3x MLB All-Star Brandon Phillips discusses his career and ownership of the Texas Smoke franchise

Speaker 1: 0:08

All right, hey Brandon, great to speak with you, man. I'm looking forward to this conversation.

Speaker 2: 0:13

Me too, man. Thanks for having me on here, man. It's a pleasure and I'm looking forward to what we can talk about and just make some history.

Speaker 1: 0:20

Yeah, let's do it, man. Well, first of all, I want to congratulate you. You are the owner of a World Championship Professional Sports franchise. The Texas Smoke won the inaugural championship for the women's professional fast pitch league.

Speaker 2: 0:38

Oh yeah, man, it was a blessing in the skies, man, for everything that we did for women's sports. It was something that I didn't really see coming, but once I get involved in something, you know it's going to bloom, you know, and that's what we did, man. And for the women to go out there and play the sport that they love and go out there and win it all. You know you can't really beat that and what. All that being said, I really appreciate the WPF really making this happen for these women that really have a platform to really go out there and show their talent.

Speaker 1: 1:10

Yeah, man, listen, I'm a fan of you as a player and I've been following you throughout your whole career. But when I had the opportunity to speak with you, you know the women's soft ball as a soft space in my own heart. I'm a I'm a dad of two daughters. Both my daughters are softball players, still still at the youth level 14 year and 10 year but I've been coaching my, my oldest daughter, for the last six, seven years now. So I'm very involved in the sport and I love what you guys are doing. I love that there's a professional lead. Now, how did you get involved?

Speaker 2: 1:46

To be honest, man, it happened on accident. You know Lauren Tambolin, she really hit me up and she really saw what everything was doing with the Lexington legends. She saw that. But although the main credit goes to my sister, also to our GM, eric Mays, eric Mays really saw the sport really open up when he saw Texas versus Oklahoma. He said, brandon, you got to watch this on ESPN. Man, you got to watch this man. The women's sports is growing and they need a platform.

Speaker 2: 2:15

And I watched it and I was like, man, I ain't watching no softball. You know, I'm like. You know I watched that game. I was like, oh my God, like that game was so amazing and I was just like, wow, you know, you open up my eyes. I talked to Lauren Chamberlain about it and she was like Brandon, you know, we need somebody that can really change this whole lead and get things going. And I took it as a challenge and that's what I chose to do.

Speaker 2: 2:39

But how it really opened up my eyes was my sister. She played softball in high school and she was the best softball player in, basically in the in the county of Stone Mountain, georgia, atlanta, georgia. You know she was, she was amazing. And then my dad was like well, we don't want you to play softball anymore, because at the high school I mean at the college you can't prolong their career. And so my dad just said you know what? Stop playing softball, pick up a basketball and see what happens. She put up the basketball and she played in WABA for five years. Yeah, that's how I tell us that she was yeah.

Speaker 2: 3:14

So but yeah, but the thing is, her love was softball. She loved me, and there was no platform for her to really do that, so I took that as something that I'd be like wow, you know, I made players that are out there that really love softball, that have a platform. I'm giving them the chance to live the career, and that was another reason why I chose to do what I had to do.

Speaker 1: 3:36

Yeah, man, I love it. So did you have to learn the sport? Because you know one of the things, just growing up in a high school baseball player and you know my daughter is going to play and I'm like sure I can coach, I know baseball. And then you get out there and you realize like it's kind of the same sport but it's very different the rules are different. You know the strategies are different. How long did it take you to kind of pick it up?

Speaker 2: 4:00

I was doing my research during the off season. I'm not going to lie yeah, before I got into it, I had to learn.

Speaker 2: 4:06

I had to learn and it was a lot of fun. It was a lot of first learning. I mean, it's different. You know it's very different, All the substitutions and how it's more fundamental. I tell you that it's way fundamental to play this game, to be successful and also to win games. It's all about strategizing the game of softball. So I didn't really know that much about it, but I learned a lot and I feel like I'm a guru of that because of our coaches and also because of our front office.

Speaker 1: 4:34

Yeah, yeah, man. So how, what's the what's the future for the league? Is this going to continue to grow? I mean, this is year one. How did how, did it do?

Speaker 2: 4:44

Oh, it did great. You know, saying I mean even though we won, I mean that was great also.

