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'I think that is very very bad, for that man to make an accusation like that, that is terrible. I have never, ever since I've managed, ever told a pitcher to throw at anybody, nor will I ever. And if I ever did, I certainly wouldn't make them throw at a fucking .130 hitter like [Joe] Lefebvre...or fucking [Kurt] Bevacqua who couldn't hit water if he fell out of a fucking boat. And I guaran-fucking-tee you this, that when I pitched and I was gonna pitch against a fucking team that had guys on it like Bevacqua, I'd send a fucking limousine to get the cocksucker to make sure he was in the motherfucking lineup because I'd kick that cocksucker's ass any fucking day of the week. He's a fucking motherfucking bigmouth, I'll tell you that.' -- in response to being accused by San Diego Padres manager Dick Williams of throwing at his batters in a 1984 game. [5]

Tommy Lasorda#6

SportsDenialLanguageWar

About this quote

What does it mean?
A manager denies throwing at batters and insults a player's skill while being profane.
In plain terms
He denies hitting batters but says bad words.
What can you take from it?
Profanity can hide the real message.

Where it applies

  • sports interviews
  • public arguments
  • media

Putting it to work

  • read between the lines
  • ignore the language

Questions to consider

  • Does language matter in speech?
  • What is he really saying?

Another view

The language undermines the denial.

More from Tommy Lasorda

  1. 'What's my opinion of Kingman's performance!? What the fuck do you think is my opinion of it? I think it was fucking horseshit! Put that in, I don't fucking ca…

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  2. What he did wasn't entertainment. I love the Dodgers, and it wasn't right for him to stomp on the doll with the uniform. There were a lot of kids there, and he…

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  3. 'When we win, I'm so happy I eat a lot. When we lose, I'm so depressed, I eat a lot. When we're rained out, I'm so disappointed I eat a lot.' [3]

    Permalink to quote #4

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