Over the weekend and a few pints, I got a chance to talk to the BIG UNIT about the game of softball; where it's taken him and what the game means to him! Enjoy - Tractor

Q: How did you get into the game of softball?

A: To me Softball has always been about just having fun. I remember back in the day, all my friends were in little league, and I would always get made fun of for playing softball, “You’re a girl!” they would shout, then they would laugh. I guess that I’m the one laughing now that I’ve made the big time... just like after I’d kick the crap out of them! Whose the girl now you bastards! Basically I just want to thank my parents, management, and Captain Ron for the opportunity to kick a little ass on the diamond as well.

Q: What do you think you bring to the team?

A: That’s a tough one. I try not to think of the team as a group of individuals, it’s all about synergy, ya know, but I’ll give it a try. I suppose that first and foremost I’m there to pitch, to give Bubba Gump a bit of a breather now and again. Ya know people around the league say that he’s getting over the hill, but I think that he’s still got a bunch more pitches left in that arm. I still think of myself as the young gun in the bullpen, but I think that this is the year that I can come into my own, ya know, be the player the team thought they were getting when they took me in the draft. Gumpie’s still the man, but I feel like you’ve got to have a solid rotation to win in this league, and I really feel like that’s what we bring to the table. Aside from that I’m here to bring some positive motivation to the people around me…be it in the dug out, the bullpen, the Phoenix, West End, or even Neighbours, I want my team mates to know that I’ll go to bat for them, that when the chips are down, you want to have the BIG UNIT in!

Q: What do you see in the future for this ball club?

A: I’ve been on a lot of teams in my day. Maybe not at this level, but competition’s competition. I really believe that there’s something special here. You can just feel it at the bar, it’s like, whenever we’re talking about what we should have done to win the last game, people are really buying into it. All we’ve got to do now is go from the phoenix to the diamond, string a couple of wins together, and the next thing ya know we’re playin’ for the cup. If this team can hold onto the talent it has now, even without a couple more drafts don’t be surprised to see us hoisting that cup. Y a heard it here first, can you spell D-Y-N-A-S-T-Y?

Q: Can you comment on the influence Captain Ron has had on your life?

A: Again, what can you say about Cap’n Ron that hasn’t been said before. The man is flat out a leader. Every day he’s the first guy into the Phoenix, and the last guy out. What inspires me the most is that it’s not just on Game Day, this guy’s just a warrior! I mean if there’s one guy that the BIG UNIT wants to be like, one guy that the BIG UNIT looks up to it’s Ron. And that goes for all you Little Units out there too, brother, if there’s one guy to look up to besides the BIG UNIT himself, it’s this guy. I mean I’ve talked about chemistry already today, and on this team it starts at the top. Keith is dead, long live Captain Ron! With guys like this leading the charge it’s no wonder that Hillbillimania is runnin’ wild all over the nation!

Q: You are one of the few players who incorporates alcohol into your training regime. Can you comment on what alcohol brings to your game?

A: I don’t know how legit this question is, but I’ll give it a go anyway. I know that I had a bit of a label on coming out of college, but in the NCAA who doesn’t have an attitude problem. I just want to again thank the Hillbillies for taking a chance on me. I want them – and all of our fans out there – to know that the BIG UNIT does nothing but deliver, on and off the field! I can’t change who I am, ya know, the BIG UNIT comes as one big package, ya can’t just take what you want, you’re gonna get the whole thing, I’m just gonna do my best to see that you love it Hillbilly style!

Q: If you weren’t a softball player, what would you see yourself doing with your life?

A: That’s a fair question. We always talk about wanting to be doctors and firemen, maybe the police chief, I don’t know. I guess I always saw myself as a softball player, so I’m livin’ the dream. If I wasn’t, well I don’t know, I guess I’d be a superhero. Maybe Spiderman, there’s something about the whole web slingin’ thing that’s pretty cool. It’s just a hard question, the UNIT’s never really seen himself as anything other than the best softball player in the world, and that’s what I’m working hard to become.

Q: The ladies want to know….. how did you get the nickname ‘BIG UNIT’?

A: Now that’s a hard one (can I say that?). It started back when I was in high school I think, there’s no particular reason, like I said before it’s all about the whole package, ya know the big picture. I guess I don’t really want to give a straight foreward answer to that one, ya know I’ll keep the whole BIG UNIT issue under my hat, so to speak.

Q: Thanks for your time, and good luck the rest of the way!

A: Thanks Triple T, that means a lot coming from a guy like you. I’d just like to take the chance to give a shout out to all our fans out there. It’s the people who come to the games, the people who follow the league that makes GSA softball what it is, and that’s one hell of a good time. Now I don’t want to do anything stupid, like guarantee a championship, but I do guarantee that this year – really the inaugural season for the Hawiian Hillbillies – will be a success, and you know how the BIG UNIT measures success don’t you…