"The difference between a good manager and a bad one is the pension plan with which you're threatsenered."
This quote suggests that a good manager, compared to a bad one, is more likely to have a substantial retirement benefits plan, or "pension plan," reflecting their success and positive impact on their team or organization. The implication is that a good manager's influence and results will be recognized with a valuable pension, while a bad manager may not receive such benefits due to the lack of positive outcomes in their tenure. Essentially, Lasorda implies that a well-managed team or organization will reward its leaders with a secure retirement, whereas poor management will result in no such incentives.
"If it wasn't for baseball, there'd be a lot of shit yard foremen."
This quote by Tommy Lasorda humorously suggests that without baseball, many men might have ended up working in less glamorous or rewarding jobs, such as overseeing a yard (possibly a waste disposal site). In other words, baseball provides an outlet for ambition, camaraderie, and personal development, keeping individuals from leading mundane lives.
"I manage from the heart. If you can't play here, you can't play anywhere."
This quote by Tommy Lasorda implies that he leads his team with passion and emotional commitment. He expects players to perform at their best not only for him but also for the team, and if they cannot meet that standard in his team, they may struggle elsewhere as well. Essentially, it means that he demands high levels of dedication and performance from his players because he believes that his team is a reflection of himself and his values.
"You've got to have a lot of luck to make it in show business, but you also have to have a lot of talent, and I think I'm lucky."
This quote suggests that success in the entertainment industry (show business) is a blend of both luck and talent. While luck plays a significant role, it doesn't guarantee success on its own; one must also possess the necessary skills or talents to capitalize on opportunities that come their way due to luck. The individual expresses confidence in their abilities, believing they are fortunate enough to have both elements required for success in show business.
"Life is a little like baseball. It's a game, but it's also serious, and it requires focus and concentration. When you step up to the plate, you have to be ready to hit, and if you're not, you'd better get ready before the pitcher throws his next pitch."
Tommy Lasorda's quote emphasizes that life, like baseball, is a blend of fun and significance. It suggests that while we should approach both with enthusiasm and joy (game), it also requires our undivided attention, concentration, and focus (serious). Just as a batter needs to be ready when stepping up to the plate, so too must we prepare ourselves for life's challenges before they come our way. If we are not mentally and emotionally prepared, we risk being caught off guard by the "next pitch," or in other words, life's unforeseen events. Ultimately, the quote inspires us to live intentionally and be proactive rather than reactive in facing life's challenges.
I started in the lowest league in baseball, and I worked my way all the way up to Triple A and then to the big leagues. I never reached the level that I thought I would reach as a player. But that's the way it goes. So then I started from the bottom as a manager, and I worked my way up to managing the Dodgers for 20 years.
- Tommy Lasorda
One time I was doing a speech to a group of kids, and just before I get there, I see this little kid crying. I found out they just lost a game, and he was the losing pitcher. I went over there, put my arm around him, and said, 'What are you crying for? When major league players lose, they don't cry.'
- Tommy Lasorda
When you - when you become the manager of a major league team, particularly the Dodgers, to me, that's a privilege and an honor. No matter where you go or what you do, you represent that position that you have. And you represent that organization that gave you the opportunity to be doing what you're doing.
- Tommy Lasorda
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