WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:02.669 (female announcer)  Production funding    for "Sports Files" is 00:02.669 --> 00:04.404  made possible in part by.. 00:04.404 --> 00:07.474 (male narrator)  Infiniti of Memphis has    moved to Germantown road 00:07.474 --> 00:10.077  just half mile north of   Wolfchase Galleria and is proud 00:10.077 --> 00:13.280  to support W-K-N-O for its   quality broadcasting and service 00:13.280 --> 00:14.214  to our community. 00:14.214 --> 00:16.550  Quality and service --   No wonder Infiniti of Memphis 00:16.550 --> 00:19.553  feels at   home on W-K-N-O. 00:27.694 --> 00:30.664 My guest today on "Sports Files" is Major League Baseball Umpire 00:30.664 --> 00:31.665 Andy Fletcher. 00:31.665 --> 00:48.882 [theme music] 00:48.882 --> 00:51.685 The ultimate goal of any professional baseball player is 00:51.685 --> 00:53.053 to make it to the show. 00:53.053 --> 00:56.089 The show being the big leagues, Major League Baseball. 00:56.089 --> 00:58.091 Of course for every one that does, 00:58.091 --> 01:00.761 thousands never get that far, often toiling in the minor 01:00.761 --> 01:04.498 leagues for years before deciding on another profession. 01:04.498 --> 01:05.666 The same goes for umpires. 01:05.666 --> 01:08.268 There are thousands who never get the chance to umpire 01:08.268 --> 01:09.703 a Major League Baseball game. 01:09.703 --> 01:12.506 And many of them are terrific in what they do. 01:12.506 --> 01:14.508 Bottom line is the major leagues are reserved 01:14.508 --> 01:16.009 for the best of the best. 01:16.009 --> 01:19.046 Players, managers, coaches and umpires. 01:19.046 --> 01:21.648 Memphian Andy Fletcher, a graduate of Harding Academy and 01:21.648 --> 01:24.952 Ole Miss, has been a major league umpire since 1999. 01:24.952 --> 01:27.754 But if you think his road to the show was easy, 01:27.754 --> 01:28.789 think again. 01:28.789 --> 01:30.891 He attended the Harry Wendlestedt umpiring school 01:30.891 --> 01:32.025 in 1989. 01:32.025 --> 01:34.127 He spent ten years in the minors, 01:34.127 --> 01:36.129 working in leagues such as the Appalachian, 01:36.129 --> 01:38.932 Florida, Instructional, Midwest, Carolina, 01:38.932 --> 01:41.969 Southern and Pacific Coast League. 01:41.969 --> 01:45.205 He honed his craft for a decade before getting his opportunity. 01:45.205 --> 01:47.507 And he has made the most of it, becoming one of the most 01:47.507 --> 01:50.377 respected umpires in all of baseball. 01:50.377 --> 01:52.813 Today Andy Fletcher joins me to talk about his experiences 01:52.813 --> 01:56.516 behind the plate and on the bag, minor and major. 01:56.516 --> 01:58.585 And it's next on "Sports Files." 01:58.585 --> 02:10.564 [theme music] 02:10.564 --> 02:11.498 Andy, great to see you. 02:11.498 --> 02:12.733 Thanks so much for being on the show. 02:12.733 --> 02:13.567 It's great to be here. 02:13.567 --> 02:17.437 Alright, with all the snow, more snow today as we tape, 02:17.437 --> 02:19.439 you're pretty excited to get the Florida right next week. 02:19.439 --> 02:20.640 Absolutely. 02:20.640 --> 02:21.608 Couldn't come fast enough. 02:21.608 --> 02:23.343 No, I love being at home. 02:23.343 --> 02:25.512 I enjoy the season a lot but I also like being with my family. 02:25.512 --> 02:26.246 (Greg)  Absolutely. 02:26.246 --> 02:28.615 You don't get a lot of time off if it's a long baseball season. 02:28.615 --> 02:30.617 So, you got to take advantage of that. 02:30.617 --> 02:34.721 Spring training is for players to get back in to shape, 02:34.721 --> 02:36.523 to get ready for the season. 