Vin Scully really does enjoy his down time. He’s a regular guy that way, it’s just that his schedule is typically demanding even in the off-season, though maybe never more than this one.

In the last 30 days, he was honored as grand marshal of the Rose Parade, announced it was “time for NHL hockey” before to the Kings-Ducks game at Dodger Stadium, presented Spanish-language broadcaster Jamie Jarrin with a lifetime achievement award and received two awards at a broadcasters luncheon, where he also presented one to Peter O’Malley.

And he’s going to stay busy. Scully, who normally only makes road games to cities in the West, said he will broadcast the Dodgers’ two games in Sydney, Australia, to open the season March 22 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“They asked me to go because they’re the first games to be broadcast by Time Warner,” Scully said. “So I said, `Sure, I’ll go.’ ”


Scully said he would be in Phoenix Feb. 25 when the Dodgers’ regional sports network makes its debut and then broadcast the first spring games the next two days. He said he would return for one game against the San Francisco Giants on March 9 and return one week later for the final game in Phoenix, March16 against the Colorado Rockies before the team takes off for Sydney.

The Dodgers then return home to play an exhibition Freeway Series against the Angels, and Scully will broadcast the games March 27-28 at Dodger Stadium. That’s a lot of work and travel for the 86-year-old broadcaster.

“With ESPN doing the season opener in San Diego followed by an off day, so I’ll get two days off and should be fine,” he said. “I do love it, so I’ll give it a shot.”

Scully said he has visited Australia and is not looking forward to the 17-hour flights. His wife, Sandi, will join him.


Sandi provided one of the highlights for Scully as he went down Colorado Boulevard to lead the Rose Parade. She convinced Scully to accept the honor.

“I thought, `What have I ever done to lead a parade?’ ” he said.

Several fans were aware of his wife’s influence.

“It was really a remarkable experience,” he said. “There were a lot of Dodgers fans. I saw a lot of Vin Scully T-shirts. I have no idea where they came from.


“But the No. 1 thing that really got to me were two different times I saw people hold up signs that said `Thanks, Sandi.’ ”