Speaker 2: 4:49

We won it all so, but other than that, the lead is. We already have maybe like one or two people that's buying into the lead. Maybe hopefully they can get that going during the off season right now, but nothing's guaranteed. But it's all about what you can really show, and I think I showed that to a lot of people about the blueprint of being successful and how to run an organization and also how to come into a lead and make it grow. And and a lot of people hit me up like oh my God, this, this is for real. Is this for real? I was like, yes, it's for real. I mean, this is not a one time thing. You know, this is not a one time thing. I'm looking forward to next year. I just signed Jenae Jefferson to a two year deal. She's like the best. She was MVP of the league.

Speaker 1: 5:27

Picture of the year.

Speaker 2: 5:27

right, she can ball, man. She's not ours. She was an MVP, she's like second base.

Speaker 1: 5:31

She's the MVP Okay.

Speaker 2: 5:32

Sorry, but Mike yeah.

Speaker 1: 5:34

Autumn Pease, but we do have a picture of the year too. Autumn Pease.

Speaker 2: 5:36

Autumn Pease, autumn Pease. So she bought out, and she was legit too. No, no, no, it's all good. Both of them was legit, don't worry. Yeah, and autumn was coming back also, so don't worry, they both coming back. But with the league growing, man, I mean hopefully that a lot of other people can buy in to make the league better. But all we can do is just keep on doing what we can do for right now and hopefully that it does work.

Speaker 1: 5:58

Yeah, you know, obviously the purpose of the show is all around the athlete and entrepreneur. It's athletes and you know that transition out of athletics into sort of the entrepreneurship. You know, we talk to people that are, you know, people coming out of college or maybe have had a cup of coffee in the league and you know all the ways up to people like yourself. Who've you know? I mean, look, you're on the Hall of Fame ballot next year, right. But it's more about that mentality, right, the qualities that made you great beyond athleticism. You know, that sort of determination and that ability to fail and put yourself out there and continue to work. And determination translates so well into the business world and entrepreneurship and that's really really that parallels that I'm trying to make. So talk to me a little bit about you know, life after after baseball, man, I mean, you mentioned, you knew that you were going to get involved in this and you were going to make it great. You had that confidence in yourself. But what else are you working on?

Speaker 2: 6:52

Man, I tell you the truth, I haven't fully retired yet because I'm still playing here and there, but I just love playing the game. Man, I still love playing the game. Do I miss playing the Major League Baseball? Not really, because when you have a family, you want to be around my girl, my queen, my spouse, jay Cargill.

Speaker 1: 7:12

Jay yeah.

Speaker 2: 7:14

Right, yeah, so she's one of the owners of the Texas Smoke and I'm just following her around her wrestling career. She's amazing. I love playing it, I love seeing everything she do. I mean it just reminds me of a younger me with a wig on for her to go out there just slam people and just having fun, just enjoying her career. And other than that, man. I'm enjoying my second life that God blessed me with for me to give back to the younger generation with the softball and also the baseball also. I mean it's just a lot of time traveling and seeing the world, things that I couldn't do when I was playing baseball. Sure, I mean it's just a lot of my time. I just went to Egypt and Italy and all that stuff and going to the Red Sea and have my eyes burned out because of how salty the water is. I mean it's just a lot of stuff that I'm enjoying right now, man. But other than that, man just being a family man and just enjoying life.

Speaker 1: 8:05

Yeah, man. So let's talk about Jay. So for people who don't know, your wife, Jay Cargill, she's, I guess, was the AEW champion right, One of the longest reigning champions. That's what I was able to read on her sheet she's still pissed off about that.

Speaker 2: 8:21

Still pissed off about that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, she had to lose some time. She had to lose some time, yeah.

Speaker 1: 8:27

I mean it was like a year and a half right or a little over that in the champion.

Speaker 2: 8:32

Man, it was a fun ride. It was a fun ride Just watching her go out there and just beat up people left and right, talk her smack yeah, and just to watch her in her craft man, it's fun, it's a lot of fun.

Speaker 1: 8:45

Yeah, man. So you get to be a fan of her, you get to be a fan of the softball team. So how, I mean, how does that go about? Like, how does she become a pro wrestler? Right, because the league that she's in, right. So Shotcon, who's the owner of the Jacksonville Jags? He's a billionaire guy. The league was started by him and his son, right, and this is the best well-funded professional wrestling league, probably other than WWE. Right?