02:36.523 --> 02:37.891 Is that the same for umpires? 02:37.891 --> 02:40.494 Are you actually rusty not having done a game in a long 02:40.494 --> 02:42.496 time and you really need that to get ready 02:42.496 --> 02:43.664 for the regular season? 02:43.664 --> 02:44.831 Absolutely. 02:44.831 --> 02:45.966 Players have asked me before. 02:45.966 --> 02:47.968 I remember Derek Jeter coming over once spring training and 02:47.968 --> 02:51.571 asked me how many plate jobs that I felt like that we needed 02:51.571 --> 02:53.907 to get back in to the mid-season form, 02:53.907 --> 02:54.908 if you will. 02:54.908 --> 02:57.010 And I think after three or four plate jobs, 02:57.010 --> 02:58.011 you're ready to go. 02:58.011 --> 03:00.714 But the first couple are kind of hit and miss sometimes 03:00.714 --> 03:01.715 in spring training. 03:01.715 --> 03:03.717 But they don't give you any lead way, 03:03.717 --> 03:04.718 do they? 03:04.718 --> 03:06.720 If it's a tough call or do they in spring training? 03:06.720 --> 03:08.722 No, in spring training, it's pretty relaxed. 03:08.722 --> 03:10.724 Everybody is pretty easy because they're doing the same things. 03:10.724 --> 03:12.726 They're trying to get their feet wet again, as well. 03:12.726 --> 03:13.727 And they know we are, too. 03:13.727 --> 03:15.729 I want to talk about some of your years in the minors. 03:15.729 --> 03:18.565 But you started out in 1999 in major league baseball 03:18.565 --> 03:19.566 in the National League. 03:19.566 --> 03:20.700 Of course, now you cross over. 03:20.700 --> 03:23.036 You do games in American League, National League. 03:23.036 --> 03:26.039 What was your welcome to the big leagues moment? 03:26.039 --> 03:29.876 Um, I think my second plate job in the big leagues 03:29.876 --> 03:32.145 really opened my eyes. 03:32.145 --> 03:33.747 It was in Atlanta. 03:33.747 --> 03:35.782 And it was Tom Glavine was pitching against Randy Johnson. 03:35.782 --> 03:39.920 And that year, the Diamondbacks and the Braves were fighting 03:39.920 --> 03:40.921 for play-off spots. 03:40.921 --> 03:41.922 And we were late in the year. 03:41.922 --> 03:42.923 We were in September. 03:42.923 --> 03:44.658 It was a Sunday afternoon game. 03:44.658 --> 03:47.260 I think it was a nationally televised game. 03:47.260 --> 03:48.528 And it was.. 03:48.528 --> 03:50.097 I remember after the game. 03:50.097 --> 03:52.099 I don't remember a lot about that game. 03:52.099 --> 03:54.034 But I flew that night to Miami. 03:54.034 --> 03:56.036 I got to Miami and I want to get a bite to eat. 03:56.036 --> 03:58.038 And I walked in to this place and there's a replay 03:58.038 --> 03:59.039 of the game on. 03:59.039 --> 04:01.775 And everybody was kind of glued to the T-V's watching it. 04:01.775 --> 04:03.777 And I thought to myself, oh my gosh, 04:03.777 --> 04:05.112 that's me right there. 04:05.112 --> 04:08.715 And that's when I realized really almost what happened. 04:08.715 --> 04:11.418 I know you get in to a zone like a player gets in to a zone, 04:11.418 --> 04:13.153 an athlete gets in to a zone. 04:13.153 --> 04:18.792 But are you ever out there in a moment kind of star struck like 04:18.792 --> 04:24.197 when it's a hall-of-fame type player or manager or a game 04:24.197 --> 04:26.600 that's bigger than a regular season game, 04:26.600 --> 04:29.903 like an all-star game that you've umpired in or last year 04:29.903 --> 04:32.172 doing the national league wildcard game. 04:32.172 --> 04:33.173 Are you ever in that? 04:33.173 --> 04:34.808 Wow, look what's going on here. 04:34.808 --> 04:36.343 Um, not really. 