We learned a long time ago to dream small, one utility infielder at a time. This was while the White Sox you remember the White Sox were busy beating on the Yankees, who looked like they belonged in Sheboygan, Wis., where people have existed on nothing more than Cheez Whiz for generations. But he's right. I want to tell a quick story about loyalty, about friendship in Gotham, about something that would scare a weaker city, but not Chicago. This is a tale about Mets manager Bobby Valentine and former Los Angeles manager Tommy Lasorda, now an executive with the Dodgers.
Some people name their children for close friends or family members.
Now, I know what you're thinking, that it's hardly a compliment to have a dog bearing your name. Anyway, with Valentine's contract up at the end of this month, he will be a hot commodity. There are six managerial openings, but the most intriguing one is the Dodgers' because of the Tommy-Bobby relationship. Valentine played two years with the Dodgers, and Lasorda treats him like a son. The New York tabloids have grabbed onto their friendship the way a Jack Russell terrier might a pants cuff and have Valentine all but gone to Los Angeles.