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BY RANDY GARDNER

I have been doing interviews for 21 years as a broadcaster and there are only a few that I can remember like it is the back of my hand., much like the one that I am going to tell you about.

It seems like every broadcaster has a story that they say they will tell their kids and grandkids and so far this one is mine and it just happened last week.

I got a call on a Thursday night to drop by  the annual St. Louis Browns dinner and have an opportunity to sit down and chat with Bob Costas of NBC and Tommy LaSorda of Dodgers Baseball Fame. What a day it would be for me. I have talked with Costas before and wasn’t that nervous about him, but to sit down with the great Tommy LaSorda.

We have all seen his rants and raves and that was what I was afraid could happen.  We showed up and set up, unfortunately in the back corner of the room,. As I approached Tommy and told him where we were at, well. That set the tone, as he was already mad that he had to get up and walk across the room. As we walked, I could hear him mumbling to himself but I decided not to  listen.

This is when it all got good as I handed him his own handheld microphone, I didn’t not want him to fell impeded upon with me sticking my mic in his face. I thought this was a great gesture of my respect.Unfortunately, he didn’t though, as he proceeded to berate me for having him hold his own microphone, at first I thought he was kidding, he said, “If you want to talk with me, you hold the Mic”.

I answered, “are you serious”, he said, “Heck yeah, son, you hold the mic, what is this”. I was flabbergasted, my good sense in giving him his own mic had gone south and I didn’t know what to say. Two things crossed my mind, be kind and courteous—he may just be joking or break out with some humor with something like, you might have run the Dodgers for all of those years but I run this show.

I went with the first one and was just kind and courteous for the fear of the LaSorda rant in front of a bunch of people. After we started talking baseball, Tommy was a blast telling me about how kids of today need to learn about the days of baseball when they weren’t paid much and the players played the game for passion. It was definitely an experience I will never forget.

Costas agreed with LaSardo’s view on the players not understanding the history and roots of baseball. They paved the way for the players today to earn the big bucks they do.

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Another experience I will never forget is the birth of my 3^rd son, Blake last week. I just wanted to take time to thank my beautiful wife for the wonderful experience. There is nothing like being a father. Thanks to all of the well wishers that have sent messages to me and my family.

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