04:36.343 --> 04:38.345 Maybe for a second just at the beginning. 04:38.345 --> 04:40.747 But then it quickly becomes just another game. 04:40.747 --> 04:43.917 You can't get caught up in that kind of thing 04:43.917 --> 04:45.485 and do your job properly. 04:45.485 --> 04:47.154 You just can't do it. 04:47.154 --> 04:50.023 Alright, baseball has been pretty much the same game from 04:50.023 --> 04:52.292 when we were kids except -- and we were talking about this 04:52.292 --> 04:54.294 before we started taping -- replay. 04:54.294 --> 04:55.962 Replay has changed everything. 04:55.962 --> 05:00.967 They are talking about new rules that will be implemented for the 05:00.967 --> 05:02.969 speeding up of the game this year. 05:02.969 --> 05:04.971 And we'll talk about that in a second. 05:04.971 --> 05:07.674 But I know that you spend a number of weeks with your crew 05:07.674 --> 05:11.378 in New York City overseeing replay. 05:11.378 --> 05:14.247 How has it worked so far in your opinion? 05:14.247 --> 05:16.550 And then I want you to tell me about what a typical game is 05:16.550 --> 05:19.686 when you're in New York City or a typical day is looking 05:19.686 --> 05:20.687 at all these games. 05:20.687 --> 05:21.688 Okay. 05:21.688 --> 05:24.558 First of all, I think it's worked beyond expectations. 05:24.558 --> 05:26.560 I think it's just been fantastic. 05:26.560 --> 05:28.795 The little mistakes that were made were easily corrected now. 05:28.795 --> 05:31.431 And we just move on as if they were never made. 05:31.431 --> 05:33.433 I think it's worked out very well. 05:33.433 --> 05:35.502 There are a few tweaks that are to be made. 05:35.502 --> 05:37.504 And we're going to make some of those, 05:37.504 --> 05:38.505 I think, going forward. 05:38.505 --> 05:40.507 But there are really few compared to what we thought 05:40.507 --> 05:41.908 we would have. 05:41.908 --> 05:44.311 A typical day in New York, you're only in that room 05:44.311 --> 05:45.312 for four hours. 05:45.312 --> 05:49.216 And it's like kind of almost like sitting in a control room 05:49.216 --> 05:50.383 back here at the station. 05:50.383 --> 05:52.652 There's the technician sitting beside you. 05:52.652 --> 05:54.921 Each umpire has two games if there's a bunch of games going 05:54.921 --> 05:55.922 on at one time. 05:55.922 --> 05:57.991 Generally speaking, two games a piece. 05:57.991 --> 05:59.993 If something were to happen in one of the games where you 05:59.993 --> 06:02.462 thought you were going to go to replay because we kind of can 06:02.462 --> 06:05.098 see in advance what's happening because you can see 06:05.098 --> 06:06.099 the entire field. 06:06.099 --> 06:08.101 If they feel like they may go to replay, 06:08.101 --> 06:10.103 then one of the games slides off to another umpire that's 06:10.103 --> 06:11.104 in the room. 06:11.104 --> 06:13.873 And you and your technician have one game and he starts racking 06:13.873 --> 06:18.144 and re-racking video so I can start looking at it. 06:18.144 --> 06:20.146 I can ask him to see different angles, 06:20.146 --> 06:24.517 different -- whether to rewind it or not. 06:24.517 --> 06:26.953 How many times to rewind it, how slow to play the video. 06:26.953 --> 06:30.190 The one thing they don't do is to zoom in on things. 