Hi,  Ross,

It  was  a  real  thrill  for  me  to  meet  you  and  your  grandson.  You  were  very  kind  and  gracious,  and I  really  miss  your  work  on  the  Dodger  broadcasts.  You  were  always  prepared,  informative,  and  a  true  baseball  announcer.  I  love  your  website.  Be  well,  Ross,  and  thanks  again!!

Jim  Kaplan
Calabasas, Ca.

Ross:

Jim,  it  was  a  pleasure  to  meet  you  and  learn  what  a  fan  you  are  of  both  radio  and  sports.

Ross——

Just  wanted  you  to  know  how  much  I  enjoyed  listening  to  you,  Jerry  and  Vin  in  LA  back  in  the  day.  I  now  live  in  Norman  and  my  son  goes  to  OU,  but  those  days  of  listening  to  the  Dodger  games  with  the  3  of  you  were  the  best  times  of  all…………thank  you.

Chuck  Billbe
Norman,  Oklahoma

Ross:

Great  to  hear  from  you,  Chuck.

Dear  Ross:

As  a  former  highschool  football  referee,  I  am  happy  to  see  the  NFL  has  decided  to  try  to  protect their  umpires  more.  That  was  long  overdue.

Curt  Griffin
Denver

Ross:

You  are  right,  Curt.  The  NFL  will  have  their  umpires  positioned  in  the  offensive  backfield  next  season  and  not  on  the  defensive  side.  They  were  a  few  yards  from  the  line  of  scrimmage,  leading  to  some  injuries  and  many  knockdowns.  That  was  a  change  that  needed  to  be  made.

Hi, Ross:

Terrific website. I want to peruse and get back to you later.

Mike Milligan
West Hills, Ca.

Ross:

Thanks, Mike.

What do you think of the NCAA expanding March Madness from 65 to 68 teams?

Gina Trimble
Costa Mesa, Ca.

Ross:

I’m relieved, Gina. My worry was that they were going to expand the field to 96 schools which, in my opinion, would be awful and would water down the regular season. It would be a good plan now to have the eight lowest ranked teams meet in four “play in” games to get down to 64. Every game in the tournament will now be nationally televised, and coaches love that.

Dear Mr. Porter,

Were you surprised as I was by the penalty given to Cincinnati pitcher Edinson Volquez for his drug use? He got a slap on the wrist although he did lose money.

Eduardo Contreras
Palm Beach, Florida

Ross:

Yes, Eduardo, I was shocked. Volquez was suspended April 20 by Major League Baseball for 50 games following a positive test for a banned fertility substance. An All-Star and a 17-game winner for the Reds in 2008, Volquez missed much of the second half of the 2009 season with back spasms and an elbow injury. He has been recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery, and won’t pitch until late July at the earliest. The suspension could cost the Dominican pitcher nearly $ 134, 000 of his $ 445, 000 salary this season.

But, here’s the part that is not understandable. Volquez has already started serving the suspension while continuing his rehabilitation at Cincinnati’s spring training complex in Arizona. He’s not going to have to sit out any Reds’ games. When he’s ready to pitch, he can pitch. Teammate Bronson Arroyo, a fellow pitcher, said what others are thinking, “I’m actually surprised they’re letting him do that.”

Dear Ross,

I enjoy your website and radio show and hope you and your family are well. I really miss you on Dodger broadcasts and guess I will just never get over that.

Your friend.

Guy Gruppie

Ross:

Thanks, Guy, for your kind comments.

Hey, Ross,

What surprised you most about the NFL draft? Your Sooners were very much in the spotlight with three of the top four picks, and four of the first 21. That shows what kind of talent Oklahoma has.

Best wishes,

Gary Nichols
Denver

Ross:

I was shocked, Gary, that Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen was not taken until the 48th player in the draft by the Carolina Panthers. I thought Clausen would be one of the initial 15 selections. As it turns out, even though he was snubbed for so long and lost millions of dollars for not being a first round choice, Clausen may become a starting quarterback in the NFL faster than he would have had he gone high in the draft.

