Some help from the Big Dodger in the Sky:

Here is my story that aired last night on 790 KABC as part of the Lasorda at His Best series presented by Skechers:

When we used to go into Cincinnati to play a three-game series you knew you were facing the Big Red Machine, and you had to be ready.  I thought I would go to church and get a little help.  When I sat in the pew guess who I sat next to.

Johnny McNamara, the manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

I looked at him; he looked at me.  I knew why he was there and he knew why I was there.

At the conclusion of the mass he and I walked out the center aisle.  As we approached the front door he told to wait outside for him as he would be right out. 

I wondered where he was going. 

He went to the side of the church and lit a candle.  Instead of leaving I went to the other side of the church, in front of the alter, and to his side of the church.  When he left and I went over and blew his candle out.

I knew he wasn’t lighting that candle for a dead relative. 

Throughout the game I hollered, “Hey Mac, it ain’t gonna work pal.  I blew it out!”  We clobbered them 13-2.

A few years ago I got a post card from Johnny and his wife Ellen from Rome, Italy, and all it read was, “Try blowing this one out.”