The former manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers decided to withdraw after San Francisco Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier threatened to introduce a resolution calling for Lasorda's ouster from the parade because of the Dodgers-Giants rivalry.

Lasorda says the episode bothered him, but his decision to withdraw had nothing to do with San Francisco or the Italian people.

Instead, he decided to pull out because organizers couldn't guarantee that he could get back to Los Angeles in time to see the Dodgers' playoff game against the Philadelphia Phillies Sunday night.

(clo)