Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Vin Scully 'Really Can't See' Returning After Next Season, Means It This Time
Vin Scully sings 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' during the seventh inning of the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 14, 2011 (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
()
They say all good things must come to an end, but it's hard to believe that one of the best things about living in Los Angeles, about baseball, and really, life itself, is ending for real this time.
We thought there was a slight possibility that we might have a bit more time with Vin Scully, despite the fact that he said in August that the 2016 was likely to be his last season calling Dodger games. The lack of a 100-percent confirmation of Scully's final season gave fans a longshot of a reason to latch on to this tiny sliver of hope that he'd be back, for just one more...please? But, turns out, as the L.A. Times reports, it really, really is the end this time.
"Each year, I knew I was getting closer and closer,” said the 88-year-old Scully, who has been the Dodgers announcer for 66 consecutive seasons (unreal stat). “Finally, this past fall and winter — I think it’s time. I don’t want somebody else to tell me it’s time. I would rather do it myself.”
Ever so humble, Scully continued:
Support for LAist comes from
I really can’t see that I would come back...Sooner or later, you have to be realistic. I’ve done it for a long, long time. I’ve done reasonably well at it. But I don’t want to stay on any longer than I feel I should... Which makes it a very tough decision, but I really do feel it would be time for me to walk away rather than have somebody say, 'Gee, you know, you’re not the same. You’re not quite this, you’re not quite that.' I don’t want that. So I think if I can get through next year doing reasonably well, it would be time then to walk away.
Scully was ever-so diplomatic when it came to the SportsNet L.A. debacle that has resulted in 60% of Angelenos not being able to receive cable access to Dodger games on T.V. "Doing the Dodgers games, if we had a full coverage, that’s great. But even if we had the tiniest coverage, it would not influence me," Scully said. "I would still try to do the game as if everybody saw it. And I kept that up and will continue to do it, whether they change or otherwise next year.” Please, please get this fixed before the 2016 season starts, if only to honor Scully.
The news is an inevitable bummer, but at least there were some poignant gems from Scully to ruminate on. As usual, he managed to transform his #deepthoughts into beautiful, poetic language:
If I stop to think about it — I’ll be very honest — I’m somewhat scared to death. When you’ve run the same motor for all these years and suddenly turn it off, I know there will be a deafening silence. But I’ll just have to be fortunate having had a wonderful marriage. I’ll spend more time with Sandi, and God willing, with family and smell the roses.
In August, when it was first announced that it would likely be his last season, the Dodger legend quoted Dylan Thomas to the L.A. Times, as only Scully could:
[Thomas] wrote, 'Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.' I guess in a way, that’s what I’m doing. I’m raging against the dying of my career, which has to be around the corner now. But at least for the God-given time I have left, I’ll be raging.
Rage on, Vin.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist