Koufax Shuts Out Dodgers

The Los Angeles Times ^ | 02/21/2003 | Jason Reid

[GeneD]

February 21, 2003

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax, whose brilliance on the mound captivated fans in the 1960s and defined the Dodgers' greatest era in Los Angeles, has severed ties with the club in protest of another News Corp. subsidiary.

Koufax, a very private man who established a standard for pitching excellence in four of the most dominant seasons in the game's history from 1963-66, recently informed the Dodgers he would no longer attend spring training here at Dodgertown, visit Dodger Stadium or participate in activities while they are owned by the media conglomerate, because of a report in the New York Post that apparently intimated that he is homosexual. The Post is owned by News Corp.

Through friend Derrick Hall, a Dodger senior vice president, Koufax declined comment Thursday night, but officials familiar with the situation said the legendary left-hander, and Vero Beach resident, broke off ties after 48 years in response to a two-sentence gossip item published in the Post on Dec. 19. The Post reported that a "Hall of Fame baseball hero" had "cooperated with a best-selling biography only because the author promised to keep it secret that he is gay. The author kept her word, but big mouths at the publishing house can't keep from flapping." Koufax, who was not specifically named by the paper, is the subject of Jane Leavy's acclaimed biography, "Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy," published last September.

News Corp. is undertaking steps to sell the Dodgers, but the timetable doesn't help team officials saddened by what they perceive as the Post's unfair treatment of Koufax....

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Judging by Sandy's reaction, the statement is probably true.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[mr.pink]

Turn it upside down.

[AppyPappy]

I wouldn't cut my nose off to spite my face.

[MAWG]

UH, turn the stool upside down.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

How do you fit Magic Johnson, Marv Albert, Sandy Koufax, and PJ Carlisemo on one barstool?

16 posted on 02/21/2003 12:11 PM PST by mr.pink

---

I think I know the answer....but I dont want to get booted out of FR for distateful posting

[The Other Harry]

Big deal.

I read somewhere that most professional athletes are gay. (Joe Montana excluded, of course.)

[commandante_zero]

>>And, everyone knows that NewsCorp (specifically Fox News Channel) is not a leftist company<<

You might be of a somewhat different opinion if you looked into its relationships and track record with China.

[MHGinTN]

UCFRoadWarrior (I Wonder What Susan Sarandon Looks Like In A Burqa?) Well, a burqa of course. It would be a novel relief for us all if she would wear one when addressing world 'affairs'. But of course she wouldn't want to accentuate the absurdities of her position, eh?

[MAWG]

Sorta gives new meaning to the expression " Nasty Slider " doesn't it.

[r9etb]

UH, turn the stool upside down.

Not hardly. I don't know about the others, but Magic Johnson has a really big butt. How would the others even get close enough to sit down? ;-)

[zarf]

Are you gay? You seem to be enjoying the smearing of a reputation.

[montag813]

Well, is he? If they accused me of being gay, I would deny it and move on.

It's true...or respond with humor. Years ago Mel Gibson was accused of being gay and said "It's true! You should just see me in a dress!"

Koufax is obviously double-gated...and apparently not too proud of it.

[F16Fighter]

"Well, is he? If they accused me of being gay, I would deny it and move on."

Unless someone somehow has uncovered a pic of Koufax and Richard Chamberlain frolicking on a beach in Maui...

[justshutupandtakeit]

As a lifelong Dodger hater I have no doubt this is totally false. This would be completely at odds with an observant life such as Sandy demonstrated.

Any lie finds believers here though.

[F16Fighter]

"Sorta gives new meaning to the expression 'Nasty Slider' doesn't it."

LOL

[CyberAnt]

I actually witnessed Sandy pitch against San Fran. many times.

I will never forget the game where Sandy was pitching and he seemed to be tiring, and San Fran had scored a lot of runs against him.

Finally the call came for him to leave the game. As he started to walk toward the dugout, the San Fran fans rose from their seats and gave him a standing ovation - just clapping - no yelling of bad names or any such stuff - Sandy was stunned - he came back out of the dugout and waved to us in acknowledgement of our understanding of his ability as a pitcher - even if he was on the opposite team.

I get teared up everytime I think about it.

[Mad Dawgg]

"There is a pitcher/catcher joke in there somewhere."

Or maybe a "switch-hitter" Joke?!?

[First_Salute]

Great baseball player; Bob Gibson of the same era, also.

[sharktrager]

Resorting to insult does not strengthen your argument. It makes you look petty.

[sharktrager]

Gee, the fact the author says that it's not Sandy doesn't matter does it.