1 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: I'm Alec Baldwin and you're listening to here's the thing, 2 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 1: Peyton Manny Love. Peyton's still a big fan of Peyton. Uh, 3 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: Steve McNair. My mom was very strict, you know, very 4 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: directly stuff when my dad kind of getting a pass 5 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:21,120 Speaker 1: with a lot of things along as I was playing baseball. 6 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: A few of us can do what professional athletes do, 7 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: and even fewer athletes begin their pro careers with the 8 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: immediate success of my guests. Today, I'll talk with former 9 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: pitcher Dwight Gooden to hear about his historic rookie season 10 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: in and how his major league career was affected by 11 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: his struggles with drugs and alcohol. But first, Andrew Luck, 12 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: currently enjoying his second season in the National Football League. 13 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 1: We're the first pick in the two thousand and twelve 14 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: NFL drafts the Indianapolis could select Andrew Luck. Luck was 15 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: hired to replaced one of his heroes, Peyton Manning, as 16 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts. Many doubted that the Stanford 17 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: graduate could live up to the enormous hype generated by 18 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,399 Speaker 1: that first round pick, but Luck delivered, setting a new 19 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 1: NFL record for most passing yards by a rookie Andrew Luck, 20 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: a self described nerd, is nothing if not level headed 21 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: when he talks about navigating the transitions from high school 22 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: to college to pro football. They're definitely large differences along 23 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: the way. But but I also know a lot of 24 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: the challenges are the same. I think, fresh on my 25 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: mind still, you know, finishing a rookie year, you know 26 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: what what what what was similar about rookie year to 27 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: being a sophomore in high school and starting on varsity, 28 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: you know, wants to to being in college and started 29 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: as a sophomore as well. I think you know the 30 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: same things presents of how as a young kid. You know, 31 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: how is a fifteen year old kid do you play with? 32 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: Eighteen year old? How is it? How is the nineteen 33 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: year o kid do you play with? Is that what 34 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: you did? And? Yeah, how was it? It's weird? You know, 35 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: you want to remember what do you remember about high 36 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: school ball? So I just wanted to keep my mouth shut. 37 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: You in Houston, in Houston, which they do have like 38 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: a somewhat of a religious cult following, you know of 39 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: high school football entype, it truly is, and you know 40 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 1: it's sensationalized a bit with the movies, in the in 41 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: the books, but people get into I mean we had 42 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,119 Speaker 1: we had fifteen thousand people watching games, you know, for 43 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 1: for for a bunch of high school kids. Yeah, but 44 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: but I do remember, you know, being a rookie, thinking 45 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: back to you know, being a sophomone, how how do 46 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 1: you how do you earn the respect to the guys 47 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: older than you? You know, how do you how do 48 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,679 Speaker 1: you go in there? And so would you see that 49 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: each step of the way if he was proving yourself 50 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,399 Speaker 1: to people who when you show up the vets are there, 51 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: or the guys who have a few more seasons under 52 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 1: their belt and you want to show them you belong there. No, absolutely, 53 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: I think describe it was like when you went from 54 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,799 Speaker 1: Houston to Stanford the same thing, you know, one it's 55 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:48,079 Speaker 1: it's it was. It was fun for me to be 56 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: out in California and you were a scholar. You did 57 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:52,959 Speaker 1: very well in school. I did all right. I managed 58 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: to get by. I studied architecture, which was fun for 59 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: me and which I enjoyed, which I don't much better 60 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: I think on projects than writing papers, you know. So 61 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: so I'm glad I studied something I enjoyed. But do 62 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 1: you think that that kind of pursued academically, like something 63 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 1: that involves geometry and math and so forth, and measurements 64 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 1: help you as a quarterback. I don't know. People have 65 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: asked me to compare the to it. I you know, 66 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: it can't hurt, but you know, realistically, how much could 67 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: could solid a bath problem help a football game? It 68 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: might be just intrinsic. How you just see things. You know, 69 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:25,239 Speaker 1: when that guy's going deep over the middle, maybe you 70 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: something this looks like the Louve to me. And then 71 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: when you went to Stanford, what was that like? You 72 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 1: showed up there? When you talk about that idea of 73 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 1: showing up and proving yourself, what was it like for you? 74 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: First year was great? Didn't play? Red shirt? And which 75 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: was which was? Which was difficult describe for people exactly 76 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: how red shirting works. So red shirting is a process work. 77 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: You know, you go to school and everybody has four 78 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: years of eligibility to play. Uh, but you can red 79 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: shirt a year. You still practice with the team, you 80 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: still do everything with the team. You're just not allowed 81 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: to play in a game. So it's theoretically you can 82 00:03:57,640 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: another year. Yeah, and then you go to school for 83 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 1: you know, being school for five years, so it gives 84 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 1: you a year too, and you red shooted your first year. 85 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: I recruited my first year. I wasn't ready to play 86 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 1: and I needed to get bigger, faster, stronger, you know, 87 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: physically wise and also mentally just catch up today. So 88 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: when you come to a school like that, when they 89 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: take you there and they and they recruited you, correct 90 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 1: and when they recruit you to come, they recruit you. 91 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 1: The red shirt thing was something they had in mind. 92 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: So at that level, at the Stanford level, they have 93 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: you come and they say we're gonna bring you here 94 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 1: and we're going to develop you for the first year. Yeah, 95 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 1: you know, and some guys in my class, we're we're 96 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: good enough to play, you know as freshman. But but 97 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 1: I know in my recruiting process that that was a 98 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,239 Speaker 1: thought that came up. They want muscle up and get stronger, 99 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: and and and mentally too, I think mentally catch up 100 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: to the playbook. Having to learn that and it definitely 101 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 1: helped and I enjoyed it. And what was that experience 102 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: like because someone said that to me once, They said that, 103 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: you know, you go from high school and you're a 104 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,160 Speaker 1: dominant player in high school. Then you go to college 105 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: and you're in a room full of high school dominant players. 106 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,039 Speaker 1: It's humbling. I'll say that. You get knocked off your 107 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 1: high horse very very quickly. Everybody's in all so you 108 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: go from being in you know, the top dogs probably 109 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 1: starting on every you're the king. Yeah, everything you've ever 110 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: played in. The cheerleaders want a date you. You know, everybody. 111 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: You go to college and you're just you're carrying somebody 112 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 1: else is bad exactly. So you read shirt that year 113 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 1: and then you come back the second year and I'm 114 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 1: assuming you were stronger and you had development, and did 115 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:26,840 Speaker 1: you and you felt better? You felt strong? No, I 116 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: think I put on like pounds, you know, and my 117 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 1: mind was working much quicker when you know, on the 118 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 1: football side of things, we're getting ready, getting ready. And 119 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: what happens in that second year coach hardball, who's who's 120 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:43,480 Speaker 1: Who's coach game Jim, he gave me a shot. I 121 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: got got to play in all their games. I got 122 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,160 Speaker 1: hurt the last game of the season. And did you 123 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: get smacked around a lot? I mean, you're playing football 124 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,160 Speaker 1: at Stanford. What was that like for you? That that 125 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: threat every day and it's a pure adrenaline when you 126 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: say to yourself, I can't think about that. I can't 127 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: afford to think about that or every minute you're out there. 128 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: Do you think these guys, man, they really if they 129 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 1: hit me, it's really gonna hurt. Like no, I think that. 130 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 1: You can't. You can't let yourself think about you have to. 131 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:11,159 Speaker 1: I think as soon as you start getting skittish about 132 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 1: about being hit, then then your play is gonna plummet. 133 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: There's a little bit of pride involved in it too. 134 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: I think as a football player, at least at least 135 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: in my mind, I sort of enjoy getting hit every 136 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: now and then and being able to stand back up 137 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: and say, Okay, you hit me whatever. Man, you know 138 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 1: I'm getting back off, not downright. You didn't get me 139 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:32,919 Speaker 1: down right, So so that I think, I think for 140 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: a lot of players there's a bit of that. What 141 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,720 Speaker 1: did Hardball give you was a coach? What would you 142 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: say distinguished him as a coach? I think he builds 143 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 1: great relationships with players, everybody on the staff and he 144 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: and he's he's an unbelievable motivator. On game day, you 145 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: always felt like you know the guy was gonna you know, 146 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 1: run through hell and back with you if you had to, 147 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: you felt like you had your back, if you wanted 148 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:56,359 Speaker 1: to be in a brawl in an alley you wanted, 149 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 1: you want to coach hardball with you? What's it like 150 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: when you leave SAIM because you you you red shirted 151 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: your first year and then played and you finished the standpord. Yeah, 152 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: I didn't leave three years. So I graduated. I had 153 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: one year of eligibility left, but and you didn't and 154 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 1: it was time to go. It was time to How 155 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: did you know it was time to go? Uh? You 156 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 1: know my degree? I got my degree, which really didn't 157 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: make any sense to stay. Yeah, it didn't. I had 158 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: I had enough fun. And then what happened? And then 159 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 1: tell me where you're sitting when when you find out 160 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: what's going on for you? NFL was how does that develop? Yeah, 161 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: it's it's a it's it's actually sort of long process. 