Amid Wire-to-Wire Talk, Dodgers Get a Detractor

Although Peter O’Malley is no longer the boss, he issued one final command Monday to his successor as Dodger president, Bob Graziano, and General Manager Kevin Malone.

“Wire to wire,� O’Malley told them while being honored with the President’s Award by the Southern California Sports Broadcasters at Lakeside Golf Club in Toluca Lake.

“First place in April. First place in October.�

That was a somewhat different message than Graziano and Malone received earlier in the day from San Diego Padre General Manager Kevin Towers.

Interviewed on the radio by Jim Rome, Towers said, “There’s a lot of talk about how great the Dodgers are. I don’t think they’re that good.�

He predicted that the Dodgers would finish behind San Francisco, San Diego and maybe Colorado in the National League West.

Towers then said he would hang up and wait for a call from “the sheriff.�

But Malone, who has referred to himself as “the new sheriff in town,� was occupied with the broadcasters’ luncheon.

Later, when Towers’ remarks were repeated to Malone, he seemed stunned that anyone would be so skeptical about the potential of the best team Rupert Murdoch’s money can buy.

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The only explanation I can think of is that maybe Towers has seen Raul Mondesi.

Mondesi, according to Dodger insiders who may or may not be exaggerating, reported to the team’s informal workouts at Chavez Ravine at 275 pounds, which is 60 pounds more than his listed playing weight.

Eric Young, the Dodger second baseman, said he hasn’t seen Mondesi on the scales.

“But I can tell you that he’s been eating well,� Young said.

Mondesi’s conditioning was an issue last season, when he reported to spring training overweight and never got in great shape. That contributed to his back problems in August and September.

Young, however, didn’t seem concerned.

“Mondy realizes how important he is to the team,� he said. “He’ll be ready April 5.�

That’s opening day. How about the opening of spring training in a couple of weeks?

“Mondy,� Young repeated, “will be ready April 5.�

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Young, meantime, looks svelte enough to be a runway model. . . .

That’s the reason he was asked to join Bret Saberhagen, John Valentin, Scott Erickson and John Franco in modeling designer Scott French’s new collection this week in New York. . . .

But Young had another fashion commitment. He’s attending the Sports Super Show on Friday in Atlanta along with Eddie Murray and Eric Davis to introduce the RBI clothing line. . . .

A portion of the sales go to John Young’s RBI--Rebuilding Baseball in the Inner City--program. . . .

Shotputter John Godina has withdrawn from the L.A. Invitational indoor meet Saturday night at the Sports Arena. . . .

Promoter Al Franken says Godina’s coach, Art Venegas, chose not to support the meet because it doesn’t include high school or Olympic development shotput competition. . . .

You have to hope the men’s high hurdles race featuring Mark Crear, No 1 in the world last year, and Reggie Torian, No. 4, turns out better than it did last Friday at the Millrose Games in New York. . . .

Torian won after Crear was disqualified with two false starts. . . .

Inger Miller, No. 3 in the 100 meters and No. 6 in the 200, is training with John Smith in Westwood. . . .

O’Malley discovered that not even he could fight City Hall when he wanted to build a football stadium at Chavez Ravine. His consolation prize was a resolution honoring him from the L.A. City Council. . . .

The problem, John Ferraro said, was that he couldn’t coax O’Malley into coming to pick it up. So the City Council president delivered it to O’Malley during the broadcasters’ luncheon. . . .

“I can understand why he doesn’t want to come down to City Hall,� Ferraro said. “A lot of those people, he doesn’t want to see. A lot of those people, I don’t want to see.� . . .

Introducing Chick Hearn as the newest inductee into the Southern California Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame, Jerry West said, “He worries about the Lakers more than I do. That’s not good, by the way.� . . .

After the loss to Utah, there was enough worry to go around. The Lakers couldn’t seem to handle that new play by the Jazz, the pick and roll. . . .

Super Dave Osborne, the master of ceremonies at the luncheon, said he’s pretty sure Dennis Rodman is coming to the Lakers. . . .

His first clue? . . .

“Jerry West just signed Jack Haley to a two-year deal,� Osborne said.

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While wondering why everyone is talking about a power forward when what the Lakers really need is a point guard, I was thinking: The Lakers don’t have a chance in the West until John Stockton and Karl Malone start acting their ages, the Angel batting order is very strong if Todd Greene really can catch, Payne Stewart found a way not to blow a lead in the final round.

Randy Harvey can be reached at his e-mail address: [email protected].