Dear Mr. Porter:

I am disappointed that Lorena Ochoa is going to leave the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour. She is still such a young woman. Why do you believe Lorena is retiring?

Gail Crawford
Poway, California

Ross:

Lorena is only 28 just as the great Bobby Jones was when he retired after winning the Grand Slam of Golf in the same year—-1930. Ochoa, who won 27 tour events, including two majors, was ranked number 1 in the world in each of the last three years. She admitted, “Once you reach your goals, it’s really hard to find that motivation.” Lorena was married in December, Gail, and says she wants to start a family soon. She plans to use her foundation to build schools in her home nation of Mexico.

Lorena Ochoa displayed her humility and grace on and off the golf course, and was a positive influence. She goes out on top, and Real Sports Heroes congratulates Lorena while wishing her a happy life.

Hi, Ross:

It is no surprise to me that you recognize the importance of positive things as that is what your valuable column is about. I love checking it out and I have referred it to a lot of my friends, both in and out of sports. It must give you a lot of satisfaction to produce something such as that.

I am glad baseball season is here again, but the college basketball season-endings for both men and women produced a lot of fun to watch.

Best wishes.

Monte Moore
Porterville, California

Ross:

Monte preceded me by a few years in the radio school at the University of Oklahoma, and then we both broadcast minor league baseball in the Class D Sooner State League. Monte went on to be an outstanding announcer with the Kansas City and Oakland A’s for 27 seasons while I turned in 28 with the Dodgers. His father-in-law was Bruce Drake, who originated the Shuffle offense and is in the Basketball Hall of Fame after coaching Oklahoma between 1938 and 1955.

Minnie Minoso and Nellie Fox were my two favorite White Sox players when I was a little girl growing up in Chicago. Why isn’t Minnie in the Baseball Hall of Fame?

I’m hoping to make a trip to Cooperstown some time to see an induction ceremony.

Lorraine Kiewiet

Ross:

Saturnino Orestes Armas Minoso Arrieta, commonly referred to as Minnie Minoso, was born in Havana, Cuba. A left fielder, Minoso made his big league debut with the Indians in 1949, and also played for the White Sox, Cardinals and Senators through 1963. He returned to the White Sox briefly in both 1976 and 1980. Minnie and Nick Altrock are the only major leaguers to play in five separate decades. He was a seven-time All-Star, won three Gold Gloves, had a .298 career batting average, and led the league 10 times in being hit by pitches. Now 84, Minnie shares his birthday with Vin Scully and me…….November 29.

Lorraine, I hope you go to Cooperstown to see the Hall of Fame. I’ve been twice, and it is a must for a baseball fan.

Ross,

I read your wife’s article and would ask that you let the disabled golfers know that I have developed a great tool to set the ball on the tee. I would like to hear from someone who could get this tool to the right people.

Thanks,

John Ritchie
pinnacleviewinc@hotmail.com

Hi,  Ross:

Chet’s  son  Pete  here.

Thanks  for  the  kind  words  about  dad.  It  is  such  a  tribute  to  who  he  was  to  read  all  these  wonderful  things  about  him.  And  it  will  be  a great  way  for  my  younger  nephews  to  learn  about  who  their  “Papa”  was. It  will  be  a  strange  baseball  season  not  having  dad  on  the  other  end  of  the  line  talking  Yankees  and  Dodgers.

Best,

Pete  Simmons
Tybee  Island,  Georgia

Hi,  Ross:

I  understand  you’re  going  to  be  at  Santa  Anita  on  April  10th.  We  are  planning   to   name  a  race  for  you  and  we’d  love  to  have  you  present  the  trophy  for  the  $100, 000  LaPuente  Stakes.

Enjoyed  your  post  on  Chet  Simmons—–he  was  a  giant.

Best,

Mike  Willman
Director  of  Publicity
Santa  Anita  Park
Arcadia,  Ca.