Success in life depends on self-confidence and hard work. That was the message the Los Angeles Dodgers' baseball team manager and Slim Fast guru Tommy Lasorda delivered to students yesterday afternoon in the Annenberg School. Approximately 80 University students attended the talk, listening intently as Lasorda advised them to take advantage of their opportunities at Penn. "[W]hile you are here and you walk into those classrooms, never forget the purpose of being here," Lasorda said. "And that is to get the best education that you can get." Lasorda, who has addressed classes at the US Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and West Point, said he enjoys inspiring students across the nation. "You can be anything you want to be in this country," Lasorda said. "Set your goals in life and go after them." Lasorda warned the students to stay away from drugs, commenting on Daryl Strawberry's situation. "Daryl is basically a nice guy. [But] he has failed to fulfill his obligation, committment and responsibility," Lasorda said. "Anyone who has to depend upon a substance to live and do his duty I think is very, very weak." Lasorda later said that he thought Oral Hersheiser was a great role model for young people. "What a tremendous pitcher -- what a tremendous guy," he said. In contrast to the seriousness of Lasorda's message, there were many humorous moments during the question and answer period. Lasorda made fun of Michael Jordan's decision to play baseball, saying that "Michael Jordan's got about as much chance of playing in the big league as a one-legged man has in a fanny-kicking contest." At one point, Lasorda politely asked College freshman Andrew Rodbell to remove his Atlanta Braves hat. He also expressed his dissatisfaction over the Philly Phanatic's treatment of the Dodgers' uniform in the past. "When this guy can stand in front of 40 or 50 thousand people and show violence where he's got a [Dodgers'] uniform on a dummy and run over him with a cart, he's not going to get away with it," Lasorda said. "I told him, 'if you want to do it, put a Philly's uniform on him,'" he added. Lasorda also talked about his experiences with Slim Fast. "When we were in spring training, I didn't want to go in the ocean and swim, because I was afraid someone would harpoon me," joked Lasorda, who has lost 38 pounds on the diet plan. "Slim Fast did work -- very much so," he said. Professor Frank Luntz, a former adjunct American Civilization professor, arranged for Lasorda to come to the University. Many students enjoyed having the opportunity to hear Lasorda talk. "Before today I was not a big fan of Tommy Lasorda," said College junior Ira Lapp. "But I thought he was a great speaker. He was very funny and very knowledgeable about baseball." College freshman and University baseball player Mike Greenwood said Lasorda was "very motivational." "I thought he gave you a lot to think about to use in all aspects of life, not just baseball," Greenwood said.
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