July 2, 2009 

By BRAD PYE JR.

Notes, quotes and things picked up on the run from coast-to-coast and all the stops in between and beyond.

It’s almost all over — the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez’s 50-game suspension for breaking MLB’s drug policy ends July 3 when Ramirez returns to the Dodgers line up for the team’s faceoff with the San Diego Padres. Fans will have to wait until July 16 to see Ramirez in action at home. That’s when the Dodgers open a four-game series against the Houston Astros. Look for Ramirez to attract heavy crowds. Perhaps his return will draw the hordes that came out to see him make his minor league debut with the Albuquerque Isotopes on June 23.

How many votes will the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s outfielder Torii Hunter get for the American League’s MVP honor? He should get a whole bushel full. Hunter is the Angels’ homerun leader, top RBI man and leading slugger and batter.

What would cause the Angels to wave goodbye to veteran Vladimir Guerrero? Would you believe free agent Matt Holiday of the Colorado Rockies?

Kansas City Royals’ Coco Crisp, the former local prep star and son of Loyce Crisp, will have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder. Crisp was a World Series hero with the Boston Red Sox before being traded to the Royals after the 2008 season.

Reggie Williams Sr., A former L.A. Dodgers and Cleveland Indians star, is the father of Reggie Williams Jr., a first team selection on USA Today’s All-USA baseball team. He’s 6-4 and 189 pounds. To boot, he batted .604 and swiped 61 bases in 62 attempts. The younger Williams told USA Today his baseball influence was: “My dad. He taught me how to play the game the right way: Hard.” The younger Williams was the only African American on the first team.

And the beat continues

Next year, Kobe Bryant and Co. could square off against LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal in the playoffs. This dream match could come to pass now that Shaq has joined James in Cleveland. However, James and Shaq must first get by Dwight Howard and his Orlando Magic.

Will the L.A. Clippers be any better than they have ever been now that they have Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin, the No. 1 lottery pick? As long as Donald T. Sterling is owner, nothing is expected to change.

The L.A. Sparks aren’t the winningest team in the WNBA, but they have three MVPs on their squad — Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker and Tina Thompson. Leslie and Thompson are Inglewood High and University of Southern California grads. They are also the two leading scorers in WNBA history.

And the beat continues

Ex-Dorsey High star and Pittsburgh Steelers assistant Super Bowl coach Kirby Wilson hosted a football clinic for more than 150 youngsters at L.A. Southwest Community College. Wilson asked me to serve as the keynote speaker at his football clinic. With his attitude, dedication and love of young people, Wilson’s my kind of father and community leader.

Los Angeles Dodgers Orlando Hudson and Juan Pierre and Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. recently cheered on the youngsters at the Van Ness Recreation Center. On June 27, in the fourth inning against the Dodgers, Griffey smacked the 620th homer of his career. The Mariners won 5-1.

And the beat continues

Venus Williams entered Wimbledon the week of June 29 as a five-time winner and two- time defending champion. Fate may have her compete against her younger sister Serena, who’s now working on a television series and an autobiography.

Lynn Swann, former USC all-American and four-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is now in two Hall of Fames. Swann was inducted into the celebrity wing of the Bowling Hall of Fame in Las Vegas last week.

And the beat ends

Brad Pye Jr. can be reached at switchreel@aol.com.