162 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: And I was drafted before I graduated from school. So 163 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: you finish your college season. I took a we were 164 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: on the quarter system at Stanford, so I took the 165 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: winter quarter off to go train and prepare that they 166 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: have a combine uh where in Indianapolis, which you know 167 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: it was funny enough was where I ended up. The 168 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: combine is it a really interesting weird sort of dynamic 169 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: where they fly all these players and they have all 170 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: the coaches, they have all the team doctors and it's 171 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: three days and you're there pick and you can Okay, 172 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: this is before So this is a chance for all 173 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: the teams to meet the players that to see the 174 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: combines NFL one. It's not just Indie, it's it's his team, 175 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 1: it's it's league. It's all the teams flying in with 176 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: all their personnel. And I'll stay and then the players 177 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: sort of cycle through. It's were like cattle in a 178 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 1: meat market. Yeah. I remember, you know, walking up on 179 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: stage with nothing but my little skimp he's on and 180 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: they announced, you know, and Victoria's Secret runway Shop. You're 181 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: on a stage with strength coaches, head coaches and all 182 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: these coaches sitting and bleachers around you that that you 183 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: walk up in the middle and it's you know, Andrew 184 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 1: Luck Stanford University, you know, six four, two thirty five, 185 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 1: and guys are there with ads going I don't like 186 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 1: the ratio of USS to his rib cage. I don't 187 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: like that they don't let that rib ratio. God knows 188 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: what they're saying that God, and then you turn around, 189 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: you and you walk off. That's just one of the 190 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: you know guys where you're getting a hundred X rays 191 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: on every part of your body. They move your your 192 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: knee this way, but which which makes sense because there's 193 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 1: so much money invested if I teams and the money. Yeah, 194 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: so so that was an interesting experience. Then you sort 195 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,319 Speaker 1: of then to leave the comment. And I had I 196 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: had a fairly good sense that I would be drafted 197 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,319 Speaker 1: number one by Indianapolis just from the signals I was 198 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: getting from the team and other things, and I it's 199 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:24,199 Speaker 1: you know, how did you feel? I mean, you knew 200 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: it was gonna happen kind of would everybody let you 201 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 1: know that in advance? Everybody put the cats out of 202 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: the bag. But when it happens, at the moment it happened, 203 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:32,199 Speaker 1: did you just feel great you would number one in 204 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: the draft that year? Man? Yeah, I felt on top 205 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: of the world. I'm not gonna lie now as soon 206 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:38,680 Speaker 1: as you are you the draft is over. I would 207 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 1: assume there's a euphoria, but you snapped right out of 208 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: it because like it's down to business now. Yeah, there 209 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: wasn't you four? And then I wish it would would 210 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: have been down to business. I had to go back 211 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 1: to school and finish up. And you try sitting in 212 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 1: a lecture. You know, after you've been you've been drafted 213 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 1: by a team, you have a job, you know where 214 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: you're going. I honestly, I honestly don't feel sorry for you, 215 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: because I would. I can't think of anything I'd like 216 00:09:58,040 --> 00:09:59,719 Speaker 1: more than to go back to Stanford having been the 217 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:01,959 Speaker 1: number one tracking. So you go back? How long you're 218 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: back there? Back for maybe a couple more months to 219 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 1: finish that last So now when do your report? Uh? 220 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:11,839 Speaker 1: So we report late July? Was when training camp starts? 221 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: When you know the actual that's the formal training, formal training. 222 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 1: You show up for your first pro training cap. Now 223 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: you are in the center ring in a high school, 224 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: in college and named Big ten and it's professional football. 225 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: What's that like? I mean, does your ass tightened just 226 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 1: a little bit? These guys are huge, they are they 227 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 1: are the apex of physical freaks. You know, there are 228 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: some guys that that are three hundred pounds, that are 229 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:43,199 Speaker 1: running faster than you know, running than your high school 230 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:47,320 Speaker 1: running back, that are just that are just absolutely physical, 231 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 1: and you know, some of the guys you're walking along 232 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:51,559 Speaker 1: a room, you're you're playing with thirty five year olds, 233 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 1: thirty six year old with with you know, with three 234 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: kids in it in the house, and you know, a 235 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 1: bunch of rookies are three years old that I don't 236 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 1: know right from left. So so it's it's it's a 237 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:08,439 Speaker 1: different dynamic than college, where you're sort of, well, everybody's appear, yeah, 238 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:10,319 Speaker 1: with you with your your buddies, you're going back to 239 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 1: the dorm, you know, you're hanging out. And the NFL 240 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: it's different, which makes it fun when you win and 241 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: come together as a team, you know, because you really 242 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:21,319 Speaker 1: do have so many different types of guys. And I 243 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: would imagine that your teammates. I mean, on one hand, 244 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 1: people in the pro like if you go to college, 245 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: it's assumed under ordinary circumstances, certainly things can change, but 246 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: under ordinary circumstances, you're going to be there for the 247 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: four years. This is your team, this is your this 248 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:39,079 Speaker 1: is your family. But in the pros where people move on, 249 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 1: where the teams have only their loyalty to the players 250 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: only extends so far do you walk in there and 251 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 1: people feel you out and you earn your way into 252 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 1: that family or do they treat you like family and 253 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: everybody coheses right away. No, it doesn't happen overnight. It 254 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: doesn't happen in the first day. I will say that 255 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:59,079 Speaker 1: people gotta get to know you. Yeah, you gotta get 256 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 1: you know, especially during training camp where you're gonna have 257 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: you know, a hundred guys that are in training camp 258 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:06,599 Speaker 1: and then one day you wake up and look and 259 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 1: there's only fifty three guys left. You know, those cut 260 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: days are very sad days because you see buddies go, 261 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: You see guys, you feel relationships, you know, guys you 262 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: admired maybe yeah, absolutely, guys you looked up to, guys 263 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 1: that helped you out, you know when you first walked 264 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: in the door, and then they're gone and that fifty 265 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:23,559 Speaker 1: three players, that's when everything starts to cohes. Yeah, I 266 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 1: think I think that's when that's when you come together 267 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 1: a little more. But but still, you know, even guys 268 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 1: are traded in the middle of the season, you know, 269 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: guys are cut, Still guys are picked up. So it's 270 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 1: it is it's a lot different, you know, just to 271 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: what you said that than the the you know, you 272 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:38,680 Speaker 1: know you're gonna be in college for four years. You 273 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: know who's in your class, you know who's you know, 274 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,359 Speaker 1: you know the guys on the team. Familiarity, Yes, absolutely. 275 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 1: Now one thing I think about when I think about 276 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 1: the NFL is this idea of the biggest, strongest, fastest 277 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 1: men hitting each other in this very violent game. And 278 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 1: the rules have been changed in order to protect players. 279 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:59,079 Speaker 1: The equipment has evolved. Obviously, there's a lot of discussion 280 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 1: about concussions and so forth, over a lot of brain 281 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 1: injury research and issues, and people donating the brains of 282 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 1: their deceased suicide victims, a little a lot of heavy 283 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 1: duty stuff. But I want to ask you when you 284 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 1: go out there. I mean, it's a competitive game and 285 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 1: people want to win. But at the same time, guys 286 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: don't necessarily want to hurt each other the way they 287 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: wouldn't want to get hurt either. Do you find it's 288 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: a weird balance of those two because football is as 289 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: violent now on one hand as it was before, but 290 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 1: because equipment changes and rule changes, it seemed more violent 291 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:35,319 Speaker 1: back then. You know, I don't think guys are any 292 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 1: less aggressive when it when it comes to hitting. I no, No, 293 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: it doesn't. And I think, you know, maybe there's a 294 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 1: thought too that all these these equipment changes and and 295 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 1: and you feel safer in it, so so you feel 296 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: like you can hit harder. But there's also I think, 297 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 1: you know, guys are are being taught, especially at a 298 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 1: young age now too. You know how to tackle correctly, 299 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: how to how to and I think there is a 300 00:13:57,320 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: mutual respect between players where you know you're not going 301 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 1: to try and take out someone's achilles or a cl 302 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 1: You know, some guys maybe do you know, I don't. 303 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: I don't know. Some guys play very aggressive and things happen. 304 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 1: We understand, you know, we know what we sign up for. 305 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: I think when you when you play football, and I 306 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:15,559 Speaker 1: like it and I love it. And as a quarterback, 307 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: you know, I'm on the wrong side of the hit. 308 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: You know, I don't ever get to dish it out 309 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: per se, But you know that's fine with me. Right. 310 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 1: Let's let's talk about quarterbacking. Yeah, let's talk about what 311 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: it's like to have that job where I played touch 312 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: football with my friends until I was forty years old. 313 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 1: We played every weekend during a season in the fall 314 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 1: in New York in Central Park. And then that game 315 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: moved to Los Angeles because almost all those guys I 316 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: played with were my UH colleagues and the entertainment business, 317 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: and of course, the difference between a sandlot game, the 318 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: difference between a flag game and a bunch of geezers 319 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: playing football. The difference between high school and college is 320 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: the speed and the velocity of the game. And you 321 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 1: drop back to pass, and on average, how much time 322 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: do you have to throw the ball? I think a 323 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: little between three and four seconds. You have that much 324 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: time if the play is going in the perfect world, 325 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: so you have three to four seconds to to read 326 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 1: the defense, to drop back and ascertain who you're going 327 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: to throw the ball to, who's open, who's more likely 328 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 1: going to be open, because sometimes you're throwing the ball 329 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: to someone anticipating they're gonna be open. Once the ball 330 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 1: gets there, you throw the ball to a spot very often, 331 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 1: unless it's a broken play and they come back to 332 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: it's a come back. And then someone's improvising. What percentage 333 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: of plays would you say, do you throw the ball 334 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 1: at a spot that's a preordained route, and how many 335 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 1: plays is it more improvised? What's the ratio? Well, every 336 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: place is called you know hopefully it's not to have 337 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 1: him for ries. You know you're gonna then you're up 338 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: against the pro defense. Yeah, it breaks down probably a 339 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: third of the time, a third of the time, half 340 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: of the time. Colts fans don't care about the ratio. 341 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: They just want Andrew Luck to bring a championship back 342 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: to Indianapolis, and he stands a good chance. People say 343 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: he bears a strong resemblance to Peyton Manning, the quarterback 344 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: for the Colts for fourteen seasons, and one of Andrew 345 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: Luck's own role models, big command and everything, never quit, 346 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: never quit, was like a general out there, three minutes left, 347 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: we're down by eighteen points, so much and he seemed 348 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: like he knew where everybody was going all the time. 349 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 1: There's no surprises for him. In a minute, Andrew Luck 350 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: talks about going to the Manning family training camp in 351 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 1: Louisiana when he was fourteen. I'm Alec Baldwin and here's 352 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 1: the thing. Take a listen to our archive more in 353 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: depth and honest conversations with artists, policymakers and pundits like 354 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: George will Sports and particularly not baseball. Then, because it's 355 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 1: a rich sediment of numbers, it was one of the 356 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: first things a young person could peg up with adults on. 357 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: But as you could know as much about Jimmy Fox 358 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 1: as your father did. I'm love jim you know I 359 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: love I wanted to be a lifeguard. I wanted to 360 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:06,360 Speaker 1: be a gymnast. I wanted to work on the bars, 361 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:11,640 Speaker 1: ropes were I loved all that stuff. More from George 362 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 1: Will and Debbie Reynolds at Here's the Thing, Dot Org. 363 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,400 Speaker 1: I'm Alec Baldwin and you're listening to Here's the Thing. 364 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 1: Andrew Luck grew up in a football family. His father 365 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: was an NFL quarterback for the Houston Oilers. But Luck 366 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:42,120 Speaker 1: isn't always hold up in a screening room studying films 367 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: of his football heroes in action. At the end of 368 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 1: last season, he headed to the Sundance Film Festival. Growing up, 369 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 1: he lived in London and Frankfort, and he still travels 370 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: overseas any chance he gets. But Andrew Luck knew early 371 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 1: on that he wanted to play ball. He attended the 372 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: Manning Passing Academy in lou Louisiana, run by NFL quarterbacks 373 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: Peyton and Eli Manning and their father, Archie. So you 374 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: know that the Manning family obviously sort of the first 375 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:11,639 Speaker 1: family of quarterbacks you know in the in this league. 376 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: You know. So I was in eighth grade in Houston, 377 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:17,880 Speaker 1: and uh, I went to the camp as a as 378 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: a camper, and this was this was hell. It's in Louisiana. 379 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:25,239 Speaker 1: It used to be Hammond. Louisiana is where I went 380 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: as a camper. And then you stayed, stayed in these dorms. 381 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:34,199 Speaker 1: Looked like a Soviet era, like old Gray, you know, 382 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:38,680 Speaker 1: like like the summertime. It was so summer in Louisiana 383 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:44,400 Speaker 1: and you're in ye cinder blocks of your character exactly. 384 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: But we had a blast, and I think I was 385 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 1: on cloud nine when Archie Manning came up and said, 386 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: how you Dylan Sign? I played with your dad. You know, 387 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 1: I'm in heaven. Shoot me. Now I've lived. And then 388 00:18:57,240 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 1: then you go to you go to college whatever, and 389 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:02,400 Speaker 1: then all these college quarterbacks to come down and be counselors, 390 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 1: and I think it's a great thing. It's like it's 391 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: a great way to meet, you know, thirty other quarterbacks 392 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 1: around around you know, the n C A A, and 393 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: then get to know them. So I went down to 394 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:14,920 Speaker 1: the past my last two years of college and you know, 395 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 1: I got to know the Manning family obviously a little 396 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 1: better through that and a bunch of bunch of quarterbacks 397 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,439 Speaker 1: from front from college. When you want to work on 398 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 1: your passing skills, but I don't mean the timing and 399 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 1: reading offenses, the mechanics of you throw. What's your primary 400 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,679 Speaker 1: set of exercises and work you Did you have a 401 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: coach when you got to the pros? Did they come 402 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:36,920 Speaker 1: in as they often do and dissect your throwing motion 403 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:39,200 Speaker 1: and get into the mechanics if you're throwing again? Not 404 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:41,640 Speaker 1: not in the pros. Yeah, I think I think there's 405 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 1: a thought that if you've made it this far, don't 406 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 1: don't change your throw on motion. You've done millions, but 407 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 1: not like Tebow where they're coming to you. You're not Tebow. 408 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: But I'm saying people have the assumption then the pros 409 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:53,640 Speaker 1: they want to strip you down and say, okay, let's 410 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:55,920 Speaker 1: start all over again. But they didn't need to. They 411 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:57,679 Speaker 1: didn't feel they needed to re teach you how to 412 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 1: throw the football now. Absolutely not, which I'm very full 413 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: four because I don't think I would have handled it 414 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: very well, And I think I think quarterbacks are are 415 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 1: very particular about their own motion and a little bit anal. 416 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:11,680 Speaker 1: You know, stress is the way I throw, This is 417 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:14,360 Speaker 1: the way Because what muscles do you think you had 418 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: to develop and if you wanted to improve when you 419 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:19,680 Speaker 1: were younger, when you added pounds, when you wanted to 420 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: muscle up and strengthen. Not because I said that. Joe 421 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: Montana once what I was doing a film and Montana 422 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 1: came to visit the director on the set and I 423 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:29,360 Speaker 1: had the quickest, most fleeting conversation. It wasn't very real. 424 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,399 Speaker 1: I said to him, I go, what was your strength training? 425 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 1: He said, I avoided weights as much as possible. I 426 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: didn't want to get muscled up. He said. I took 427 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:38,399 Speaker 1: medical tubing like hose and I put a strap in 428 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:40,640 Speaker 1: a doorway and I just did the throwing motion over 429 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 1: and over, you know, like a thousand times with this 430 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 1: tension thing, just to strengthen the rotation. What exercises do 431 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 1: you think it to strengthen your legs in your back 432 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: as much as your upper body. I think I think 433 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: your core and your asses can shoot a cannon out 434 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:00,840 Speaker 1: of a canoe. There were so much powers generated it, uh, 435 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: And I think that's that's a lot of leg training. 436 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 1: A lot of leg training, a lot of training or 437 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 1: run training. I hate running, but yeah, you have to do. 438 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 1: But I think it's more weight and just rotation. It's 439 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:16,200 Speaker 1: almost like golfers. You know, you're VeryE boxing and boxing 440 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 1: you're very one sided. It's almost like throwing a right cross, 441 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 1: you know, because you throw that punch, you're gonna punch 442 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: absolutely and and you become very one sided. You're always 443 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:28,600 Speaker 1: torking in the same direction, so making sure your left 444 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 1: so making sure you're evening out, you know, your right 445 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,359 Speaker 1: side of the body per se. But but I I 446 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:36,960 Speaker 1: and that's something that I that I learned more you 447 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: know of in college and then the least you know 448 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:41,440 Speaker 1: how important your lower body is to throwing. I would 449 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: play in sand a lot pickup games with my friends, 450 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: and of course when you play for fun with guys 451 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 1: when you're when I'm in my thirties and forties, just 452 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 1: for fun. Half the guys bring their own favorite ball 453 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 1: and the ball is deflated or inflated to the level 454 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:59,040 Speaker 1: they prefer, the ball is scuffed to the level they prefer. 455 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 1: And when you pick up a ball in the NFL, 456 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:03,959 Speaker 1: forget about weather conditions. Is the ball always a Crisp 457 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,399 Speaker 1: Waxy brand new ball or do they allow you to 458 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 1: treat the ball the way you want to for your preference. 459 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:12,879 Speaker 1: I hate the Crisp Waxy. I can't. I can't stand it. 460 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 1: There's a our. Our equipment managers for the Colts, Frog Tea, 461 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 1: and Danny, the three great guys that work with their quarterbacks, 462 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: they have it. They have a top secret protocol for 463 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: for for them to treat the ball. Treating the balls, 464 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:28,679 Speaker 1: it's secret. They won't tell me. I don't think they 465 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:30,680 Speaker 1: tell Peyton when he like, I know what it is 466 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:33,119 Speaker 1: by the women to tell you they pee on it. 467 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:36,439 Speaker 1: It's their own urine. They use their own urine to 468 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 1: strip the waxy film off. Who is the baseball player 469 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,359 Speaker 1: that used to pee on his hands to avoid Callous's 470 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 1: There was a Cubs player like yeah, but I know 471 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 1: I've seen that they have a patented top secret like 472 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 1: the one of the Coca Cola, and then the football 473 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:50,399 Speaker 1: is treated. But you do treat the ball, you do, 474 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 1: and you sat out of the box. It's not out 475 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: of the box. I've seen different stages of it, Like 476 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: I know, I know they put the balls in the 477 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:58,880 Speaker 1: the sauna for like a couple of minutes that they're 478 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 1: allowing to do something about that allows them to treat 479 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:03,920 Speaker 1: the ball. They did. Every team get to use their 480 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:06,160 Speaker 1: own ball, Like when when you come out on offense, 481 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:08,119 Speaker 1: we go get the box, we go open the crate 482 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,119 Speaker 1: of your opponents balls. Everyone brings their own ball on 483 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,440 Speaker 1: the field as long as it's the approved ball. Yes, 484 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:15,159 Speaker 1: and and for what I understand, it used to not 485 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:16,639 Speaker 1: be that way. It used to be like there's a 486 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 1: certain you know, all the balls for Dame Day were 487 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 1: open an hour before and each team use the same ball. 488 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 1: But I think, uh, I think Peyton and and Tom 489 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: Brady sort of this was before my time. I was 490 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:29,359 Speaker 1: let it, let a coalition against that and got it 491 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: change where teams can use you know, what about the 492 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 1: inflation level of the ball. Does the ball have to 493 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 1: be inflated to a certain pount. I think it does, 494 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 1: and referees check it and they mark the balls off 495 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:39,399 Speaker 1: before the balls that we approved in one way, but 496 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: you're allowed to treat the exterior of the ball. That's amazing. 497 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 1: So when you're there and you're throwing the ball, is 498 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: it completely unconscious when you throw the ball and you 499 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: think you're ineffective. Do you sometimes say to yourself, even 500 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 1: at the pro level, that you've got to go back 501 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:56,640 Speaker 1: to a basic You gotta remember you're bringing the ball 502 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: in behind your ear. What are you gonna do? What's 503 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:01,399 Speaker 1: the firing sequence in your mind of throwing a pass? 504 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: I think you don't want to think about you know, 505 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:06,880 Speaker 1: you don't, And that's what I shouldn't say. Ever, when 506 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:08,879 Speaker 1: when you if you if you're going on a string 507 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:11,120 Speaker 1: and balls are dying on you and you see why 508 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: what if you're having a shitty day and you're not 509 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 1: throwing the ball? But yeah, and I think that that's 510 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: when you when you when you maybe not during the day, 511 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 1: you have the refresh button, you look at the film 512 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 1: and you say, what am I doing different than than 513 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:23,520 Speaker 1: than you see? Sometimes you did? Yeah, I think you 514 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: do differently. I think I look, you know, you're dropping 515 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:28,440 Speaker 1: the ball too low. It's and it's elong dating your 516 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 1: whole wind up. You know, it's almost like a picture 517 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: now instead of a quarterback, you know, instead of throwing 518 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: a football. And that's what's causing you to be late 519 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:38,359 Speaker 1: on all your routes. You know, makes you know so 520 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 1: so that that we can practice you're gonna work on 521 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:43,160 Speaker 1: keeping that ball, you know, higher and and and maybe 522 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:46,920 Speaker 1: shortening that that motion. Uh So I think it's you're 523 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 1: still tweak it every now and then if if it's 524 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:51,920 Speaker 1: not working out, if you feel like, you know, it's 525 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:56,560 Speaker 1: inhibiting you from being better. Um. For fans like myself, 526 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 1: when we watch you play pro football and you're doing 527 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: your job and you're just and that ball out there, 528 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 1: you're you're you're you're hitting that ball first downs, whatever, 529 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:07,119 Speaker 1: and the other guy drops the ball. Did he come 530 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,359 Speaker 1: back and apologize to you every now and then? Different 531 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:14,399 Speaker 1: guys are different. Uh you know, I I probably apologize 532 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 1: too much for throwing interceptions to the guys on the 533 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: line because I know they get fed up when they're 534 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: blocking their butts off against some werewolf of a defensive 535 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 1: end and they're doing a great job. I know, yeah, 536 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:28,560 Speaker 1: their quarterback throws an interception, Good job, QB. But you know, 537 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:30,920 Speaker 1: some guys apologize, some guys don't. It's just the nature 538 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 1: of the game that we're humans. You know, human errors occur. 539 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:39,200 Speaker 1: Being only human did not get in the way of 540 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:44,119 Speaker 1: Andrew lux record breaking first NFL season. My next guest 541 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 1: also had an extraordinary first season, twenty nine years ago. 542 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: Dwight Gooden is known to baseball fans as the once 543 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 1: brilliant nineteen year old pitching phenom from Tampa, Florida. He 544 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 1: had a blinding fastball and a notoriously deceptive curve ball. 545 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:03,200 Speaker 1: Those two pitches earned him the Rookie of the Year 546 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 1: award in four In five, he won the Cy Young 547 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:11,159 Speaker 1: as best pitcher in the National League. In eight six, 548 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 1: he led the Mets to one of their best seasons ever, 549 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 1: ending with the World Series championship. Gooden still had some 550 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:25,480 Speaker 1: winning seasons after that, but nothing matched those first three years. Instead, 551 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 1: his public battles with alcohol and cocaine became the dominant 552 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:32,359 Speaker 1: story of his career, leading sports historians to write about 553 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 1: what might have been rather than what was. At the 554 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:38,920 Speaker 1: very least, Dwight Gooden's addiction ruined what should have been 555 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,439 Speaker 1: the greatest day of his life, the eight six World 556 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 1: Series win. After the game was over, I'm celebrating the 557 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,040 Speaker 1: clubhouse with my teammates. Then i going to bike in 558 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 1: a trainer's room. I called my dad. We talked about 559 00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 1: the game, and he's happy and with celebrating. And then 560 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:55,639 Speaker 1: a night call went right to my friend who know 561 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:57,520 Speaker 1: the diller when my friend was the go to guy, 562 00:26:57,600 --> 00:26:59,480 Speaker 1: told him I was coming by the later and my 563 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:02,119 Speaker 1: goal was to go by there, get some drugs, and 564 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:04,639 Speaker 1: meet my teammates at local bar after that. But unfortunately, 565 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 1: you know what happened. Don't don't allow that, right, So 566 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 1: your friend, a friend that you knew, called the dealer 567 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:11,919 Speaker 1: for you to tee up the ball for you to 568 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:15,119 Speaker 1: go score. Well, what it was is, um, I wanted 569 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:18,320 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff. I wanted to party and celebrate. Unfortunately, 570 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:20,600 Speaker 1: go to the house and projects in Long Island with 571 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:23,119 Speaker 1: the dealer, with the dealer, so I'm in there, what 572 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 1: about ten people I probably know too. That's a friend 573 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:28,879 Speaker 1: from Tampa and the dealer. So We're sitting there partying 574 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,199 Speaker 1: and having good time. And now I'm thinking I'll be 575 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 1: here for maybe an hour of them and cut out. 576 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 1: But once those rails hit the mirror, Yeah, once your started, Yeah, 577 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 1: that was always my track record, and I'm just gonna 578 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:41,680 Speaker 1: do a little bit. Then three days later you're doing 579 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 1: the same thing. Dwight Gooden has been sober since two 580 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:47,679 Speaker 1: thousand and eleven, when he went on celebrity rehab, and 581 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:51,440 Speaker 1: earlier this year he published a deeply personal book entitled 582 00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 1: doc a memoir, which chronicles everything from his complicated relationship 583 00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:58,679 Speaker 1: with his father to his success on the field, to 584 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 1: his drug abuse and the toll it took on him. 585 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:06,439 Speaker 1: You come from an error when uh, drugs predominate as 586 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: much as alcohol or alcohol is one drug on a 587 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:12,600 Speaker 1: menu of drugs, because alcohol certainly is a drug. As 588 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 1: you would you acknowledge that, yes, alcohol is definite drug. 589 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:18,160 Speaker 1: And the error I was in what like you said 590 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 1: before me, was heavy drinking, you know in the seventies 591 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 1: what have you, and probably pot from right here my 592 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:28,119 Speaker 1: errors basically, you know, cocaine and drinking. The alcohol is 593 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 1: available and every club house you go to, whether it's 594 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 1: on the road or at home, and even at home. 595 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:34,639 Speaker 1: And when you say alcohol was available, what was the 596 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:36,879 Speaker 1: kind of culture of that meaning when the game was 597 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:41,520 Speaker 1: over all professional ball players and management and coaching kind 598 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 1: of acknowledged that when the game is over, we we 599 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 1: we gave it our best for Pro Bowl players and 600 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: we've earned a drink and everybody has a drink. So 601 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 1: they had a full bar there. Yeah, pretty much it 602 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:50,360 Speaker 1: as normal like you go into the lounge where you 603 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 1: have the food, you have the water, and drinks, and 604 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 1: you got the beer and then the private stats and 605 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:56,480 Speaker 1: the bike with the hard stuff, especially like at the 606 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:58,200 Speaker 1: day game, was staying because you want to way to 607 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 1: put the traffic that down and we just sit around 608 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,240 Speaker 1: talking baseball, talking about the games, and just drinking. You 609 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:06,000 Speaker 1: started your professional career when you were how old my 610 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:10,360 Speaker 1: professional drafted at seventeen, played a year in the half 611 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 1: in the monitors. It's amazing at nineteen. And what was 612 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 1: amazing was at the game. If we're on the road, 613 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:18,000 Speaker 1: there was always one of the veteran players say, Doc, 614 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 1: you pitching tomorrow. If I said no, it's okay, you're 615 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 1: out with us. And I remembers one time I did 616 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:25,520 Speaker 1: a commercial Pepsi commercial with Catfish Hunter and when Chicago 617 00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 1: at the day game, we go to this bar and 618 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 1: the commercial comes on and the bartower look at commercially 619 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:32,280 Speaker 1: looking at me looking at the commercial. I think it goes. 620 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:33,960 Speaker 1: I don't think you don't have to be in here, 621 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 1: you know, so you could hang around here, but I 622 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 1: can't start any more. Ohol, what are the traps of famous? 623 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:42,600 Speaker 1: Everybody knows who you are, and then they know who 624 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:44,880 Speaker 1: you are in every level, But so how many games 625 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 1: did you pitch the first season when you win the 626 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 1: first season, I think I had about thirty two starts. 627 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 1: You had thirty two starts. Yes, so they were all 628 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:54,080 Speaker 1: in on you. They wanted you. It was there, Yes, definitely, 629 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:55,520 Speaker 1: you were. You were in the rotation. Yeah, I was 630 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:58,240 Speaker 1: in the rotation. I got a seventeen wins, seventeen and nine, 631 00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:00,760 Speaker 1: made the All Star team my first year, led the 632 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 1: league in strikeouts, and it was amazing because, as you mentioned, 633 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:06,080 Speaker 1: when when I first got there, it wasn't too much 634 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:08,160 Speaker 1: of expectations. But after the All Star break, there was 635 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:10,200 Speaker 1: a lot of expectations. It was more seats, I mean 636 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 1: more fans in the seats two days I would pitch. 637 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 1: It was more media. Did you feel How did you 638 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:16,640 Speaker 1: feel at that time? I felt great, you know, because 639 00:30:16,680 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 1: I felt get you high. It did, and then when 640 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:22,160 Speaker 1: you're off, you want to maintain that high. How do 641 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:25,200 Speaker 1: you do that? Well? My first year, it was definitely 642 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:27,400 Speaker 1: a drawing rush. Having all the fans they're teering for you, 643 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:29,240 Speaker 1: and you're striking out that you're winning, and you're winning. 644 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 1: It was no better feeling than that pitch against a 645 00:30:31,360 --> 00:30:33,760 Speaker 1: lot of guys you analyzed just a year prior to that, 646 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:36,880 Speaker 1: and then in the next year, I have an even 647 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,760 Speaker 1: better year. I have a career year, and you know, 648 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 1: do you go out there, it's almost like, be did 649 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 1: you do differently? The second year, We're just more confident. 650 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 1: It was more confident reed, more like I had another 651 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 1: year experience on my belt. And Garrett Carter came over 652 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 1: that year. He was the all star catcher for me, 653 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:54,120 Speaker 1: which is a big plus for me. What did Carter 654 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 1: bring for you as a catcher that helped you? I 655 00:30:56,800 --> 00:30:58,880 Speaker 1: think the way he communicated with me, he didn't want 656 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:01,560 Speaker 1: to just win. He want to dominate and me even 657 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:03,120 Speaker 1: though I wanted to dominate. But like say, if I 658 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 1: was winning a game to nothing and then or fifteen 659 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:08,280 Speaker 1: nothing and I started just messing around with pitches, he 660 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 1: will come out there and get in my face that 661 00:31:09,840 --> 00:31:12,480 Speaker 1: you know I don't like. No, let's just stick these guys. 662 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:15,120 Speaker 1: Think what you know, Let's totally dominate these guys. So 663 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:18,920 Speaker 1: when you're facing a batter, have you pre assessed before 664 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 1: a game every single battery you're gonna face in that game? 665 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 1: You know what I used to do. Um, We'll have 666 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:24,560 Speaker 1: the scouting reports saying it like the way to pace 667 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:27,080 Speaker 1: certain guys, but they was I only had two pitches, 668 00:31:27,160 --> 00:31:29,200 Speaker 1: fastball and curbs. A lot of times they're like, this 669 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:31,240 Speaker 1: guy is a great fastball hitter and came through the 670 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 1: guy curball for strikes, and I'm thinking, why shouldn't be pitching. 671 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:36,440 Speaker 1: I'm done, you know, but basically always pitched to my 672 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:38,960 Speaker 1: strength and make the hitter suggests. So if you have 673 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 1: I'm not a baseball player. I love going to the 674 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 1: to the ball game. I love watching a baseball game live. 675 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 1: It's a great treat. So you're standing there and you're 676 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:48,920 Speaker 1: at the top of your game, and you look at 677 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:51,040 Speaker 1: in your mind that imaginary strikes on the knees to 678 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 1: the shoulders. You've got the home plate there in those 679 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:57,760 Speaker 1: four corners high and tight, high and outside, low and 680 00:31:57,800 --> 00:31:59,960 Speaker 1: tight low and outside. Could you basically throw the ball 681 00:32:00,040 --> 00:32:01,760 Speaker 1: the festival anywhere you want. You can make it go 682 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:05,080 Speaker 1: where you wanted to go. Five without doubt. Five, it 683 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:09,160 Speaker 1: was like from the first game to the last, your 684 00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:11,000 Speaker 1: spot I was just right there, and they have to 685 00:32:11,040 --> 00:32:14,959 Speaker 1: think about it. Everything just came and basically go right there. 686 00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:20,080 Speaker 1: I would saying I wasn't even where from to ninety 687 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:23,360 Speaker 1: who's the fastest picture in baseball that you know right now, 688 00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 1: who who was over the time was any time? Who's 689 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:27,960 Speaker 1: been the fastest? I think Nolan Ryan. What do you 690 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 1: supposedly they say topped out of one on three. Now 691 00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:33,400 Speaker 1: you see these guys still on a hundred ninety nine. 692 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:35,600 Speaker 1: But also you have to remember all the new stadium, 693 00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 1: they got the radar guns, and there they turned out 694 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:40,120 Speaker 1: like three or four miles hour faster. It just for 695 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 1: the fans, and unfortunately found out the hard way. I 696 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:45,880 Speaker 1: went to Cleveland towards the end of my career. The 697 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:48,880 Speaker 1: clock's got me at ninety seven. I'm thinking, wow, my fastballs, 698 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:52,200 Speaker 1: I'm back. Unfortunately three Did I have a breakfast? Did 699 00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:55,040 Speaker 1: they write it down to fortune? Three innutes later? You 700 00:32:55,040 --> 00:32:57,080 Speaker 1: know I have given him seven runs, four home runs, 701 00:32:57,560 --> 00:32:59,800 Speaker 1: who knows how many hits? So now I get knocked 702 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:01,800 Speaker 1: out of game. I going room with the guy that 703 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:05,760 Speaker 1: keeps the video, and then I see like eight, seven, 704 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:09,120 Speaker 1: eighty nine, and actually, what is the numbers here? Is 705 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:11,160 Speaker 1: that's your philosophy? I say, out there, have me throwing 706 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:13,120 Speaker 1: ninety seven? He said no, No No, I was turned up 707 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:14,640 Speaker 1: for the fans. So I found out the heart weight. 708 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:16,800 Speaker 1: A little bit of show business, Yeah, so now when 709 00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:20,400 Speaker 1: you see all of these guys throwing in the comedy, 710 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:22,840 Speaker 1: that was the feeling. Give me an example of a 711 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:25,320 Speaker 1: batter that always vexed you, that really just drove you crazy. 