It's Not Important That You Stumble… It's Getting Back Up That Counts!
Or I Could Say, It’s Not How You Start… It’s How You Finish! Heather Dorniden (now Heather Kampf) is an American middle-distance runner best known for her grit and determination on the track. She competed for the University of Minnesota, where she was an NCAA champion in the 800…
Or I Could Say, It’s Not How You Start… It’s How You Finish!
Heather Dorniden (now Heather Kampf) is an American middle-distance runner best known for her grit and determination on the track. She competed for the University of Minnesota, where she was an NCAA champion in the 800 meters.
Her most famous moment came during the 2008 Big Ten Indoor Track Championships. In the 600-meter final, Dorniden tripped and fell hard with one lap to go—but got back up, chased down the field, and astonishingly won the race. That comeback performance went viral years later and is often cited as one of the greatest displays of perseverance in sports.
After college, Dorniden continued her career as a professional runner, specializing in the 800m and 1500m. Beyond athletics, she has become a motivational figure, frequently sharing her story as an example of resilience and mental toughness. Here is her inspirational win:
Since the All‑Star break (which fell in early July), the Dodgers have gone 12–21 overall. Of course, the media loves this. Plaschke and others will be reveling in their swill. But… things are about to change, as players who have been injured will start coming back as early as this weekend and next week. Kike Hernandez (Mr. October) is as important on the bench as he is in the field. Max Muncy is the heart and soul of the Dodgers. Hyeseong Kim is a weapon, and Tommy Edman is … well, Tommy Tanks. We do not know how fast they will ramp up, but as they come back and Doc “does to the whip,” I think you will see the Dodgers get up, dust themselves off, and, like Heather Dorniden, outsprint everyone down the stretch.
This team is built for the big moments. It’s go time. It’s for sure that Buddy Kennedy will be gone. Michael Conforto is unlikely to weather the storm. This will be very interesting to watch.
Dodger Notes & News
- Ohtani’s velocity was visibly down last night… why? No clue. I don’t think he should pitch and hit in Colorado again.
- Michael Conforto is officially the worst hitter in baseball (.188). He will be gone soon.
- Paul Gervase has a future… It’s just not now!
- Jack Dreyer’s arm may fall off.
- Henriquez remains intriguing.
- Don’t be surprised if Jackson Ferris is added to the roster as a reliever.
- Kiki is hot at OKC. He’s coming sooner than later.
- I have no idea how Edman’s ankle is, but if Kim is pain-free, look out!
- Kopech, Yates, and Scott are also due back by the first week of September.
I don’t know how much I will post for the next month
I have lots of doctor’s appointments as they get ready to replace my shoulder on the 27th. It does not sound pleasant to me, but I have to do it. My daughter is getting married on Saturday, and I delayed the surgery to walk her down the aisle and do the father-daughter dances. That should be a blast! My youngest son is performing the wedding, and my wife is the Wedding Planner. (She is not my daughter’s mother, who is not coming—I won’t say any more.)
I will post when I can, but I have to be in a sling for 4-6 weeks and then in therapy for 60 days. After that comes the back surgery, the carpal tunnel surgery on both arms, elbow surgery, a heart ablation, and possibly a brain transplant, but since mine has rarely been used, I am looking forward to 2026!
More from Dodger Talk
Dodgers Food Trailer
I did this interview a couple of weeks ago with Chef Mike, who runs the Dodgers Food Trailer for the Great Lakes Loons. They are there for every home and road regular season and playoff game. They prepare three meals a day for approximately 50 people (players and coaches). Since games end late most evenings, they do not prepare breakfast. Many of their hotels have a complimentary breakfast anyway. However,…
Meet LAD 2026 Draft Picks 1-12
3 picks were High School players (2 SS and 1 OF). There was a college OF, college catcher, college SS, and 10 college pitchers. Of all the talk for a need for a catcher, the only catcher the Dodgers selected was Luke Bard, son of LAD bullpen coach Josh Bard. Bard was a 4th year senior from Houston Christian University. He is not a prospect, so the Dodgers are still…
Interview with Paul Beachy – Team Bus Driver For The Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Minor League Team)
It’s been a few days since I did this interview. We have evidently been working my son-in-law (the video guy) like a rented mule at US Water Systems. However, I am taking him to London with me in a few days, so maybe Watford will buy him a pint as a tip, but he’s a dang Red Sox fan, so there is that! I thought that it would be interesting…
Thanks for Your Service: Chris Taylor
I was going to do this post when Chris announced he was retiring, then he changed his mind, but since the chances of him ever playing for the Dodgers again are slim and non-existent, I will go ahead with this post. He unretired, went on the IL, then decided to call it quits on May 24th. Taylor was born in Virginia Beach VA on August 29th, 1990. He attended Great…
Discussion (69)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Drama awaits beginning tonight. Hoping Machado once again won’t speak to the media post-game(s) due to his petulant angry disappointment. A heaping steeping cup of schadenfreude would be especially satisfying. The Conforto conundrum continues. The mind gyrates in the face of as yet unanswered questions. Why is he still in the lineup? Will he be around much longer? Ah, the joys of speculation…
The cavalry begins to trickle in tonight. An $18 million a year closer who had lost his way followed by a hopefully rejuvenated splitter/fastball $13 million dude on Saturday. I can almost remember being jazzed about a stacked bullpen at the dawn of the season. The offense and defense will soon be rejuvenated with A-team contributors. High hopes with a side of trepidation. Go Dodgers!!!