Speaker 1: 9:13

So, this is like the I mean they got national TV contracts Like I mean, this is real deal stuff here. How did she get involved in that world?

Speaker 2: 9:22

Man, actually I'm going to say it's an accident. You know, I think that wrestling came to her because she was just making a lot of money just being a domestic engineer taking care of the kids. Yeah, that's what she was doing, but it was just something that just fell in her lap and I just told her just, you know, do what you think is best. I didn't really want her to do it, but I just said whatever you want to do, you know what I'm saying is your choice and I support you in that. And she chose to do it and we've been enjoying the ride ever since. You know the only reason I didn't want her to do it? Because you never know what can really happen. You know, okay, it could be the she might land on her neck, and you know what I'm saying because you know what happened to these wrestlers. A lot of things happened. The last thing I want to do you know what I'm saying is me. You know, I'm retired. I'm over here pushing in a wheelchair.

Speaker 1: 10:06

And you're like hey baby.

Speaker 2: 10:07

This is what we're doing now. I mean, that's the last thing we wanted to see. You know what I'm saying. But other than that, man, it's a lot of fun and I just pray that she's be healthy every time she's in the ring and hope she's enjoying it.

Speaker 1: 10:18

Yeah, man, well she looks. She looks great. Clearly an athlete, right she was. What did she play before? She plays college sports too.

Speaker 2: 10:26

I don't know about calling her athlete. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1: 10:29

No, okay.

Speaker 2: 10:31

She's alright.

Speaker 1: 10:32

Okay, no, she played basketball. She played basketball.

Speaker 2: 10:34

Yeah, At JU, man. So she played basketball. Yeah, I don't want to. I like joking around with her and everything, because I know what she is going to be like. Dang, you didn't give me no credit. I give her credit all the time, but I like messing with her also. So, but yeah, man, she can play basketball. She can't beat me other than that. So, other than that she can't beat you. She can hoop man, she's very athletic.

Speaker 1: 10:51

She can't beat me, no chance. No, can't, no way.

Speaker 2: 10:54

No way.

Speaker 1: 10:55

Yeah, so you you say you're still playing. Where are you playing at? What are you? What leagues are you playing?

Speaker 2: 11:01

right now. You know, play an independent ball. You know, send a New Jersey jackals. That's where. That's where my brother he's the manager there right now. They're in the playoffs right now. Their first game is today and you know my name is on the roster. You know saying anytime he needs me, I just just just pack up my bag and go up there and do my thing. But you know, this year I really took a lot off this year because I wanted to make sure the softball team and our organization was ran the right way. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 11:31

So talk me a little bit about your background, man. I mean, you play what? 16 years, how many, how many years you play? Uh?

Speaker 2: 11:37

in the main years I can tell you the truth. I don't know. Yeah, I have no idea how many years I'll tell you the truth. I don't really know exactly, but you know, I just know that I had a blessed time and a fun time playing the game that I love. It was a lot of fun playing the major leagues. I mean I got drafted by the Montreal Expos. I ended with the Boston Red Sox, won a war series with them.

Speaker 2: 12:00

That was a lot of fun, I mean something that we really play, play for. So I could finally say that I am a world champion. You know one of the worst, worst series with them. And then also I want to I was a champion, one of the worst series with my brother, independently, with the Lexington legends that did that. And then now I want to the worst series, or I like to say worst series, with the, the Texas smoke, with my girl. So that's three things I want, just like that. Yeah, different parts of my family, one one myself, my brother, not my girl. So that's kind of crazy that I can really say that.

Speaker 1: 12:34

Yeah, man, that's, that's great man. We don't saw a better family like that. So, what, what, what's, what was the championship? Like man, what was that? What was that feeling like Did you? Did you feel like I mean, I mean, I obviously went in world series, is you know? I mean, that's, that's, that's as good as it gets. But when you won this championship like was it, did you get that same feeling? Oh, of course. No, no, it was different.

Speaker 2: 13:02

Let me say that the reason I could say it was different because I was watching, when you're watching your team, that you put together and go out there and display their talent and your spouse is sitting right here and we both going crazy and you know, just talking crap to the other team and then pushing on to our teams like let's go, let's go, let's go. It's a different feeling than yourself being on the field and you can control it. But here is like, hey, man, you know nothing we can really do, but just watching them go out there and win it. I mean there's no better feeling, man, just to say that, wow, I, me and my girl put this together, my front office put this together and we made this happen for women's sports. So it was, it was, it was a lot of fun.

Speaker 1: 13:48

Yeah, man, I, I can only imagine yeah. So talk to me a little bit more about women's sports man. I mean, obviously you're, you're. You know Jade's an athlete. She was an athlete, continues to be an athlete. I know she can't be too ambasco ball. What is it about women? What is it about women's sports man? That means so much to you.

Speaker 2: 14:07

Oh, it's just giving them a platform to really go out there and just do the same thing that a man can really do. I'm not saying that they can or they can't, but it just give them the opportunity to really go out there and do the same things that us men can really do. You know what I'm saying Give them a chance. I mean, when you see then a compatriot got their racing cars, I mean that's amazing watching that, cause I know I can't be there racing the cars, but you know, unless we go on the street I'm driving a Lambo or something. Maybe we can go head to head, but I know I can't be on the track. But just seeing how women go out there, like the soccer team, and seeing how the women's USA team are going out there killing it, killing it, that's amazing watching that. And also just seeing the WNBA how they're doing better with many things that they're starting to get right now, especially when Kobe passed away, he really did that. He really like changed the lead a little bit.

Speaker 2: 14:59

And I'm trying to just do the same thing when women's sports, when they come to softball. I'm trying to just just it's all about just putting a platform together for them to go out there and just show their talent, not just because they're women, because they can really play the game. You know what I'm saying? Cause there's a lot of women out there that can just just can. They can play, man. I mean watching Jenae play second base, I mean she made me want to go out there and play. I was like, oh man, you want a man, but they come out of retirement, I'm about to come out there and just play some games. So that's what I was thinking about just watching her go out there, kill it. That's what it's all about, man Just giving people a platform and then take advantage of it.

Speaker 1: 15:33

Yeah, you ever, you ever get out in the field and give any tips.

Speaker 2: 15:37

Of course, of course. I was taking ground. I take ground balls with them all the time Take ground balls with them all the time.

Speaker 1: 15:43

No man, I'm working on the women's sports, you know, as a as a as a girl dad, and I don't I don't have any sons, uh. But you know, growing up as an athlete, playing sports my whole life, you're like, uh, you know it's not going to be the same. And then then you really get into it and you realize the women athletes are just as fierce as men. I mean just as fierce, just as competitive, just as hard, and they are playing at a high level. Um, you know, and and I think you're right, I think you know college softball, the college world series, uh always been super fascinating to watch you, watching these girls go man.

Speaker 1: 16:16

So, I'm really excited. I love what you guys are doing. I love that there's an avenue and there's there's a place for these on. You know these unbelievable athletes to go, continue to play after, after they get out of college, and cause you see it in the Olympics. Right, you turn on the Olympics and you know the stars in the Olympic team these girls are. A lot of these girls are in the thirties, you know mid to late thirties, like they're still playing, like they're not all 22 straight out of college. So you know, having a, having a platform for them is, is, is phenomenal. Man, I appreciate you doing that and put that thing together.

Speaker 2: 16:45

I appreciate it. You never know, man, your daughters might be playing for the Texas smoke.

Speaker 1: 16:49

Believe me, Believe me, I think about that man, so uh, so, what's, uh, what's you know? I mean he's doing a lot of traveling right now. Uh, you ever see yourself getting back into coaching, getting back into the major leagues and and taking that route, or Take?

Speaker 2: 17:05

it to the truth, I haven't really thought about it. I haven't really thought about it yet. I mean, if it, if it, if it lands in my lap, then maybe something I think about, but right now, um, all I can do is just concentrate on what I control, and that's the two teams that I'm I'm worried about right now. But other than that man to Texas smoke and just be watching Jade with her career, that's only two things. That's really on my mind.

Speaker 1: 17:26

Yeah, and her career is taken. I mean she's, you know she's, she can be as big, as big as right.