712 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 1: Chili David's hands down when he was with the SEC 713 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:30,040 Speaker 1: Giant sells the mens. Yeah, it didn't matter if I 714 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:31,440 Speaker 1: was on top of my game or not. He would 715 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:34,000 Speaker 1: get hits off me. And what do you attribute that too? 716 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:36,000 Speaker 1: I think it was the way you're both built. I 717 00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:38,040 Speaker 1: think he was built to hit your ball. Yeah, I 718 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:40,640 Speaker 1: think the way he was he wasn't like um intimidated 719 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:42,000 Speaker 1: by because a couple of times I threw in his 720 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:44,120 Speaker 1: head to try to terminate him. It didn't matter. He 721 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:45,960 Speaker 1: just was staying. If I didn't have my good stuff, 722 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:47,600 Speaker 1: he was hitting home runs. If I had good stuff, 723 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: he was getting basis. So when you go high and type, 724 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 1: you do it to intimidate them. Most time, it's just 725 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:53,360 Speaker 1: you're not doing brush them back right. You don't want 726 00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:54,920 Speaker 1: to hurt nobody or hit him in the head, but 727 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:57,480 Speaker 1: just trying to think, to start thinking and keep them 728 00:33:57,480 --> 00:34:00,320 Speaker 1: for getting comfortable. But Chilian didn't phase him. And is 729 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:03,240 Speaker 1: weird because some hitters, when you talk to him some pitches, 730 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:05,120 Speaker 1: they just see the ball a lot better than other 731 00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:07,800 Speaker 1: pitches because it's like our number five starter, so he 732 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:09,759 Speaker 1: couldn't get a hit off from him. But I'm like 733 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:11,759 Speaker 1: the number one starter and he's just wearing me out. 734 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:14,520 Speaker 1: How old are you now? Now I'm forty forty and 735 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:18,400 Speaker 1: I'm fifty five, And now for you, I wonder have 736 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:20,520 Speaker 1: you been able to kind of revisit because you talk 737 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:24,840 Speaker 1: about your childhood and you talk about the contradiction, and 738 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 1: you don't necessarily use that word I was. I read 739 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:29,600 Speaker 1: it very carefully when you talked about, you know, the 740 00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:33,200 Speaker 1: kind of craziness in your household. Your uncle shot your 741 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:35,800 Speaker 1: aunt in front of you. Was my it was you. 742 00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:38,799 Speaker 1: It was your brother in law. You call him uncle W, 743 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:41,360 Speaker 1: uncle GW. But he wasn't really your uncle. He was 744 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:43,920 Speaker 1: your brother from your much older sister. So you were 745 00:34:43,960 --> 00:34:45,920 Speaker 1: six years old and your sister was twenty years old. 746 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:48,160 Speaker 1: It was like a fourteen more difference, if I correct. 747 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 1: So you're you're in that scenario and this guy shoots 748 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:53,840 Speaker 1: your sister in the head right in front of you. 749 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:55,680 Speaker 1: You grabbed that baby and run into the bathroom, and 750 00:34:55,719 --> 00:34:59,200 Speaker 1: you lock yourself in the bathroom and I'm wondering. You 751 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:03,040 Speaker 1: talk about how much your dad cared about you, and 752 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:06,040 Speaker 1: how much your mom thought to hold onto your dad 753 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:08,319 Speaker 1: and put up with a lot of ship from him, 754 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:11,480 Speaker 1: and you watched all this, and you talk about the 755 00:35:11,560 --> 00:35:14,400 Speaker 1: love you God and the support you got. But it 756 00:35:14,440 --> 00:35:18,279 Speaker 1: sounds like your family like much of my family. There's 757 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:20,439 Speaker 1: love and supporting a lot of good things, but there's 758 00:35:20,440 --> 00:35:23,120 Speaker 1: a lot of nuttiness going on as well. And did 759 00:35:23,160 --> 00:35:25,400 Speaker 1: you feel that that's what you needed to medicate yourself 760 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:29,279 Speaker 1: against sex, drugs, alcohol, all these things? Can you put 761 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:31,440 Speaker 1: your finger on why were you doing those things? Was 762 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:34,040 Speaker 1: it just boredom? No? I think the situation of early 763 00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:36,080 Speaker 1: on him. In my career, it was boredom. Like when 764 00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:39,280 Speaker 1: I would come home. I will come home from playing 765 00:35:39,560 --> 00:35:42,040 Speaker 1: my season. Most of my friends were still in school 766 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:44,879 Speaker 1: while I was working, so the boredom was there while 767 00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:46,799 Speaker 1: I just ride around, you know, drinking in a car, 768 00:35:47,040 --> 00:35:49,719 Speaker 1: trying to pick up women, the ones that wasn't working 769 00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:51,760 Speaker 1: in school, or just hang on the stress. Three corners 770 00:35:51,800 --> 00:35:53,239 Speaker 1: hanging out And you came down there with a pocket 771 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 1: full of money, right, so we'll hang out. Everything was 772 00:35:55,080 --> 00:36:00,239 Speaker 1: on dwight. Yes, everything, So then like after the seasons 773 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:02,640 Speaker 1: I started doing drugs in New York. For the first time, 774 00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:05,480 Speaker 1: it was more of the proper pressure. It was more 775 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:08,720 Speaker 1: of the media pressure and me putting pressure on myself. 776 00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:11,719 Speaker 1: For example, everything was compared to a D five. If 777 00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:14,440 Speaker 1: I won a game three nothing complete game, shout out. 778 00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:16,520 Speaker 1: But if I only had, you know, five strikeouts, the 779 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:18,719 Speaker 1: first question would be happy you don't have five striks. 780 00:36:18,840 --> 00:36:21,359 Speaker 1: They're picking you apart. So that's when I started medicating myself. 781 00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:24,759 Speaker 1: Then it became pretty meditated, where every game I pitch, 782 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:26,239 Speaker 1: I think game I was gonna get high. I was 783 00:36:26,239 --> 00:36:28,600 Speaker 1: needing gonna get high to celebrate the win. Alls dinna 784 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:30,400 Speaker 1: get high because I didn't pitch that well, to forget 785 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:32,680 Speaker 1: about the game, to put the loss behind you, right. 786 00:36:32,719 --> 00:36:34,839 Speaker 1: And then like as you mentioned earlier about me um 787 00:36:35,080 --> 00:36:37,840 Speaker 1: with my sister being shot. She got shot six times 788 00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:39,440 Speaker 1: and at one time she got shot in the head. 789 00:36:39,880 --> 00:36:41,480 Speaker 1: The but is still actually in their head, which you 790 00:36:41,480 --> 00:36:43,560 Speaker 1: have seizures from it. Like grabbed my nephew and went 791 00:36:43,600 --> 00:36:46,120 Speaker 1: in the bathroom and got into a pull current thing, 792 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:48,560 Speaker 1: thinking he's gonna come in and get us neakes. The 793 00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:51,040 Speaker 1: thing that was weird. I didn't find out until basically 794 00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:54,759 Speaker 1: two thousand eleven. I was my last treatment. Every time 795 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:56,920 Speaker 1: I would get high, I always go to the bathroom, 796 00:36:56,960 --> 00:36:59,040 Speaker 1: whether I was home by myself, whether it's a restaurant, 797 00:36:59,080 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 1: whether it's whatever. That's what I'm talking about, to baths, 798 00:37:01,600 --> 00:37:03,680 Speaker 1: ghosts and these echoes of what were up with. Definitely, 799 00:37:03,719 --> 00:37:05,120 Speaker 1: so I totally relate to that. And I was going 800 00:37:05,160 --> 00:37:06,640 Speaker 1: to bath and it was pointed to me that I 801 00:37:06,680 --> 00:37:08,960 Speaker 1: never realized that I put it together. You know, for me, 802 00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:12,680 Speaker 1: I remember when I started to work. Oddly, when I 803 00:37:12,719 --> 00:37:15,240 Speaker 1: was thinking about your life and your book. It's similar 804 00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:17,360 Speaker 1: because I did a daytime TV show, was soap opera 805 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:18,640 Speaker 1: here in New York for a couple of years, and 806 00:37:18,680 --> 00:37:21,120 Speaker 1: I went to l A and you gelt called up 807 00:37:21,120 --> 00:37:23,920 Speaker 1: into the big leagues, so to speak, and then you 808 00:37:23,920 --> 00:37:26,319 Speaker 1: start to make big league money. I mean, you and 809 00:37:26,360 --> 00:37:28,359 Speaker 1: I have more in common than I thought, because as 810 00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:30,319 Speaker 1: I was reading the book, I realized that then I 811 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:32,560 Speaker 1: got called up to do other things and I started 812 00:37:32,560 --> 00:37:34,960 Speaker 1: to make more money. And you know, when I was 813 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:37,080 Speaker 1: focused on that work, I mean the high that I 814 00:37:37,239 --> 00:37:39,680 Speaker 1: I got high from the work, and when I would 815 00:37:39,719 --> 00:37:42,120 Speaker 1: go home, there was this lull, you know. I mean, 816 00:37:42,120 --> 00:37:45,120 Speaker 1: like my adrenaline. I was. I was. I was high 817 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:49,080 Speaker 1: all day from the energy of being a young working actor. 818 00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:51,520 Speaker 1: I went from one studio to the next audition for 819 00:37:51,560 --> 00:37:55,520 Speaker 1: this movie. I get a part in three to five. 820 00:37:56,719 --> 00:38:00,480 Speaker 1: That period was my white hot period because I'm in 821 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:03,640 Speaker 1: l A. My dad died. My dad died of cancer. 822 00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:06,920 Speaker 1: He was fifty five years old. April three, and I'm 823 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:08,880 Speaker 1: out there and I'm booked. Man, I'm I signed deals. 824 00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:11,200 Speaker 1: I mean, I can't come back. I go to work, 825 00:38:11,280 --> 00:38:13,920 Speaker 1: and when I were left work, I felt this tremendous 826 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:16,000 Speaker 1: kind of depression, like this kind of low, like I 827 00:38:16,040 --> 00:38:19,439 Speaker 1: had to go do something else to get high. Did 828 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:21,319 Speaker 1: you feel that one? I had the same thing. My 829 00:38:21,360 --> 00:38:23,800 Speaker 1: problem is trying to feel that void like you're talking about. 830 00:38:24,239 --> 00:38:26,840 Speaker 1: A lot of times, the downtime of being bored is 831 00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:29,239 Speaker 1: a dangerous spot for me to be in because I've 832 00:38:29,239 --> 00:38:31,920 Speaker 1: never had a hobby. When baseball season be over, now 833 00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:34,399 Speaker 1: you come home to Tampa. You know, it's not like 834 00:38:34,480 --> 00:38:35,960 Speaker 1: in New York. You can go to concerts, you go 835 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:38,040 Speaker 1: to plays, you can go to movies and stuff to 836 00:38:38,040 --> 00:38:40,560 Speaker 1: do with Tampa's total opously just come down and there's 837 00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:42,879 Speaker 1: nothing going on. So I totally relate what you said. 838 00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:45,120 Speaker 1: I would feel that time. We weren't taking photography classes 839 00:38:45,160 --> 00:38:49,120 Speaker 1: down to Tampa at the Tampa Institute of Photography. So 840 00:38:49,160 --> 00:38:50,680 Speaker 1: you come home, you got all this time. You got 841 00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:53,640 Speaker 1: six months of um all season. Four months before you 842 00:38:53,680 --> 00:38:57,080 Speaker 1: started training, I started hanging out at clubs, norm more drugs, 843 00:38:57,280 --> 00:38:59,480 Speaker 1: you know, just basically trying to fill that voard and 844 00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:03,600 Speaker 1: not No, are you thinking this is fun? Looking my dad, 845 00:39:03,640 --> 00:39:05,920 Speaker 1: it wasn't fun. It caused more trouble than anything. Did 846 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:08,520 Speaker 1: Money caused your trouble to money calls me trouble too. 847 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:10,319 Speaker 1: I was saying, how much money did you make your 848 00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:12,120 Speaker 1: first I mean, this is all public record. How much 849 00:39:12,160 --> 00:39:16,359 Speaker 1: money did you make your first season throwing in professional base? 850 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:18,200 Speaker 1: But not not the Triple A, not not the farm 851 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:22,320 Speaker 1: I first got drafted, when you first got driving the 852 00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:24,640 Speaker 1: first thing? For how long did that last? How many years? 853 00:39:24,719 --> 00:39:26,400 Speaker 1: For a year and a half, because then I was 854 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:27,920 Speaker 1: in the major's right then he went to the majors. 855 00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:29,520 Speaker 1: How much did they pay my rookie year? I think 856 00:39:29,520 --> 00:39:31,480 Speaker 1: the minimum at that time was sixty thousand. But my 857 00:39:31,560 --> 00:39:33,640 Speaker 1: rookie year was out to also bring I mean, more 858 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:35,920 Speaker 1: money off the field than I did my contry. How 859 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:37,839 Speaker 1: much your money did you make off the field that year? 860 00:39:37,840 --> 00:39:40,240 Speaker 1: I probably made about one point five when they busted 861 00:39:40,760 --> 00:39:42,719 Speaker 1: the minimum that was in the sixty When did they 862 00:39:42,719 --> 00:39:44,799 Speaker 1: we negotiate your contract with the Mets. Well, I didn't 863 00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:47,520 Speaker 1: get a long term deal to at that point. I 864 00:39:47,520 --> 00:39:49,360 Speaker 1: got like I think it was five point five million 865 00:39:49,440 --> 00:39:51,200 Speaker 1: for three years, and at that point is the highest 866 00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:57,279 Speaker 1: paid player at that time. Dwight Gooden also earned a 867 00:39:57,320 --> 00:40:00,680 Speaker 1: one foot mural in Manhattan which depicts did the ace 868 00:40:01,080 --> 00:40:05,080 Speaker 1: mid pitch, arms outstretched just about to launch a fastball. 869 00:40:05,600 --> 00:40:08,960 Speaker 1: The giant image of Gooden looked down onto Times Square 870 00:40:09,280 --> 00:40:14,239 Speaker 1: for ten years. In a moment, Doc Gooden gets questionable 871 00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:17,920 Speaker 1: advice from a doctor and takes it. This is Alec Baldwin. 872 00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:30,919 Speaker 1: I'm Alec Baldwin, and you're listening to here's the thing. 