WEBVTT - Will Smith (9-20-26) 

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<v Speaker 1>And now, an exclusive interview with David Basset for Dodger Talk.

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<v Speaker 1>All right, I'm here with the Dodgers Roberto Clemente Award candidate,

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<v Speaker 1>and that is the one and only Will Smith.

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<v Speaker 2>Thanks a lot for the time, Will. Appreciate it.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, thank you.

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<v Speaker 1>I know you do a lot with your wife, Kara,

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<v Speaker 1>for the Catching Hope Foundation, and rightfully so. I mean,

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<v Speaker 1>you're not just a guy that writes a check. You're

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<v Speaker 1>out there with the kids at the clinic. You're reading

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<v Speaker 1>to kids at the schools in L.A., What makes you

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<v Speaker 1>want to do all that stuff?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, for us, you know, I think, you know, my

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<v Speaker 3>wife's a first grade teacher and I'm not, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>a Title I school. So the funding wasn't there and

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<v Speaker 3>the kids didn't really have every opportunity that we, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>believe they should. So, you know, we kind of experienced

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<v Speaker 3>it firsthand. So, yeah, we just, you know, love giving

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<v Speaker 3>back and love, you know, spreading the kids day, seeing

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<v Speaker 3>their smiles, seeing their happiness that they get when we

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<v Speaker 3>show up and provide some stuff for them. That's kind

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<v Speaker 3>of what it's all about.

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<v Speaker 1>I know that wasn't the intention of getting recognized with

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<v Speaker 1>the Dodgers Roberto Clemente Award candidation.

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<v Speaker 2>What does it mean to you to be recognized for

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<v Speaker 2>all that stuff?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, it's a huge honor. It's one I'm very proud

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<v Speaker 3>of just because of who Roberto Clemente was. Past guys

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<v Speaker 3>just in here that have won that award, JT, Kirsch,

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<v Speaker 3>Mook last year. Just seeing all the good they've done.

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<v Speaker 3>We're just trying to do Something similar. So kind of

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<v Speaker 3>upheld the Clemente legacy and, you know, for the next generation.

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<v Speaker 1>Is it awkward to be nominated for something like this?

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<v Speaker 1>Because I know you're not seeking attention.

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<v Speaker 3>A little bit, I guess. But no, this is a

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<v Speaker 3>cool one. I'm really, you know, really proud of this one.

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<v Speaker 3>This is a lot of hard work from my wife

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<v Speaker 3>and I, from our team. And this is bigger than just,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, me. This is a cool, neat one.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, a lot of people talk about being a

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<v Speaker 2>girl dad.

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<v Speaker 3>You are.

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<v Speaker 1>Certainly a girl dad having two little girls. What's it

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<v Speaker 1>like to be a girl dad and to have them

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<v Speaker 1>with you in your Superman costume, your catching gear on

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<v Speaker 1>the field being recognized?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, they're the best. They make every day better.

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<v Speaker 2>They're fun.

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<v Speaker 3>It's fun to see them out there the other night.

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<v Speaker 3>Char had the cowboy boots on, which was cute. And

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<v Speaker 3>Layton's kind of just taking it all in, which is

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<v Speaker 3>really neat to experience those moments with them.

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<v Speaker 1>How did they help you get through being on the

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<v Speaker 1>IL and help you with your neck and all that?

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<v Speaker 2>Did they even care?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I don't think they knew at all, honestly. They

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<v Speaker 3>just knew I was home a lot more. I wasn't

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<v Speaker 3>traveling on the road, which was nice. But, yeah, they

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<v Speaker 3>were just there every day to play with. I just

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<v Speaker 3>got to be a dad instead of worrying about my job,

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<v Speaker 3>just get healthy here. But, yeah, you just take every

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<v Speaker 3>day as a blessing and just enjoy it.

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<v Speaker 1>When did you know you were back? I know you

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<v Speaker 1>were playing, but when did you feel like you felt

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<v Speaker 1>like yourself on the field again?

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<v Speaker 3>Probably about a weekend. I think it was a long

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<v Speaker 3>time I missed, and just getting back up to speed.

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<v Speaker 3>I just kind of felt a little sluggish at first,

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<v Speaker 3>so getting my feet under me, quickening things up a

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<v Speaker 3>little bit, being a little sharper is when I probably

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<v Speaker 3>felt starting really good.

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<v Speaker 1>When you start to see the ball travel, that backspin

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<v Speaker 1>opposite field, that signature Will Smith stuff.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, for sure, for sure.

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<v Speaker 2>Have you enjoyed being back with Fetty, being that catching tandem?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, he's been great.

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<v Speaker 2>He stepped up big.

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<v Speaker 3>I rode with him for a few weeks there as well.

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<v Speaker 3>it's been good it's been good he's been doing a

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<v Speaker 3>great job he's getting lots of opportunities right now which

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<v Speaker 3>is great for him so it's been fun fun working together.

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<v Speaker 2>You ready for October?

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<v Speaker 3>Absolutely.

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<v Speaker 1>All right thanks a lot for the time and congratulations

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<v Speaker 1>again on being recognized for everything that you and your

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<v Speaker 1>wife do to help kids in Southern California and Will

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<v Speaker 1>Smith's certainly a big part of the Dodgers fabric since

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<v Speaker 1>he got called up in 2019 and nominated for the

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<v Speaker 1>Clemente Award.

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<v Speaker 2>So we'll be pulling for you and you can vote online.

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<v Speaker 2>Go to dodgers.com.

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<v Speaker 1>Thanks.