7 Dodgers in updated ESPN top 100 prospects
Outfielder Josue De Paula, who won MVP in the Futures Game in July in Atlanta, was one of seven Dodgers ranked among the top 100 prospects in Kiley McDaniel’s updated list at ESPN:
12) Josue De Paula
44) Eduardo Quintero
46) Zyhir Hope
56) Mike Sirota
73) Alex Freeland
85) Emil Morales
99) Jackson Ferris
“#Dodgers Dave Roberts confirmed Tanner Scott will be activated Friday vs. Padres.
Kirby Yates will be activated on Saturday”.
— Kirsten Watson (@kirsten_watson) August 21, 2025
Kim playing LF tonight for Oklahoma City. Maybe Conforto gets DFA’d on Sept. 1 and teams then unable yo pick him up for the playoffs, not that anyone would or he his left off the Oct. 1 playoff roster. You choose.
Olney was on a podcast and basically said the Dodgers goal is to get to the playoffs with the pitching set up.
That seems to be the only goal. Not necessarily even through a divisional or league-wide best record.
He also said that the basic sentiment around the league is if the Dodgers have enough in the pen.
The league thinks the lineup and starters will be fine.
I was listening to the Rockies broadcast for an inning or two, and both of the announcers wondered why Conforto was doing so badly. One said, “He should be a dangerous hitter.” When Kike, Kim, or Edman returns, I think he is gone. By going 3-5, Freeland cemented his role for at least a few days. Nice to see Alex call settling in….
Nice win! Let’s get ready for the punks down south!
Conforto hitting clean up ,,, Humm wonder who’s great idea made that call , should have dumped him already , just sayin
3:10 PM ET EARLY GAME
Dodgers (72-55)
Rockies (37-90)
SP Clayton Kershaw L
7-2 3.01 ERA
SP Chase Dollander R
2-9 6.43 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
DH Will Smith R
LF M. Conforto L
3B A. Freeland S
C D. Rushing L
CF Andy Pages R
RF Alex Call R
2B Miguel Rojas R
94° Wind 6 mph
The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Matt Sauer and optioned Paul Gervase to Triple-A Oklahoma City ahead of their series finale against the Colorado Rockies.
Best of luck Mark as the joys and challenges await. Meanwhile, as I sat in a local brew pub alongside some of my NW pals last night, there was lousy internet access and I was unable to learn of the goings on in Denver in real time. Glad I missed this one. The game in and of itself was statistically insignificant. Let’s leave it at that and hope for far better times ahead. GO DODGERS!!!
yeah Bear! i said last night, get both of them bus tickets! why bring kennedy in and sit Freeland? And i know, they’re playing chess, yeah yeah. would it hurt to see if Ward can hit mlb pitching? is .160 that much worse than .170? Or at least put Call in left field till edman and kim get back! … IT is possible ohtani moves to a relief role. Maybe last night was just a product of coors, but he got hit plenty! … who’s responsible for coaching the outfield? Whoever is, maybe they should teach pages and teo which base they should throw to! Dodgers looked like the rockies and vice versa. The GOAT needs some run support today! No ohtani. maybe he does need a break. (not just the line drive). PLEASE, no kennedy today!
I hope the marriage ceremony and celebrations go well and your daughter is very happy.
Best of luck on the shoulder replacement. My mother-in-law took a very bad fall at age 88 and had her shoulder replaced. She lived until 100-1/2 years and toward the end said the only thing in her body that DIDN’T hurt was her shoulder!
Coincidentally, I have an appointment to get a cortisone shot in both shoulders this afternoon. I badly separated one in 1976 (idiot kid injury), didn’t have recommended surgery and it’s never been right since. Re-aggravated both shoulders in July (idiot adult re-injuries!) and been in a lot of discomfort for over a month. I’m certain you can relate. Hard to move, harder to sleep, etc. Haven’t had cortisone since ‘76 but it hurt like hell then. I’m told it is much more gentle now….(but a little terrified anyway). I can only imagine how scared I’d be if I had to have the surgery you’re about to have. Again, best of luck.
PS: GO DODGERS!
Hope it all comes out well Mark. Bad game, forget it and move on. I DFA Kennedy, Conforto today. Bring up Ward and activate the first healthy body you can find. Kersh has to be the stopper today. They could be back in second place by the weekend.
Mark, please make Buddy Kennedy go away. Do what you need to do.
Mark,
Good luck with all this. But you are correct your brain still must have plenty of unused space so no reason to replace at this time.
Now that you are retired from your business, I know you cannot just sit around. So you could just open an ‘All in the Family’ wedding service.