873 00:40:31,600 --> 00:40:35,160 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball was hardly immune to the cultural excesses 874 00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:38,000 Speaker 1: of the nineteen eighties and the eighties. Six Mets were 875 00:40:38,040 --> 00:40:41,960 Speaker 1: known as a hard partying team. Even so, Dwight Gooden 876 00:40:42,080 --> 00:40:44,919 Speaker 1: was able to set limits in a sense, I went 877 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:49,080 Speaker 1: from seven to ninety four. We're just drinking. How it 878 00:40:49,160 --> 00:40:51,560 Speaker 1: did that? I have no idea without using I think 879 00:40:51,640 --> 00:40:53,000 Speaker 1: part of me will help me do that because I 880 00:40:53,040 --> 00:40:55,279 Speaker 1: was being tested right, and so to talk about what 881 00:40:55,360 --> 00:40:57,040 Speaker 1: it was like back in the test policy, how did 882 00:40:57,040 --> 00:40:59,960 Speaker 1: that work? The test policy was once you test poli 883 00:41:00,120 --> 00:41:01,560 Speaker 1: something or if you're get in trouble some kind of 884 00:41:01,719 --> 00:41:03,719 Speaker 1: with alcohol or drugs, and you did, then you get 885 00:41:03,719 --> 00:41:05,719 Speaker 1: into the just testing programs. How do they know you 886 00:41:05,760 --> 00:41:07,480 Speaker 1: were in trouble with drugs and alcohol? Why I went 887 00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:11,000 Speaker 1: to rehab? And eighty seven describe that what happened obviously 888 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:14,000 Speaker 1: in eight six missing the parade and I go to 889 00:41:14,000 --> 00:41:18,680 Speaker 1: spring train. I'm doing coke, you know, not obviously doing 890 00:41:18,680 --> 00:41:20,279 Speaker 1: the games, but I'm doing coke. Like I said, that 891 00:41:20,440 --> 00:41:22,240 Speaker 1: night in spring training, you have to be the ballpark 892 00:41:22,360 --> 00:41:24,399 Speaker 1: really early, so I did. I'm coming in there. I'm 893 00:41:24,400 --> 00:41:26,399 Speaker 1: sure it looked like I've been up, you know, all day, 894 00:41:26,520 --> 00:41:29,160 Speaker 1: all night. So then they called me in and say, 895 00:41:29,719 --> 00:41:31,719 Speaker 1: you know, well these rooms going, let's put the rooms risk. 896 00:41:31,800 --> 00:41:33,960 Speaker 1: Can we test you? So sure you can test me 897 00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:36,360 Speaker 1: because I know I hadn't did anything the night before, 898 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:39,640 Speaker 1: so obviously the tests come like positive. So they get 899 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:42,399 Speaker 1: my option. They say you go to rehab and we'll 900 00:41:42,400 --> 00:41:46,120 Speaker 1: continue paying your salary or because suspending without pay, so 901 00:41:46,160 --> 00:41:47,640 Speaker 1: I was easy. So I say, I'll go to rehab 902 00:41:47,640 --> 00:41:49,880 Speaker 1: so I can continue being paid, even though still at 903 00:41:49,880 --> 00:41:52,319 Speaker 1: that time I man treatment, but I'm still thinking I 904 00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:54,440 Speaker 1: don't have a problem, so I'll just marking days off 905 00:41:54,440 --> 00:41:57,000 Speaker 1: the calendar to the third days was up. Get out 906 00:41:57,000 --> 00:41:59,880 Speaker 1: of rehab. Now I'm bike working out with the money teams. 907 00:41:59,880 --> 00:42:03,200 Speaker 1: And then when get on the plane to join the team, 908 00:42:03,239 --> 00:42:06,480 Speaker 1: right back to drinking. So from ninety four I didn't 909 00:42:06,520 --> 00:42:08,840 Speaker 1: I didn't use the drugs, but I was still drinking. 910 00:42:09,239 --> 00:42:12,560 Speaker 1: So testing kind of scared you. Tests scared me, and 911 00:42:12,600 --> 00:42:15,560 Speaker 1: plus it helped me for a little bit of a a 912 00:42:15,600 --> 00:42:18,320 Speaker 1: period of time, but it's just amount of time I 913 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:20,000 Speaker 1: was gonna go back because I was still drinking. And 914 00:42:20,040 --> 00:42:23,600 Speaker 1: so when so when testing helped to keep you in line, 915 00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:27,040 Speaker 1: and then after ninety four, didn't write where were you 916 00:42:27,120 --> 00:42:30,759 Speaker 1: that season? What happened was ninety four the situation where 917 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:33,080 Speaker 1: like I said, it was already premeditated that I was 918 00:42:33,080 --> 00:42:37,239 Speaker 1: definitely used again given opportunity. So ninety four, the first 919 00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:39,160 Speaker 1: game of the season, I break my toe, so I 920 00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:42,320 Speaker 1: get put on the deal. So now I'm rehabing, getting 921 00:42:42,320 --> 00:42:43,880 Speaker 1: back in shape. And so when Do's given a clearance. 922 00:42:43,920 --> 00:42:45,879 Speaker 1: The sort of planning. I go down to the mono 923 00:42:45,920 --> 00:42:47,919 Speaker 1: leagues just to get some in and in and build 924 00:42:47,920 --> 00:42:50,560 Speaker 1: my own scrint up. And the right away the disease 925 00:42:50,600 --> 00:42:52,560 Speaker 1: tell me, hey, they're not testing you down here. I 926 00:42:52,560 --> 00:42:55,360 Speaker 1: can get high while I'm down here, I've relapsed. And 927 00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:58,440 Speaker 1: now when I joined the team in Cincinnati, there's a 928 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:01,560 Speaker 1: guy from any Baseball waiting to test me. He tested me, obviously, 929 00:43:01,600 --> 00:43:05,839 Speaker 1: it's positive, gets suspended. Then I go to our Betty Ford. 930 00:43:06,840 --> 00:43:08,440 Speaker 1: I get out of there. So they wanted me to 931 00:43:08,600 --> 00:43:11,040 Speaker 1: come back to New York to the Major League Baseball doctors. 932 00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:13,880 Speaker 1: Before I went to Tampa. All I had to hear 933 00:43:13,960 --> 00:43:16,560 Speaker 1: was the one doctor says, why don't you just drink? 934 00:43:16,680 --> 00:43:19,600 Speaker 1: I don't do drugs. So as he said that, I'm thinking, 935 00:43:19,680 --> 00:43:21,560 Speaker 1: even though even though I know I shouldn't have been 936 00:43:21,680 --> 00:43:23,880 Speaker 1: two treatments at that time, and I know I can't drink. 937 00:43:24,360 --> 00:43:26,440 Speaker 1: So I said, wow, maybe I could do it different 938 00:43:26,440 --> 00:43:28,239 Speaker 1: this time. And now I'm gonna plane and fly home 939 00:43:28,280 --> 00:43:30,399 Speaker 1: to Tampa to see my family. I'm drinking the plane 940 00:43:30,400 --> 00:43:32,000 Speaker 1: I got to that plane, I don't see my family 941 00:43:32,040 --> 00:43:34,560 Speaker 1: for three days. You pick up right where you left off. 942 00:43:34,600 --> 00:43:37,200 Speaker 1: Definitely definitely pick up right. What is what they say 943 00:43:37,480 --> 00:43:40,920 Speaker 1: for me? I when I got sober, when I stopped 944 00:43:40,960 --> 00:43:42,960 Speaker 1: drinking and I stopped taking drugs, which was many years 945 00:43:43,000 --> 00:43:45,839 Speaker 1: ago when I was very young, it changed a lot 946 00:43:45,880 --> 00:43:47,799 Speaker 1: of things from me. I made. It really changed my 947 00:43:47,800 --> 00:43:50,239 Speaker 1: attitude work to what I do for a living. I 948 00:43:50,320 --> 00:43:52,560 Speaker 1: began to see the potential. And I don't want to 949 00:43:52,560 --> 00:43:56,200 Speaker 1: say that it made me overwhelmingly cynical. That may be 950 00:43:56,239 --> 00:44:00,840 Speaker 1: true or less, but it definitely made me more thoughtful, 951 00:44:01,480 --> 00:44:04,400 Speaker 1: and it made me more aware of where there was 952 00:44:04,440 --> 00:44:07,120 Speaker 1: the unhealthiness and a lot of things we do relationships 953 00:44:07,120 --> 00:44:09,400 Speaker 1: with people. You know what what was a healthy relationship? 954 00:44:09,560 --> 00:44:12,560 Speaker 1: What was a healthy relationship with my family? And what 955 00:44:12,640 --> 00:44:15,400 Speaker 1: was your relationship like with your parents? Uh, now that 956 00:44:15,480 --> 00:44:19,160 Speaker 1: you're rich and famous and honored and you have all 957 00:44:19,200 --> 00:44:22,520 Speaker 1: these awards and you're coming apart my mom she didn't 958 00:44:22,560 --> 00:44:25,479 Speaker 1: care about that fame. And still they see she can 959 00:44:25,680 --> 00:44:27,439 Speaker 1: come and see you. Did you spend time? She would 960 00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:29,040 Speaker 1: come up like during the season and see me. But 961 00:44:29,080 --> 00:44:31,520 Speaker 1: she whenn't. She maybe came to maybe two games. She 962 00:44:31,560 --> 00:44:34,200 Speaker 1: came to one in Houston, my very first start. She 963 00:44:34,239 --> 00:44:37,160 Speaker 1: came to also a game in and maybe two stories 964 00:44:37,200 --> 00:44:39,319 Speaker 1: in New York. My mom is a real Southern girl. 965 00:44:39,400 --> 00:44:41,799 Speaker 1: She's from Georgia where they grow their own vegetables and 966 00:44:41,840 --> 00:44:44,080 Speaker 1: fruit and you know, working the cotton field all that stuff. 967 00:44:44,120 --> 00:44:46,440 Speaker 1: So baseball she enjoyed it more when I was a 968 00:44:46,520 --> 00:44:50,200 Speaker 1: kid than professionally because she don't like all the commotions, right. 969 00:44:50,360 --> 00:44:54,080 Speaker 1: So for my dad, he kind of treat him in 970 00:44:54,120 --> 00:44:55,920 Speaker 1: the same but at the same time, I mean he 971 00:44:56,040 --> 00:44:58,239 Speaker 1: was enjoying all the stuff that was going on. I 972 00:44:58,239 --> 00:45:01,040 Speaker 1: mean he liked that because when I started playing baseball, 973 00:45:01,160 --> 00:45:03,760 Speaker 1: initially was his dream and then it became my dream. 974 00:45:04,320 --> 00:45:06,799 Speaker 1: And as I mentioned a book where a lot of 975 00:45:07,000 --> 00:45:09,399 Speaker 1: my parents like they had me at a later time 976 00:45:09,400 --> 00:45:11,319 Speaker 1: in the stage, like I have five siblars, three brothers, 977 00:45:11,880 --> 00:45:14,239 Speaker 1: and I'm the youngest by thirteen years, so I came 978 00:45:14,320 --> 00:45:17,400 Speaker 1: later on. So obviously I was a spot kid. My 979 00:45:17,480 --> 00:45:20,200 Speaker 1: mom was very strict, you know, very direct with stuff. 980 00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:21,800 Speaker 1: When my dad kind of gave me a pass with 981 00:45:21,800 --> 00:45:23,520 Speaker 1: a lot of things as long as I was playing baseball. 982 00:45:24,160 --> 00:45:29,000 Speaker 1: Without naming names, obviously, would you say that drug usage, 983 00:45:29,239 --> 00:45:32,399 Speaker 1: I mean alcohol, it's uh, that's always been the case 984 00:45:32,640 --> 00:45:35,520 Speaker 1: throughout history. But would you say the drug usage and 985 00:45:35,560 --> 00:45:39,120 Speaker 1: particularly cocaine usage. Well, what what was the cocaine and 986 00:45:39,200 --> 00:45:43,160 Speaker 1: drug usage like among professional athletes during the from when 987 00:45:43,160 --> 00:45:46,000 Speaker 1: you started to when you finally got sober in two thousand. Yeah, 988 00:45:46,040 --> 00:45:48,399 Speaker 1: I think that. Um. Obviously, in the eighties it was. 989 00:45:48,560 --> 00:45:50,759 Speaker 1: It was available pretty much any time you wanted it, 990 00:45:50,840 --> 00:45:52,120 Speaker 1: and a lot of people you knew were doing it. 991 00:45:52,120 --> 00:45:54,800 Speaker 1: There's a lot of people doing it, and unfortunately the 992 00:45:54,880 --> 00:45:58,040 Speaker 1: eight six Mass got labeled as a party team at 993 00:45:58,080 --> 00:46:00,839 Speaker 1: that time in early eighties old teams was a party 994 00:46:01,160 --> 00:46:03,799 Speaker 1: but because we're successful and within New York, we got 995 00:46:03,840 --> 00:46:06,640 Speaker 1: pointed out. Um, a lot of stuff they say was true. 996 00:46:06,920 --> 00:46:09,520 Speaker 1: But other teams and the police were doing the same thing. 997 00:46:09,719 --> 00:46:12,000 Speaker 1: I think, who was a person that didn't party, who 998 00:46:12,040 --> 00:46:14,000 Speaker 1: was kind of a straight arrow. Who is the boy 999 00:46:14,040 --> 00:46:15,440 Speaker 1: scout on the team, who would come up with you, 1000 00:46:15,480 --> 00:46:17,839 Speaker 1: if any and wag their fingers in their face and say, 1001 00:46:17,880 --> 00:46:20,200 Speaker 1: shame on you. Don't you do that with several guys 1002 00:46:20,239 --> 00:46:22,920 Speaker 1: that didn't drink and didn't party, but they never like 1003 00:46:22,960 --> 00:46:24,879 Speaker 1: pointing finger. I thought this better. So no one came 1004 00:46:24,920 --> 00:46:27,080 Speaker 1: to you like a like a patriarchal figure and put 1005 00:46:27,080 --> 00:46:29,120 Speaker 1: his hand in and said, hey man, you gotta slow down. 1006 00:46:29,200 --> 00:46:33,480 Speaker 1: No prime example, Gary Carter. Great guy, I mean obviously 1007 00:46:33,480 --> 00:46:35,040 Speaker 1: it was a great problem. Even a better person off 1008 00:46:35,040 --> 00:46:37,360 Speaker 1: the field. He never drink, he never hung out with 1009 00:46:37,440 --> 00:46:38,800 Speaker 1: is anything that like. He would go out to the 1010 00:46:38,800 --> 00:46:40,400 Speaker 1: eat with us. But once we were saying we'll go 1011 00:46:40,480 --> 00:46:41,920 Speaker 1: out on the strip and he's okay, if you guys 1012 00:46:41,960 --> 00:46:44,319 Speaker 1: need me or whatever, I'm in my room. But they 1013 00:46:44,360 --> 00:46:45,920 Speaker 1: say it would come in with the red eyes, you 1014 00:46:45,920 --> 00:46:48,399 Speaker 1: know you hungover. He never judged you. He just said, 1015 00:46:48,480 --> 00:46:51,399 Speaker 1: you know you're okay, everything's good, you had a good time. Good, okay, 1016 00:46:51,480 --> 00:46:56,200 Speaker 1: let's get back to work. And that was it. Yeah, Um, 1017 00:46:56,280 --> 00:46:57,799 Speaker 1: what do you say to your kids? Your kids are 1018 00:46:57,840 --> 00:47:00,640 Speaker 1: high old. My kids are from three to twenty seven. 1019 00:47:00,640 --> 00:47:02,560 Speaker 1: So you have kids that knew how your top three 1020 00:47:02,600 --> 00:47:06,360 Speaker 1: oldest or how old seven one that I have an 1021 00:47:06,360 --> 00:47:10,719 Speaker 1: eighteen and sixteen right, so from sixteen and above. Let's say, uh, 1022 00:47:10,760 --> 00:47:12,600 Speaker 1: what do you say to them when they because they 1023 00:47:12,640 --> 00:47:14,239 Speaker 1: know all about you what's in the book. They know 1024 00:47:14,239 --> 00:47:16,040 Speaker 1: all about me with the book. And even before the 1025 00:47:16,040 --> 00:47:18,120 Speaker 1: book came out, I would talk to my kids, um, 1026 00:47:18,480 --> 00:47:21,000 Speaker 1: when you drink whatever I said, look, use me as 1027 00:47:21,000 --> 00:47:23,640 Speaker 1: an example, Um, like older kids. When I got to 1028 00:47:23,680 --> 00:47:25,359 Speaker 1: the point and felt comfortable. I had to talk with them, 1029 00:47:25,360 --> 00:47:27,760 Speaker 1: and I said, basically to tell you how powerful drugs 1030 00:47:27,800 --> 00:47:30,400 Speaker 1: are called it is, I basically divorced you, guys and 1031 00:47:30,480 --> 00:47:33,880 Speaker 1: your mother for drugs. I said, So just picture that. 1032 00:47:33,960 --> 00:47:36,040 Speaker 1: I said, you guys know how I felt when I 1033 00:47:36,080 --> 00:47:38,359 Speaker 1: wasn't around insidious it is right. And when I wasn't 1034 00:47:38,360 --> 00:47:40,360 Speaker 1: into school activities, when I wanted to game or if 1035 00:47:40,360 --> 00:47:42,960 Speaker 1: I was there, I miss a lot of that. And 1036 00:47:43,000 --> 00:47:44,880 Speaker 1: I say, you just think what that did to me. 1037 00:47:44,960 --> 00:47:47,279 Speaker 1: I say, and you guys know my heart. You guys 1038 00:47:47,280 --> 00:47:48,640 Speaker 1: know the type of person as I said, but once 1039 00:47:48,680 --> 00:47:51,640 Speaker 1: you get involved with that, you're not the same. And 1040 00:47:51,680 --> 00:47:53,600 Speaker 1: not only did you hurt yourself, but you hurt your 1041 00:47:53,600 --> 00:47:55,640 Speaker 1: loved ones like they forgive you. Like you guys, Yes, 1042 00:47:55,840 --> 00:47:57,279 Speaker 1: that was one of the things they forgave me. I 1043 00:47:57,400 --> 00:47:59,560 Speaker 1: only wanted me to be as healthy and be accountable 1044 00:47:59,600 --> 00:48:02,040 Speaker 1: to them. I don't make any promises to them, obviously, 1045 00:48:02,280 --> 00:48:04,239 Speaker 1: but I'm always there. I talked to him daily. Now, 1046 00:48:04,320 --> 00:48:06,520 Speaker 1: what are you doing with yourself now? I um. I 1047 00:48:06,560 --> 00:48:08,480 Speaker 1: usually my eight year old son and he plays baseball 1048 00:48:08,520 --> 00:48:12,040 Speaker 1: and football in Inglewood clips. He's here when I have 1049 00:48:12,040 --> 00:48:13,880 Speaker 1: the opportunity to help to coach his team. I do 1050 00:48:14,000 --> 00:48:16,120 Speaker 1: work with the mess sine Yankees. Um. I couldn't do 1051 00:48:16,160 --> 00:48:18,440 Speaker 1: that when Mrs Simer was living. It was only Yankee 1052 00:48:18,520 --> 00:48:21,200 Speaker 1: or nothing. So now unfortunately he's passed, I get to 1053 00:48:21,200 --> 00:48:23,400 Speaker 1: work a little bit with both teams. Do that, do 1054 00:48:23,400 --> 00:48:25,279 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff with the youth program and my 1055 00:48:25,320 --> 00:48:30,000 Speaker 1: true passions anything with kids. Your dad died when he passed. 