Tony La Russa is sitting in a suite, filled with his former Oakland A’s players, front office executives and friends, watching his Chicago White Sox team play. 

The guests in the Oakland Coliseum suite Sunday are more interested in socializing than watching the game, with even the Vikings-Packers TV game drawing more attention. 

La Russa isn’t looking at the TV, and is barely talking, staring intently across the field. He is watching every move, jotting down notes as if he’s back in the dugout. 

It’s vintage La Russa, the 77-year-old Hall of Fame manager who has won more games than any person with the exception of manager/owner Connie Mack. 

“He’s still so intense, and takes these games so hard, maybe too hard,’’ says interim manager Miguel Cairo, who was hired two years ago by La Russa to be his bench coach. “He hates to lose. Just hates it. 

“I’ve learned so much from watching him. 

“He’s like my dad, honestly.’’ 

It was two weeks ago when Cairo was summoned into La Russa’s office and was told that he’d be replacing La Russa until further notice. La Russa had just been informed by his doctor that something was terribly amiss with the heart readings transmitted from his pacemaker. He was ordered to go home, not watch the White Sox games, and keep from any stress.