April 30, 2007
You said you always wanted to be a CPA. Why is that?
Bailey Behrens: I really don't know, but I took accounting classes in high school, and they interested me. Also, it kinda runs in my family. My papa, my uncle and my two cousins are in accounting as well. I think the family might have impacted me.
Additionally, you want to be a corporate lawyer for a pro baseball team. Is that right?
BB: Yeah. Ever since I was little, I've always wanted to be a lawyer. I like fighting, and I'm kind of good at it at times. I like finding glitches in things and using it against other people, which sounds terrible, but I just like doing stuff like that. I figure law would be a good profession for that. I love sports, so I figure, why not dream big and try to go with a baseball team?
Have you had some of these arguments where you've used stuff against your older brother?
BB: Many times.
Do you think you own the upper hand on the tote board?
BB: Well, when you get my parents into it, no, because they know my ways. They've been living with me for 18 years, so they know how I work.
So, it seems like there's one side or the other - you either love or you hate the Yankees...
BB: I love the Yankees. I think Joe Torre is a very good coach, and I like the way the Yankees play. Derek Jeter's also my favorite athlete. He has a little bit of cockiness, confidence, and his bad days are a lot of people's good days.
How did you become a Yankees fan?
BB: Just watching baseball games. I thought, `Hey, that shortstop' - Well, Derek Jeter, of course is cute - `I like the way he plays.'
What do you think of the whole A-Rod/Jeter controversy?
BB: I don't like A-Rod at all. In my opinion, I think A-Rod wants to own New York like Jeter does, but that's never going to happen. A-Rod's dirty, I don't like him.
I read that you like to relax by cooking? Tell me about that.
Katie Gaitros: Yeah, I like to cook a lot. In fact, I made dinner one night this year for seven of us (on the team.) They came over, and we had kinda like a big family dinner.
What inspired you to do that?
KG: I don't know. I just like to cook, and I got the recipe from my dad. I wanted to make it, and it was way too much for just me.
What was the recipe?
KG: Vegetable cheese soup
Any highlights of that meal that you can remember?
KG: Brooke brought a pomegranate, and we all tried that for the first time.
What do you do for inspiration? Do you watch Food Network?
KG: I like to watch Food Network. I also like to watch "Take-Home Chef" on TLC.
Tell me about "Take-Home Chef."
KG: He surprises somebody in a supermarket - normally it's in a specialty store - and he will help them pick out something that he thinks they would like that they've never tried. He'll take them home and teach them how to cook it, and they will surprise their husband or wife or other people that they live with.
What are some Food Network shows that you like to watch?
KG: I like the "Food Challenges." Last year, we were in Minnesota and we got rained out. We went to the Mall of America and actually saw them doing one of the Challenges there. I think they were making skyscrapers out of chocolate.
What do you think about the idea of having the World's Largest Softball Tailgate on the Food Network?
KG: That would be fun. You could probably see some interesting things that people make at tailgates. I know last year they roasted a hog at the tailgate.
Are you going to go have some food at the Tailgate?
KG: Before the game, we don't really get to go out there too much. We tend to get to go say "hi" to people. Afterward, we'll probably go have some food with some people.
There was a time at the beginning of the season when your batting average was at .188. Then you brought it to .304 in two weeks. Talk about how you did that.
Hope Howell: Well, I had a lot of mechanics that were kind of warped from not playing over the winter and stuff like that. I wasn't as aggressive, so Coach said, `Crowd the plate and just jump on it again.' Being at Texas A&M when I raised my average, I had to step up for the team. We were playing the fourth-ranked team, and I definitely had to spark.
Was part of that freshman jitters?
HH: Yeah, I didn't want to let the team down. Eventually I said, `You know what? I earned my spot. I just have to do what got me here.'
While you were struggling, you were still starting in the outfield and making plays.
HH: Whenever I don't get on base, I always try to make it up with my glove. You try to contribute in any way possible I always figure that my glove is consistent, and I try to be the same in the outfield regardless of how I do at the plate.
How do you differentiate between a catch you can make and a play you have to cut off?
HH: Our pitchers keep that to a minimum. I don't get burned a lot, but it's all about getting a really good jump on the ball. Coaches help place you where you need to be, but if you get a good jump, go for it.
In your list of the people you would like to have dinner with, you listed your sister, Derek Jeter and Batman...
HH: They are the coolest people ever, so why not eat with them? I picked my sister Heather because I don't get to see her very often; Derek Jeter because, c'mon, he's the best player in the world; and Batman because, who wouldn't want to eat with Batman?
Do you and Bailey talk about who would be more likely to get a date with Derek Jeter?
HH: Oh, she likes him too? I think she would. I don't have a crush on him. I really admire him as a player. She can have him.
What about Batman?
HH: I'd go out with Batman.
How do you like "Batman Begins" star Christian Bale?
HH: He's good. I liked him better in "Little Women."
