The All-Linguini tag team stopped in at Warsaw Community High School Friday afternoon.

The always dapper 5-foot-7 Mike Fratello, coach of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, was there in a salt-and-pepper suit.

So was Tommy Lasorda, former manager and general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The two were in town courtesy of Steve Kesler at Explorer Vans. The only thing that kept it from being a triple-team was fellow Italian/Cleveland State basketball coach Rollie Massimino, originally scheduled to appear as well, had to bow out.

Fratello introduced Lasorda (of course he kissed him on the cheek, they're Italian), who spoke to Warsaw students about never giving up, about chasing their dreams.

Lasorda lives for the spotlight. New York Mets outfielder Bobby Bonilla recently told the Los Angeles Times, "(Lasorda) wants everyone to just sit there and listen to him."

It should be noted that Bonilla, a former Dodger, is also the guy who has called current Los Angeles manager Davey Johnson a "hot-air balloon" and who once beckoned a New York reporter to "make your move."

Give Lasorda a crowd, he waves his arms and speaks like he's a Southern Baptist preacher hosting a revival. Tucked in an office away from crowds, Lasorda smiles less, stops waving his arms and drops the motivational speaker kick.

In less than an hour, Lasorda:

• Tells the media his father "told me when I was a youngster, never argue with people who buy the ink by the gallon. You've got no chance."

• Asks reporters "Which of you came the fartherest?"

• Tells Warsaw's student body, "When you go to bed tonight and say your prayers, if you have any compassion, you will say a prayer for Tommy and the Dodgers." (Even though he no longer is manager or general manager of these Dodgers).

• Says athletes are indeed role models, no matter what Sir Charles (Barkley) once said. "When I was a youngster," Lasorda says, "if Lou Gehrig or Babe Ruth or Hank Greenberg or Jimmie Fox or Charlie Gehringer would have come over and put their hand on my head and said, 'Son, don't you ever do anything wrong,' I might have gone to seminary to become a priest."

• Works in a Lou Holtz story.

• Gives Warsaw basketball coach Al Rhodes advice on how to run his team. "Walk in with confidence when you talk to your team," he barks at Rhodes, who smiles nervously as his face turns an embarrassed shade of red.

Fratello and Lasorda are linked to The Big Two Issues in sports. Fratello's issue is the NBA lockout. Lasorda's issue is the Los Angeles Dodgers paying 33-year-old starting pitcher Kevin Brown $105 million over seven years. While Lasorda is not the Dodgers' manager or general manager, he holds a front office title.

Sitting in swivel chairs in Warsaw's athletic department, the professionals address these issues.

With the NBA lockout, Fratello has plenty of something he never had before as coach of the Atlanta Hawks, as a television analyst for NBC or as coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers: time.

"I've been looking for employment," Fratello says to the students before he introduces Lasorda. "I thought I had an opportunity here until I heard about coach Rhodes."

What does Fratello do since he as a coach can have no contact with his Cavaliers?

He's taken apart and put back together a playbook. He watches films every day. He scouts college games. His assistant coaches help out coaches at elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. Instead of coaching Shawn Kemp and Brevin Knight, Fratello and his staff coach Cleveland businessmen in lunchtime basketball leagues. He and his Cleveland coaches pass out turkeys in homeless shelters. They visit the Providence House, where infants are born with HIV.

"I've been to places in the city of Cleveland," Fratello says, "where I had never been before in my five years there.

"It's been meaningful for us because we've become more involved with what's going on in the community."

Fratello is asked to give his gut feeling. Will there be an NBA season?

"I'm hearing more positive stuff over the last couple of days," he says. "I'm encouraged."

The NBA already has a handful of players - Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O'Neal, Fratello's Shawn Kemp, among others - making $100 million.

When Brown signed his $105-million deal Dec. 12, he became the first baseball player to join the $100-million club.

Brown plays every fourth day. And, as Lasorda tells you, $105 million is about one-third of what Fox paid to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"Somebody's giving (the money) to them," Lasorda says. "Nobody's putting a gun to anybody's head and making them give it to them. Like Kevin Brown said at the press conference, 'What do you want me to do, turn it down?'"

The good baseball players now choose one of about nine teams to go to when they sign as free agents. They no longer consider the 21 other teams, because these 21 other small-market clubs cannot pay them what the nine big-market teams do.

"Anyone who wins with one of those low-market teams, they ought to erect a statue of him," Lasorda says.

And sooner rather than later the interview ends. A suit standing near Fratello has been trying to end the interview, but he has trouble interrupting rapid-fire questions from five eager reporters.

"Are we ready to go, Shorty?" Lasorda finally asks. Fratello at 5-foot-7 stands taller than Shorty.

Shorty nods. The All-Linguini team is off to its next stop. [[In-content Ad]]