Outbursts in Sirhan Trial; Dodgers Promote Lasorda, February 27, 1969

Now those are some bell bottoms. If you don't remember them, ask your mom.

Nixon to address West German parliament. At left, more oil washes ashore near Santa Barbara, but it's unclear whether this is from the original spill or a new one. General Motors announces the largest recall in U.S. auto history. A defense attorney and Judge Herbert V. Walker warn Sirhan B. Sirhan to control his outbursts. Walker says that if Sirhan doesn't calm down he might be physically restrained in court. And officials release the names of five people who were killed by a mudslide that crashed onto a firehouse in Silverado Canyon where Orange County residents had sought shelter.

Kevin Thomas interviews Fritz Lang about Dr. Mabuse for a showing at UCLA. Inscribed on Lang's bar: "Takes a long freight train with a red caboose to carry my blues away." "When I invented 'The Last Will of Dr. Mabuse' it gave the chance to put all the Nazi slogans in the mouth of an insane criminal and kill him off."

The Dodgers' new Triple-A manager was a real fighter. "We had about eight real good brawls at Ogden last year," Tom Lasorda told The Times' Mitch Chortkoff. "I like a good scrapping team. ... We led the league in wins, fights and police escorts." Lasorda was headed to Spokane to take over the Dodgers' Pacific Coast League team, expected to be filled with such prospects as Bill Buckner, Steve Garvey (still considered a third baseman) and Bobby Valentine. Lasorda was no stranger to the PCL, having played in the league back when the Los Angeles Angels and Hollywood Stars were feuding. Lasorda told Chortkoff about an incident pitching for the Angels against the Stars' Forrest Jacobs. "He was sore at me and he laid a bunt down the first-base line, " he said. "You've seen it so many times. The pitcher comes over to field the ball and the bunter runs him down. Only I played it a little different. Instead of going for the ball I threw a body block at Jacobs. All hell broke loose after that." Chortkoff had an interesting line about Lasoda's future: "There are some baseball people who believe that Lasorda will be the successor to Walter Alston as the Dodger manager--if, that is, he can control his temper." Lasorda's response? "I only know that I have to be myself. ... I want my team to develop a dislike for the opponents. That's the only way they'll play to their potential." --Keith Thursby