Lasorda Featured Speaker At WCHS

Times-Union Staff Writer

Tommy Lasorda, former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager and coach, was the featured speaker at the Warsaw Community High School Christmas convocation Friday.

He was introduced by Cleveland Cavaliers Coach Mike Fratello.

The convocation was held in part because the high school and local community collected 12,551 cans for Combined Community Services. The goal was 10,000. Since the high school passed their goal, WCHS Athletic Director Dave Fulkerson dyed his hair orange. He was met by a standing ovation.

"If you raise 20,000 cans next year," Fulkerson told the student body, "I'll dye my entire body."

Introducing Lasorda, Fratello said, "He's an individual whose been with one organization for over 50 years, the L.A. Dodgers."

Lasorda was met by the first standing ovation of the day.

"I'm extremely honored to be with you today," he told the students.

He said the high school was one of the most beautiful high schools in the nation. The first time he saw it, he said, he thought the high school was a university.

Lasorda told the students why he was speaking to them. He said, "Steve Kesler came to me. He said, 'You never failed to mention to me how great this country is.' I said he was right. He said, 'You definitely believe in the Constitution and free speech.' I said I sure do. Then he said, 'Then you'll have to give a speech to Warsaw High School.'"

The crowd broke into laughter.

The three ways to learn in life was the next subject Lasorda touched on. He said they are conversation, observation and participation, and students should think how much they have learned through listening, looking and being active.

He said he told his players there are three types of players. Likewise, he said, there are three types of students: the type of people who make things happen, the type who watch things happen and the type who wonders what is happening.

"You can make things happen," he told the students. "You have got to believe in yourself. You got to believe you can make things happen."

Lasorda told the students not to deny themselves a good education, to give it all they had, avoid drugs and appreciate their teachers.

"They are the unsung heroes of our community. What makes them feel great is when you have passed their classes and succeeded in life," he said.

The students then gave the teachers a standing ovation.

In his concluding remarks, Lasorda told the students to be confident, to believe in themselves and to achieve.

"You can be anything you want in this country, you just got to want it bad enough," he said.

He also told the students to love their parents and show them that they love them. He suggested that they leave a legacy at the school that they can be proud of in their lives.

"When you lay your head down on the pillow tonight, thank God for all you have," he said.