I'm Los Angeles to the core. Born here, I'll die here.

Call me Randy Newman because I LOVE LA!!!

I Bleed Lakers Purple & Gold, Dodger Blue and USC Cardinal Red & Gold. I guess I should be happy the Dodgers are even IN the playoffs considering the last twenty years of mediocrity...but call me Mick Jagger cause I can't get no Satisfaction. I'm spoiled. I realize it. The rest of the nation hates L.A., can't say as I blame them. We are spoiled with great women, weather, food, entertainment, our economy is robust and mary jane is legal...believe it...you've seen Weeds on Showtime...hell, it's like I live in Agrestic. But we aren't without our problems. As I write this, I can smell the smoke from our latest wildfires here in the San Fernando Valley. We have gangs, grafitti, carjackings, homeless wingnuts walking around shouting at themselves. We're the bank robbery capital of the world...remember the North Hollywood bank robbery shootout? ...CRAZY THINGS happen here...Brittany Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Paris & Nicole, Martin Lawrence, Gary Busey, Dennis Rodman and Nick Nolte all live here...need I say more?

(Nick's vagrant mugshot look.)

As a sports city we have been blessed. It's a Lakers town, but the Dodgers have gotten Los Angelenos excited again with this playoff run. Getting Manny Ramirez revitalized the city. Look, I like the Angels and all, but it just ain't the same...they are down in Anahiem...not even in L.A. County, say hi to Gwen Stefani's family for me Mr. Moreno, I live in LA.

I'm talking about L.A....the Lakers, the Dodgers, Trojans football (and...for college basketball reasons, Ucla)...ALL of these teams are considered among the elite franchises of their respective sports and have multiple titles to show for it.

The problem is the recent title games. The Lakeshow has lost in their last two finals appearances. The Trojans lost the Rose Bowl to Vince Young and Texas...(it's STILL hard for me to look at Matthew McCaugnahy without wanting to snap his fingers so he can't throw up the Texas "horns" sign. But he DID smoke dope and play bongos naked -so I do have something in common with him)

Douchebagger.........

With the Dodgers melting like a snow cone on a skillet last night, I can't help but fear being let down again. The Lakers / Dodgers paralells are all there...young, talented, boosted by a midseason superstar aquisition (Manny this year, Pau Gasol for the Lakers last year)....and hungry for a title. Win or lose, I will fly my colors regardless.

But winning feels MUCH, MUCH better.

Do the Dodgers have the intestinal fortitude to dig deep and comeback from that 8th inning collapse? Our bullpen made a hero out of 40 year old Matt Stairs last game. I hear it was Canadian Thanksgiving and Stairs IS Canadian, but how much are we supposed to GIVE?Now I am only a few years away from 40, so I can appreciate an older guy (at least in sports terms) having success at this level, but not at expense of MY team?? Wasn't seeing P.J. Brown and that little turtle-head Sam "Enemy Mine" Cassell celebrate over my Lakers enough torture? What the hell is a Philly anyway? The Phillies...from Philadelphia.........Does that mean I should refer to myself as a LosAngelie? ....I'll leave that rant for another day. The Phillies are good, really good Jimmy Rollins is reigning MVP, Ryan Howard is a former MVP, Chase Utley is NAILS....but they're not beating the Dodgers....Shane Victorino and Matt Stairs are........WHO??? you say......exactly.

Time to step up Dodgers, it's been too long....1988 is a lifetime ago. Need inspiration? How's this?

Not enough?...how bout now?

Hit it like you MEAN it Dodgers!......2nd place is just that.

Los Angeles is behind you (pun intended). JUST DO IT. Do it for Sandy. Do it for Jackie. Do it for Walter O'Malley. Do it for the fans. Do it for Fernando. Do it for the city . Do it for YOURSELVES. Just do it.....If all else fails, do it for Tommy......

THINK BLUE!