Speaker 2: 17:32

She, just she, just she, just she just getting started. You know that's the thing she just getting started. You never know where it can really take her. But you know what I'm saying. When it comes to careers, it's all about what you make of it. You know what I'm saying. It doesn't last. Anything can happen. Um, that's what I try to end and put in her head, because it's all about what she make of it.

Speaker 1: 17:49

Yeah, let's, let's talk a little bit about your career, man, if you don't mind, I? I one of the things I love about baseball and I think it's really cool is the connection of generations, right? I mean, you know you start off and I'm looking at you, know your rosters and you know, I think, your your rookie year. You're playing on a team with like Ellis Berks and I remember collecting, you know Ellis Berks baseball cards when he was playing in the Red Sox in like the early eighties. And then you know you finish off, you're playing with like Mookie Bets, who's still, you know, arguably the best player in the league. Talk to me a little bit about that connection to generations, man. The game change, the players change, or is it just? Is it? Is it kind of consistent in the same?

Speaker 2: 18:30

Honestly, I must say that when I first come in man, I really didn't know that much about baseball, like the history of it.

Speaker 2: 18:38

I still think I hated baseball, but I love playing it. I thought baseball was boring so that's why I played the game that I played the way that I played, because I needed to do something to entertain myself and also the fans. I didn't see myself just as a baseball player. I saw myself as an entertainer because I wanted fans to really come watch me play and leave with something. If I go 0-4, I want them to still go home thinking about something about me. They'll be like oh my God, look at his shoes. I have some nice shoes on. At least you're going to think about something about me. So I try to entertain the fans. And then when I first came in man, it was none of that. My baseball was so professional. It was so many things you couldn't do. You couldn't wear your pants baggy or you couldn't do a certain type of thing. It was just so many rules coming in, especially with myself being a rookie at 20-21. The hazing was still around. There was a lot of things that you was really doing. Nowadays you can do whatever you want and I feel like if a lot of players, especially like myself, were playing in days right now boy boy, boy boy it'd be a show. It'd be the show all over again. But, like I said, when you talk about generations, I just feel like that a lot of people say that they got wiser. You know what I'm saying? It's that they learn more about the game, about the competition, is better. I don't want to say that it's better now. I just feel like that there's a lot of rules in the game right now, like when you look at the stolen bases, how they can only the pitch clock and no slide and taking people out and the replays and all this other stuff. I mean it's just a lot. I mean I see what they're trying to do to change the game and make it better for the fans or whatever, but two each is on. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 2: 20:34

I'm an old school person. I love what they're doing. Letting the kids play, that's perfect. Yeah, that's perfect. I love that. I wish I could have done that. I wish I could have, but I was still doing it. But if I did it, I got hit with the ball in my next set. I was the person hitting after me got hit with the ball. That's the difference. But you know what I'm saying. It's nice to watch it. I don't really watch baseball that much you know what I'm saying Because I don't really like it. But you know what I'm saying. But when I do watch ESPN and it's on TV, and I see them hitting home runs, staying at home playing and doing all this stuff, I'm like, oh my God, this joke is crazy. So it's just different generations, man. That's basically it.

Speaker 1: 21:10

Yeah, no, I'm in San Diego, so we got to tease out here. And, yeah, it's funny, because he does these things where you know, just being someone who watches the game, yeah, you're right, you get up to that. You're getting a fastball in your earhole, right, and now it's just like hey man, he's a kid, it's exuberance, he's having fun.

Speaker 2: 21:30

But that's the way it should be.

Speaker 1: 21:31

Yeah, it was like it was in football. They did the same thing, right? I mean, you know, 10 years ago they outlawed touchdown celebrations. You know, it was like you're supposed to score and like walk over to the ref and thank him very much and hand him the ball, and like run over your sidelines. It was like nobody wants to see that man. People are excited. Yeah, yeah, yeah, let them be. Kids having fun, you know.

Speaker 1: 21:50

So I'm glad they brought that back too. So the pitch clock. Not a fan, Not a fan of some of those changes, huh.

Speaker 2: 21:57

No, not a fan of the pitch clock. You know, I feel like that. You know I feel like the hitter has a little bit of advantage when it comes to the pitch clock. Yeah, I just don't really. I don't feel like there should be a time on the pitcher to really do it. I mean, this is not basketball. I mean I said, I mean that's just my opinion. I know some people probably agree or disagree, but I just feel like there's just certain rules. I just I'm just not a fan. It's easy to still a base now.

Speaker 1: 22:24

I was going to say you probably would have stole like 100 bases if you were playing today.

Speaker 2: 22:29

I feel like a lot of people, ricky Henderson, I mean, you know, I mean just Billy Hamilton, if you could pitch over a certain amount of times, I mean it's crazy how, how it was different. But you know, like I said, I'm not playing, I'm just watching. And you know, I'm just happy that they're that, basically baseball still around America's pastime, and if that's, if that's what they want to do to keep it entertaining for the fans, I'm all for it.

Speaker 1: 22:52

Yeah, what? What sport? What else sports did you play? Man, you said you weren't really a baseball fan. Uh, you obviously had the talent and you like playing the game and got got to where you got to. Were you you play? Were you a basketball player? Like what else did you play?

Speaker 2: 23:04

Football, football, football and they own basketball yeah.

Speaker 1: 23:08

So that, uh, you know, obviously, besides watching the text of smoke, what do you? Uh, you, you watch any pro sports, or I watch them.

Speaker 2: 23:16

You know, I say I love watching players more than anything. I'm not really going to say I'm a favorite team, I'm not going to really say that I just like watching players. Sometimes, you know, um, and that's just. That's just what it was, man, I just. I mean, I watch it. Other than that, man, I'm always being active or I'm watching Netflix or or Apple TV or something like that more during the time.

Speaker 1: 23:36

What do you do to stay active? I mean, no, you're still playing. It looks like you just got out of the gym, but what kind of workouts you do?

Speaker 2: 23:42

I, I started, I tried to work out. Man, I try to keep it sexy.

Speaker 1: 23:46

You know you got to try to stay young, yeah, Especially, especially with Jade's wife. I know man.

Speaker 2: 23:52

I got to. I got to keep up with her man, you know what I'm saying. She got eight packs, so you know I got to do something for reals for reals.

Speaker 1: 23:58

Man, yeah, she is, uh, yeah, she's gifted man. I um look at her. Yeah, Okay, Cool. So you, uh, you, just you just kind of hit it up on a daily basis, try to do your thing. I'm not going to go out on you here.

Speaker 2: 24:12

Hold on one second Hold on, let me turn these on. There we go, yeah.

Speaker 1: 24:18

Say that again, I'm sorry. Uh, yeah, I just asked her like what do you do? You do weights, you do? Uh, you do like classes, I do everything, man, I do everything. I don't do classes. I ain't doing aerobics, I ain't doing that Not now.

Speaker 2: 24:27

Yeah, she's showing up, staying strong. I'm not doing that old school stuff, I'm not doing that?

Speaker 1: 24:29

No, I'm not doing that.

Speaker 2: 24:30

You still uh, you still crushing in that league that you're playing that. I'm not doing that. I'm not doing that. I'm not doing that.

Speaker 1: 24:36

You still, uh, you still crushing in that league that you're playing in with your, uh, your brother.

Speaker 2: 24:42

When I play. Yes, yeah, I can still play in the maze leaves right now. I mean, I can't. I'm not going to say I can play every day. You know what I'm saying. If you, just if, once you, once you can play the game, you know how to get it done, but I can't play every day. No, I can't do that. I'm not going to lie about that. But I know I can go out there and play maybe three times a week, four times a week, and and be successful, but my style of play is not with the style of play now. That's the problem. Really, it's all about hitting homers. Hitting homers and walks. Hitting homers and walks.

Speaker 1: 25:12

That's what they do All the analytics stuff right, they don't, yeah, they don't care about.

Speaker 2: 25:17

uh, you can get 200 hits, but if your own base percentage is like 320 or 330, you suck. Yeah, you know what I'm saying, but that's just how it is.

Speaker 1: 25:26

Yeah, I mean you had some pop, you had a lot of home runs, I mean, especially for a second baseman. I don't know where you rank all time, but you got to be up there somewhere.

Speaker 2: 25:35

I'm oh, I'm up there. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Well, I'm up there. Yeah, I'm up there, so you know. So I had some pop, I did the thing. I mean, I feel like I was a five-two player, yeah, you know, so I did my thing, you know.

Speaker 2: 25:46

So I played hurt a lot sometimes, but I always just felt like, hey, I was the type of person that really went out there and grind. I played for the fans, yeah, I mean, you know. So they paid money to come watch me play. If I was hurt or not, you know, if I'm hurt I got to go out there and play because the fans pay to come see me. And I always say this somebody always wants your job, because they ain't trying to get me really pipped. I'm not letting that happen to me. So I'm going to go out there and play the game and that's just how I am as a person. But nowadays it's not the same. Like I said, baseball is totally different.

Speaker 1: 26:16

Yeah, yeah, different in. I mean, we talked about some of the rule changes, but it's just you're just the kind of players that they're finding, based on the stats that they're looking for. It's just a different kind of athlete, typically. Is it a different type of mentality or is it? I mean, yeah, I get it Like, I get the. We want people who can walk, we want people to hail and runs. It's like these are the metrics we're looking for. These are the kind of players that we make it. Is the mentality changed or is it the same same kind of person? I mean, people are still competing the same way. You were competing, right?

Speaker 2: 26:49

The truth, man, just being around major league baseball and also being around the independent play, independent players or whatever. Their mindsets are different, you know. But the thing is, though, we'll get on the field Some people. If they're not a hundred percent, they're not going to play or they feel a certain type of way. That's just what I notice. But I'm not saying they're like that, everybody's like that, but I'm just saying what I notice. You know. So a lot of people don't like playing hurt nowadays, and it's nothing wrong with that. You know what I'm saying. I mean two each is on Everybody's different. You know what I'm saying. It's not wrong, but just the mentality of sports nowadays is just different, you know, because back then we didn't really have that many options to. You know, we had the. It was different back then. It really was.

Speaker 2: 27:35

I mean just going to the. You know monoliths and that's the jungle in the monoliths. Nowadays, monoliths is not the jungle anymore. You know what I'm saying. It's people. Are you having a great time in the monoliths? Nobody, I mean a lot of people love to go to the Monoliths, have a good time. We're in the Monoliths back in the day. Oh, we hated that. I was going to cuss.

Speaker 1: 27:56

We hated the jungle yeah.

Speaker 2: 27:59

It's totally different now, man. Like I said, man, I mean everything's getting better and that's good. It's good and I salute everybody for everything that they're doing. So that's what I'm trying to say, man. It was just different back then to what it is now, and everything that they, they, they made better for us, for sports. I salute them for all that.

Speaker 1: 28:18

Yeah, yeah, I think there's some stuff with safety for sure. Like I mean, I, you know I miss the days watching the game and you'd watch a you know somebody take out a double play, or you know, back in the day. We're trying to explain this to my daughter the other day because it's like so foreign to her that, like a catcher could catch a ball and if you could hit that catcher hard enough that they would drop the ball, that was like totally legal, you know, like that was actually a play and I'm sure it's probably better.

Speaker 1: 28:48

Let's be honest, I think it's better that you don't just run into catcher's full speed trying to, like you know, knock them out so that they drop the ball. But I think what I'm hearing you say is there's a comfort now that exists, that didn't exist back in your day. So you I mean, you're in the minor leagues. You don't want to be in the minor leagues. The minor leagues suck. It's a jungle. It's competitive. You're going to do everything you can to get out of there. And now it sounds like it's a little bit. You can live in the minor league. So it isn't that that that fire might not be there like it was back when you were playing. Is that kind of what you're saying?

Speaker 2: 29:23

Something like that, something similar to that. You know what I'm saying. Of course, when you get drafted or if you're a little kid, you want to play in the major leagues regardless. But I'm just saying the Monolees back then compared to now is totally different. That's the only thing I'm basically saying, especially that you're making way more money now in the Monolees than you did back then too. So you know what I mean. Some people might get comfortable. I mean, I'm not saying that they're not hungry, but you can get comfortable, just like in a relationship, just like in anything. You can get comfortable in many things. Yeah, you know what I'm saying, but that's what I'm trying to say. It just depends on the person. I'm not saying that's what they're doing. I'm just saying it just depends on the person, because you can get comfortable, especially if you know you're a top draft pick, you know you're going to make to the major leagues because they don't want to waste your money on you.

Speaker 2: 30:07

That's how it is now Back in the day. There's a lot of first round. There's a lot of people who didn't make it. That's right. But now they invest all this money into you. You never know what might go in that person's head. That's what I'm trying to say.