1056 00:48:30,000 --> 00:48:34,399 Speaker 1: For where were you when your dad died? Icually? Um? 1057 00:48:34,440 --> 00:48:36,919 Speaker 1: I was in Tampa when it happened. Um, I usually 1058 00:48:36,960 --> 00:48:39,480 Speaker 1: the last game. My dad told me pitch wasn't no hitter, 1059 00:48:39,600 --> 00:48:42,680 Speaker 1: and I talked about that in a book where he 1060 00:48:42,719 --> 00:48:44,239 Speaker 1: had He had been struggling for a while with his 1061 00:48:44,320 --> 00:48:47,200 Speaker 1: kidding failures on dallas Is for like fifteen years. His 1062 00:48:47,280 --> 00:48:49,560 Speaker 1: health was deteriorating and they felt he had to have 1063 00:48:49,600 --> 00:48:52,600 Speaker 1: emergency heart surgery. They felt if he didn't have the surgery, 1064 00:48:52,600 --> 00:48:55,120 Speaker 1: he probably would last a month or two. And even 1065 00:48:55,160 --> 00:48:57,879 Speaker 1: if he had the surgery, can guarantee he's gonna last 1066 00:48:57,880 --> 00:48:59,800 Speaker 1: a month or two. But he definitely had a surgery. 1067 00:49:00,480 --> 00:49:01,840 Speaker 1: The day that piched on hid, I was supposed to 1068 00:49:01,840 --> 00:49:03,399 Speaker 1: fly home to build him that day because of having 1069 00:49:03,400 --> 00:49:06,440 Speaker 1: a surgery. Next morning, I had my flight, reservation, everything. 1070 00:49:06,680 --> 00:49:09,040 Speaker 1: But uh, when I woke up that morning, you know, 1071 00:49:09,080 --> 00:49:10,920 Speaker 1: I remember taking a shower and brash my teeth, and 1072 00:49:10,920 --> 00:49:12,959 Speaker 1: I just started reminiscent of all the days we spent 1073 00:49:13,400 --> 00:49:16,359 Speaker 1: at the park. Him teaching me to drills, made him 1074 00:49:16,360 --> 00:49:18,759 Speaker 1: going through the spring training games, made him watching games 1075 00:49:18,760 --> 00:49:21,799 Speaker 1: on TV. From him. I learned from him, like how 1076 00:49:21,800 --> 00:49:25,600 Speaker 1: to pitch, basically knew everything I learned about baseballs from him. Um, 1077 00:49:25,640 --> 00:49:27,799 Speaker 1: And would you learn from him as a father? As 1078 00:49:27,840 --> 00:49:31,279 Speaker 1: a father is putting family first? Understanding you believe he did, yes, 1079 00:49:31,280 --> 00:49:33,920 Speaker 1: definitely understanding in his way. In his way, yeah, I 1080 00:49:34,000 --> 00:49:35,520 Speaker 1: mean he might have it, didn't live it, but just 1081 00:49:35,640 --> 00:49:38,320 Speaker 1: telling me, you know, family comes first, family values, setting 1082 00:49:38,320 --> 00:49:41,160 Speaker 1: a good example for your kids as well. So that 1083 00:49:41,239 --> 00:49:42,920 Speaker 1: day I felt he will. Probably in some ways he 1084 00:49:42,920 --> 00:49:45,000 Speaker 1: didn't set a good example for you, well with the 1085 00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:47,279 Speaker 1: woman I was in or whatever. But that's that's what 1086 00:49:47,320 --> 00:49:50,760 Speaker 1: I'm saying. I wonder if sometimes that's part of what happened. 1087 00:49:50,840 --> 00:49:53,440 Speaker 1: Was you trying to make peace with those two, because 1088 00:49:53,480 --> 00:49:55,319 Speaker 1: that's where I came to in my life once I 1089 00:49:55,360 --> 00:49:57,400 Speaker 1: got sober and I showed up to examine what was 1090 00:49:57,480 --> 00:50:01,319 Speaker 1: bothering me. When I began to realize was I did 1091 00:50:01,360 --> 00:50:05,239 Speaker 1: my parents were people? Yeah? Did you find that that 1092 00:50:05,320 --> 00:50:07,960 Speaker 1: was a part of what aid at you? No, the 1093 00:50:08,000 --> 00:50:10,879 Speaker 1: contradictions inside your dad with with him, No, I would 1094 00:50:10,920 --> 00:50:12,600 Speaker 1: say not at all. Um, he was there like a 1095 00:50:12,600 --> 00:50:14,640 Speaker 1: lot of things that he was doing. I thought you 1096 00:50:14,719 --> 00:50:17,319 Speaker 1: became a womanizer. Yeah, I became a womanizer. And the 1097 00:50:17,320 --> 00:50:19,000 Speaker 1: thing my dad's were doing with the drinking whatever, like 1098 00:50:19,040 --> 00:50:21,360 Speaker 1: I never actually saw him with the one whatever, so 1099 00:50:21,800 --> 00:50:24,040 Speaker 1: he kept it all the way from my parents never 1100 00:50:24,080 --> 00:50:25,440 Speaker 1: are going to find me. So I just thought it 1101 00:50:25,480 --> 00:50:27,759 Speaker 1: was you know, everything was great. So you're saying that song, 1102 00:50:27,880 --> 00:50:32,239 Speaker 1: daddy's got a girlfriend. You out he would getting water 1103 00:50:32,320 --> 00:50:36,640 Speaker 1: or something. You actually you accidentally threw him under the 1104 00:50:36,840 --> 00:50:39,319 Speaker 1: that's a thing you described in the book. That's really 1105 00:50:39,320 --> 00:50:41,960 Speaker 1: really cool. You you did the doctor Drew thing. What 1106 00:50:42,120 --> 00:50:45,040 Speaker 1: year that was two thousand eleven. So you went back 1107 00:50:45,640 --> 00:50:48,040 Speaker 1: because you went out again, Yes, and you went out 1108 00:50:48,040 --> 00:50:50,319 Speaker 1: when you were sober from when to win from the 1109 00:50:50,400 --> 00:50:52,839 Speaker 1: last time from two thousand and ten. I was very 1110 00:50:52,880 --> 00:50:54,680 Speaker 1: acting my addiction what I was going through this, But 1111 00:50:54,719 --> 00:50:59,160 Speaker 1: you were sober two thousand till when two thousand um 1112 00:50:59,200 --> 00:51:01,800 Speaker 1: to two, and then I went back out there and 1113 00:51:01,920 --> 00:51:04,840 Speaker 1: I was basically in and out of my addiction until 1114 00:51:06,800 --> 00:51:09,040 Speaker 1: so you eat and out for eight more years and 1115 00:51:09,080 --> 00:51:12,799 Speaker 1: you got busted. Uh two, yes, do something? You get 1116 00:51:12,800 --> 00:51:16,040 Speaker 1: busted where what what happened was in Franklin Lakes in 1117 00:51:16,080 --> 00:51:19,680 Speaker 1: New Jersey. I had got charged with child endangerment where 1118 00:51:19,680 --> 00:51:21,960 Speaker 1: I took ambien the night before I woke up to 1119 00:51:21,960 --> 00:51:25,799 Speaker 1: take my son to school. Obviously hit a car and 1120 00:51:25,840 --> 00:51:28,160 Speaker 1: they wanted to get me out into the field, sobriety tests, 1121 00:51:28,160 --> 00:51:32,080 Speaker 1: which as they're talking to him building off and Mr 1122 00:51:32,120 --> 00:51:35,360 Speaker 1: taken a couple of ambien. Yes, it sounds like you 1123 00:51:35,440 --> 00:51:37,920 Speaker 1: took well the one ambient. Right. So then you get 1124 00:51:38,000 --> 00:51:41,000 Speaker 1: charged child endangerment because you were in a vehicle with 1125 00:51:41,040 --> 00:51:42,919 Speaker 1: a child. Yes. How old was the child? My son 1126 00:51:43,000 --> 00:51:45,360 Speaker 1: at that time that was two thousand ten, you know 1127 00:51:45,520 --> 00:51:47,160 Speaker 1: he would have been five. You were married to your 1128 00:51:47,160 --> 00:51:51,120 Speaker 1: wife then? Yes? Newly married almost? Yes? And what happened? 1129 00:51:51,160 --> 00:51:53,560 Speaker 1: Did you go to prison? Did jail rather? No time? 1130 00:51:53,640 --> 00:51:55,880 Speaker 1: No time? Got probation and I went That's when I 1131 00:51:55,880 --> 00:51:57,799 Speaker 1: went to the dr. Juwe show what what what? What 1132 00:51:57,800 --> 00:52:00,239 Speaker 1: did you think was unique about that? What helped you about? Uh? 1133 00:52:00,440 --> 00:52:03,200 Speaker 1: Going to the doctor's room. I can help you definitely 1134 00:52:03,239 --> 00:52:04,840 Speaker 1: helped me. But I think the thing was I was 1135 00:52:04,880 --> 00:52:07,240 Speaker 1: ready to get help the times before with the treatment. 1136 00:52:07,280 --> 00:52:09,880 Speaker 1: I was just basically there during my time. As you know, 1137 00:52:09,920 --> 00:52:11,759 Speaker 1: in treatment, what you put in is what you get out. 1138 00:52:12,320 --> 00:52:13,520 Speaker 1: I was just ready. It was the time of my 1139 00:52:13,560 --> 00:52:16,480 Speaker 1: life where I knew I had been a you know, rehabs. 1140 00:52:16,520 --> 00:52:18,680 Speaker 1: I've been the institutions. I've been a jail. I've been 1141 00:52:18,680 --> 00:52:20,719 Speaker 1: a prison. The only thing waiting with the cemetery. When 1142 00:52:20,719 --> 00:52:22,200 Speaker 1: did you go to prison? I went The prison was 1143 00:52:22,280 --> 00:52:26,240 Speaker 1: six four for technical volation for it was a relapse. 1144 00:52:26,280 --> 00:52:27,880 Speaker 1: How long were you in there? Ten a half months? 1145 00:52:28,719 --> 00:52:32,360 Speaker 1: What was that like? Horrible? I mean horrible in Gainesville, Florida. 1146 00:52:32,719 --> 00:52:34,600 Speaker 1: That was horrible any time you get locked up across 1147 00:52:34,640 --> 00:52:36,480 Speaker 1: the fader Well facility. You were in a state prison, 1148 00:52:36,600 --> 00:52:39,799 Speaker 1: but going there at the age forty is horrible. State prison. Yes, 1149 00:52:40,239 --> 00:52:43,000 Speaker 1: you were in a state prison in Gainesville, Florida for 1150 00:52:43,040 --> 00:52:47,759 Speaker 1: ten months, and they all knew who you were and 1151 00:52:47,760 --> 00:52:49,319 Speaker 1: did all like the biggest time. I mean, I've been 1152 00:52:49,400 --> 00:52:51,680 Speaker 1: been making a joke here, but like the biggest, toughest 1153 00:52:51,680 --> 00:52:54,160 Speaker 1: guys in the prison who could probably beat the crap 1154 00:52:54,160 --> 00:52:55,319 Speaker 1: and even come up and tell you that they would 1155 00:52:55,320 --> 00:52:56,719 Speaker 1: protect you if you taught them the secret and how 1156 00:52:56,760 --> 00:52:58,600 Speaker 1: to throw the fastball. I didn't get into that. Did 1157 00:52:58,640 --> 00:53:00,240 Speaker 1: you take a ball, like show them how to things 1158 00:53:00,239 --> 00:53:02,799 Speaker 1: going with the laces? They leave you alone? You look 1159 00:53:02,840 --> 00:53:06,160 Speaker 1: at some guy, listen, ray, I'm gonna show this to 1160 00:53:06,200 --> 00:53:08,560 Speaker 1: you one time and then that's it. I want you 1161 00:53:08,560 --> 00:53:10,400 Speaker 1: to promise if you're gonna leave out and there you 1162 00:53:10,480 --> 00:53:12,319 Speaker 1: found out the first thing you're there, You're just a number. 1163 00:53:12,360 --> 00:53:15,600 Speaker 1: You're not even a name. It's horrible. Yes, who did 1164 00:53:15,600 --> 00:53:17,319 Speaker 1: you become friends with it? Did you any what kind 1165 00:53:17,320 --> 00:53:19,200 Speaker 1: of time? There's a couple of guys that I knew 1166 00:53:19,680 --> 00:53:22,160 Speaker 1: from as kids that I haven't seen since childhood and 1167 00:53:22,960 --> 00:53:24,359 Speaker 1: found him in are because they've been in and out 1168 00:53:24,400 --> 00:53:27,359 Speaker 1: their whole life. So but that it helped the time 1169 00:53:27,400 --> 00:53:29,279 Speaker 1: go by fast. It was just a horrible, horrible time 1170 00:53:29,400 --> 00:53:31,359 Speaker 1: harbor experience. When you got out of there, how did 1171 00:53:31,400 --> 00:53:34,200 Speaker 1: you feel it was different? And I totally agree, Um, guy, 1172 00:53:34,200 --> 00:53:36,520 Speaker 1: I was telling me when guys getting cross ready and 1173 00:53:36,560 --> 00:53:40,200 Speaker 1: you're there for basically ten months or longer, it takes 1174 00:53:40,239 --> 00:53:41,960 Speaker 1: that same amount of time when you get out to 1175 00:53:41,960 --> 00:53:44,560 Speaker 1: get back to your yourself. And I found that once 1176 00:53:44,560 --> 00:53:46,000 Speaker 1: I got out, I was still living like I was 1177 00:53:46,040 --> 00:53:48,000 Speaker 1: a prison. I wouldn't go anywhere. I was just stay 1178 00:53:48,000 --> 00:53:50,400 Speaker 1: in the house. I was just basically doing time on 1179 00:53:50,440 --> 00:53:52,279 Speaker 1: the streets. So it was a horrible harbor time too. 1180 00:53:52,320 --> 00:53:54,719 Speaker 1: I can get comfortable. Who helped you? I had all 1181 00:53:54,800 --> 00:53:57,480 Speaker 1: started going to the meetings after that. I got a sponsor, 1182 00:53:57,600 --> 00:53:59,560 Speaker 1: this guy Ron Do Now when you first went to 1183 00:53:59,600 --> 00:54:01,600 Speaker 1: meetings and to that, No, I went to meetings before, 1184 00:54:02,080 --> 00:54:04,120 Speaker 1: but I just got totally go back into the program. 1185 00:54:04,200 --> 00:54:05,880 Speaker 1: The program saved you. Yeah, they got me going and 1186 00:54:06,000 --> 00:54:08,319 Speaker 1: got me, you know, feeling good about myself again. How 1187 00:54:08,440 --> 00:54:11,120 Speaker 1: was your wife? Is she cool about it? No? Okay, 1188 00:54:11,480 --> 00:54:15,239 Speaker 1: that was tough time. Yeah, that was tough. Yeah that's 1189 00:54:15,239 --> 00:54:18,040 Speaker 1: a story for another day. But it was okay. It's 1190 00:54:18,040 --> 00:54:19,839 Speaker 1: a tough thing though, you know, it's very tough. That's 1191 00:54:19,920 --> 00:54:21,680 Speaker 1: that's the thing I'll tell my kids. It's tough not 1192 00:54:21,719 --> 00:54:23,080 Speaker 1: only on you, but it's tough on you all your 1193 00:54:23,120 --> 00:54:25,719 Speaker 1: loved ones. You've heard everybody else through it. Yes, you 1194 00:54:25,840 --> 00:54:28,400 Speaker 1: definitely A lot of stuff is on their times. You 1195 00:54:28,480 --> 00:54:31,000 Speaker 1: can't have them forgive you on your time because we're 1196 00:54:31,040 --> 00:54:33,399 Speaker 1: doing like right now. So they have to work through 1197 00:54:33,440 --> 00:54:36,520 Speaker 1: their things and get to a point where they accept 1198 00:54:36,520 --> 00:54:39,360 Speaker 1: what happened. We can't force him. That's the thing that 1199 00:54:39,360 --> 00:54:46,200 Speaker 1: I found out For all his years in baseball, Dwight 1200 00:54:46,239 --> 00:54:49,560 Speaker 1: Gooden says he's more of a football fan, and during 1201 00:54:49,600 --> 00:54:53,360 Speaker 1: football season, his Sundays are pretty routine. He goes to church, 1202 00:54:53,480 --> 00:54:55,920 Speaker 1: attends a meeting, and then spends the rest of the 1203 00:54:56,040 --> 00:54:59,640 Speaker 1: night watching the game. Was your team Giants, big giant fans. 1204 00:54:59,800 --> 00:55:01,480 Speaker 1: I a lot of heat from our friend Valing Tample. 1205 00:55:02,040 --> 00:55:06,000 Speaker 1: Take a listen to our archive more in depth conversations 1206 00:55:06,040 --> 00:55:10,600 Speaker 1: with artists, policymakers, and performers like opera singer Renee Fleming. 1207 00:55:10,920 --> 00:55:13,160 Speaker 1: People go to sports events and scream at you know, 1208 00:55:13,239 --> 00:55:14,960 Speaker 1: the other team or even there of the people they 1209 00:55:15,000 --> 00:55:17,799 Speaker 1: like and their horse. The next day, we can't do that. 1210 00:55:18,080 --> 00:55:20,400 Speaker 1: We're doing the same thing, but we're doing it in 1211 00:55:20,400 --> 00:55:22,520 Speaker 1: a trained way, and you know, it is a hard 1212 00:55:22,600 --> 00:55:25,320 Speaker 1: art form to get right, but when it's right, it's 1213 00:55:25,360 --> 00:55:30,000 Speaker 1: it's amazing. Here more from two celebrated singers, Renee Fleming 1214 00:55:30,239 --> 00:55:33,640 Speaker 1: and radioheads Tom Yorke at Here's the Thing dot Org. 1215 00:55:40,680 --> 00:55:43,480 Speaker 1: Here's the Thing is produced by Emily Botine and Kathy 1216 00:55:43,560 --> 00:55:47,800 Speaker 1: Russo with Chris Bannon, Jim Briggs, ed Herbstman, Melanie Hoops, 1217 00:55:48,000 --> 00:55:53,280 Speaker 1: Monica Hopkins, Trey k Sharon machehe, Zach McNeice, Canberra Monies, 1218 00:55:53,400 --> 00:55:57,520 Speaker 1: Edwards and Luo Kowski. Thanks to Larry Josephson and the 1219 00:55:57,600 --> 00:56:01,480 Speaker 1: Radio Foundation. I'm Alec Baldwin and you're listening to Here's 1220 00:56:01,520 --> 00:56:09,560 Speaker 1: the Thing. M h m hm