bringing free preventative medicine and care to athletes needing checkups in 92 countries. Continue Reading

Hey Ross,

I wanted to know why the Dodgers and Frank McCourt didn’t include you in the 50th anniversary celebration. I sure hope you’re doing well. We all miss your voice on the radio and television. Good luck to you and your family. Thanks for the  wonderful insight to baseball that only you could have given me.

Larry Guerrero

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Ross:

I deeply appreciate your remarks, Larry. I was not invited to the Dodgers’ 50th anniversary celebration and have had no contact with them since leaving.

Dear Ross,

Thank you for acknowledging my letter regarding Kevin Frandsen. I hope that he does bounce back soon with the Giants more for his sake than for anything else. It was a pleasure to exchange e-mails with you.

Sincerely,

Yvonne Soares
San Jose, Ca.

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Ross:

We agree with you, Yvonne. On our trip to spring training camps in Arizona this month, the feeling in the Giants camp was that Kevin had a chance to be on the 25-man roster. You can hear his vignette on this website which explains his thoughts about assisting siblings in grief situations.

Hello, Ross,

Nice article on a salary cap in baseball.  Did you know Yahoo! put your story on its website?

Andrew Marks
New York

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Ross:

Thanks for the tip, Andrew.

This year’s edition of March Madness in college basketball has pretty much been dominated by favorites.

In 61 NCAA tournament games played thus far, the teams prognosticated to win have come out on top in 47—–or 77 percent of the time. Continue Reading

Ralph Pierre “Pete” LaCock was a first round choice of the Cubs in the 1970 amateur draft after graduating from Taft Highschool in Woodland Hills, California—the same school which produced Hall of Famer Robin Yount and major leaguers Larry Dierker, Gabe Kapler, Rick Auerbach, Kelly Paris and Larry Yount. Continue Reading

Editor, Dodger Dugout

The Dodgers new home at Camelback Ranch-Glendale is a couple of things. First of all, it isn’t Dodgertown at Vero Beach. And second, it is the most complete baseball complex in all of baseball, constructed in an amazingly beautiful area. Continue Reading

Dear Ross,

I like your website very much and think you are doing a worthwhile service by putting the focus on athletes and others in sports who are contributing to society. One of my favorite features is Saluting Teamwork.  Your wife, Linda, writes very well. How does she choose the organizations and people who are in her column?

Kathy Cooper
Marina del Rey, Ca.

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Ross:

Thanks, Kathy, for “saluting” Linda, or Lin, as I call her. She has always been a good writer and is having a wonderful time reading and researching for her articles. Some of her subjects are discovered in conversations with people while others come because of something she was curious about and did a little investigating. Lin is a tireless worker, and I’m very proud of what she is doing on our website. She’s been my partner for nearly 48 years.

Dear Mr. Porter:

I was disappointed with the U. S. team in the World Baseball Classic. It’s embarrassing that they didn’t even get to the championship game, and we had to watch Korea play Japan. What can we do to improve our team?

Maury Kinkade
Pueblo, Colorado

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Ross:

The U. S. club might have done better if  it had not had so many injuries, and if some players had not backed out after saying they would play. Having the event in March is not good for the major leaguers who have to leave spring training, but other countries have the same problem because they have big leaguers too. Maury, I don’t think there was that much interest in the WBC in this country. They sold 43,000 tickets for the final weekend in Los Angeles, but I’m told the actual crowds were in the 32 to 35 thousand range. The WBC is here to stay for a while.

Hey, Ross….

You were sure right when you said a few weeks ago that you didn’t think UCLA would last long in the NCAA basketball tournament. Will they improve next season?

Toby Clark
Minden, Nevada

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Ross:

The Bruins will be very young next year, Toby, but they have some talented freshmen coming in and should improve as the season progresses. UCLA loses Collison, Shipp and Aboya so it will be a rebuilding year.

Ross,

We’re down to the final 16 teams in the NCAA tournament. Who has looked the best to you so far?

Jeannie Knowles
Danville, California

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Ross:

Connecticut. They haven’t played anyone tough yet, beating 16-time loser Chattanooga and Texas A&M.  Best bets for the Final Four look like Pitt and North Carolina. The sleepers could be Syracuse and Michigan State.

Let’s hear it for the NCAA basketball tournament committee members! Continue Reading

“Let me win.
But if I cannot win,
let me be brave
in the attempt.” Continue Reading

I’ve said for some time that I don’t like conference tournaments in college basketball.

Having league tournaments make the regular season less important, and penalizes a few schools trying to qualify for the 65-school NCAA post-season field. Why are they held? Added revenue, of course. Continue Reading