Speaker 2: 30:20

You know what I'm saying Everything's not guaranteed, but you know what I'm saying. But once you have a process that can make it guarantee for players you know what I'm saying Some people can get comfortable. That's something I'm saying, just like the game. You hitting the home runs and hitting the home runs and you standing there and you doing all this stuff. I mean I saw Franco. He flipped the ball up in his glove when he threw the ball to first base. That's called being comfortable. Yeah, could we do that back in the day? Hell, no, I'll be on the bench. Yeah, I probably got sent down. Like I said, it's totally different. It's about comfort. I wish I could have done that. Actually, I did some crazy stuff. I ain't going to say that I couldn't do it.

Speaker 2: 31:01

But I ain't do nothing like Savannah bananas type stuff. I ain't do all that. But you know what I'm saying? It's just a lot of fun. I'm glad Franco did. I love seeing that kind of stuff. That's what type of person I am. I'm not saying it's for everybody, but I love seeing other flair and all those because it reminds me of myself playing. I love it. But, like I said, it's all about being comfortable, because I was very comfortable when I got to the Reds they gave me the keys. They said, hey, go out there and play the game the best where you know how to be successful. I mean, I never get Jerry Nair saying that to me and Wayne Krischke they said that to me in the office and I just took advantage of it. That's all a young player really needs to hear.

Speaker 1: 31:40

Yeah, man, and they loved you in Cincinnati. I mean, yeah, they still love you in Cincinnati.

Speaker 2: 31:44

Of course.

Speaker 1: 31:45

Yeah, I heard. I hope they do. Yeah, you heard it, man. Well, I heard. So I know you're on the Hall of Fame ballot this year, right? Is that correct? First year 2024 Hall of Fame ballot for.

Speaker 2: 31:55

Middle East baseball. I hear many things. I don't keep up with it. I want to keep up with things I can control. Ok, that's what I do.

Speaker 1: 32:04

Fair enough, man. I love that. That's the best way. That's the best approach. I had a coach that used to always say that to me you just control what you can control, man. Worry about that, because there's no point worrying about the other stuff, that's nice to hear yeah.

Speaker 2: 32:15

All right.

Speaker 1: 32:16

So what do you got for the rest of this year, man? Where are you living nowadays?

Speaker 2: 32:20

I'm in Atlanta, Georgia.

Speaker 1: 32:22

And what?

Speaker 2: 32:22

I got for the rest of the year. I'm enjoying this offseason Trying to assign players for the Texas Smoke and, like I said, just watching some wrestling and just taking the kids to school. That's basically it. Other than that, man, I'm just having a great time.

Speaker 1: 32:35

No man, I feel you, dude. You're clearly blessed, You've done it and you should enjoy the fruits of your labor. So I think I'd be doing exactly what you're doing if I was in the situation.

Speaker 2: 32:53

I appreciate it, man. Like I said, man, it's a blessing.

Speaker 1: 32:57

Yeah, man, and listen, I really do so when I was trying to find some of these games. How do we get these on TV, man? Where are they broadcast? I'm trying to figure that one out.

Speaker 2: 33:11

But earlier we was broadcasting through YouTube and then next we came in with our own platform. It was for the wpffastpitchcom or something like that, and that's where they show the games at, and right now we're still trying to work on our own little process to really get the games out there and get it streamed all over so people can watch the games. That's what we're trying to do right now, Because everything was all new this year.

Speaker 1: 33:37

Cool man. Well, listen, like I said, I was a big fan of you. Just your baseball career. I'm a big sports fan. Period, I actually was one of those kids that loved baseball. I was a total stack geek baseball card kid. I mean, I needed to play football. I was three-sport athlete in high school. I played football in college and that whole thing. But I love the games. I've always been keeping track of players, I love the way you play and I was excited to talk to you. But, like I said, I love what you're doing for women's sports and softball, the text of smoke, and I'm going to keep following you guys. Keep rooting for you, man.

Speaker 2: 34:13

I appreciate it, man. Hey, thanks, it was nice talking to you, man. Everything is good, and if you want to talk to me again, you know where to find me and we can just go from there. Man, I appreciate everything.

Speaker 1: 34:23

Yeah, man, all right, man, I appreciate you coming on.