06:30.190 --> 06:33.393 That can distort the actual picture. 06:33.393 --> 06:34.694 So, we don't zoom in at all. 06:34.694 --> 06:37.831 How is the communication back to the particular location of the 06:37.831 --> 06:40.066 game and your conversation? 06:40.066 --> 06:41.968 Has it been pretty precise? 06:41.968 --> 06:42.969 It has been. 06:42.969 --> 06:44.037 We don't have a lot.. 06:44.037 --> 06:46.039 The decisions are made in the room. 06:46.039 --> 06:48.608 The umpires in the field come to the headsets and say we're going 06:48.608 --> 06:51.912 to review a play and this is what we're going to review. 06:51.912 --> 06:53.913 In the room I'll say, okay, I got it. 06:53.913 --> 06:55.915 Give me a second and I'll get right back to you. 06:55.915 --> 06:57.917 The technician and I look it over. 06:57.917 --> 06:59.920 If there's any other umpires in the room, 06:59.920 --> 07:01.855 sometimes they come over and will point things out and say, 07:01.855 --> 07:03.857 hey, did you see the base move there. 07:03.857 --> 07:05.859 Did you see the ball skip there? 07:05.859 --> 07:06.860 (Greg)  So, you confer with each other? 07:06.860 --> 07:07.861 Absolutely. 07:07.861 --> 07:09.863 And generally speaking, if there's other umpires in the 07:09.863 --> 07:11.865 room, I'll ask for their input before I make a final decision. 07:11.865 --> 07:13.867 I'll say does anybody see anything different. 07:13.867 --> 07:17.037 But the final decision is the umpire's game it is. 07:17.037 --> 07:18.038 The replay is going on him. 07:18.038 --> 07:21.708 I just touched on this upcoming 2014 season. 07:21.708 --> 07:23.977 There's a couple of things that you're going to implement -- I 07:23.977 --> 07:26.946 don't know if it's official yet -- to speed up the game. 07:26.946 --> 07:29.582 Have you had a chance to look it over and what do you think? 07:29.582 --> 07:30.583 A little bit. 07:30.583 --> 07:32.585 I think hey, if we're going to speed the game up, 07:32.585 --> 07:33.586 I'm all for it. 07:33.586 --> 07:35.855 If we can take a three hour game and make it a two-and-a-half 07:35.855 --> 07:36.856 hour game, absolutely. 07:36.856 --> 07:38.858 It's only a two-and-a-half hour work day. 07:38.858 --> 07:39.859 Who wouldn't like that? 07:39.859 --> 07:40.860 Exactly. 07:40.860 --> 07:42.862 And back in the day, games used to be shorter for some reason. 07:42.862 --> 07:44.864 Oh, there's a lot of reasons for that. 07:44.864 --> 07:45.865 T-V plays a big part of it. 07:45.865 --> 07:48.635 But T-V pays a lot of money to be a part of the game, too. 07:48.635 --> 07:50.770 I think some of it will work well. 07:50.770 --> 07:53.540 I think it's going to take a little getting used to. 07:53.540 --> 07:55.542 Several of these things they're already doing 07:55.542 --> 07:56.543 in the minor leagues. 07:56.543 --> 07:58.545 So, it's not like the first time it's been done. 07:58.545 --> 08:00.480 The batter keeping one foot in the batter's box, 08:00.480 --> 08:02.482 they've been doing that in the minor leagues 08:02.482 --> 08:03.783 for the last several years. 08:03.783 --> 08:06.453 And they've had an opportunity to kind of tweak that rule. 08:06.453 --> 08:08.722 And they've got it down pretty good now. 08:08.722 --> 08:10.557 The one I'm worried about is.. 08:10.557 --> 08:12.559 And again, in minor leagues, you're not worried 08:12.559 --> 08:13.560 about television coverage. 08:13.560 --> 08:16.162 The television coming back from the commercial and boom, 08:16.162 --> 08:17.731 there's the first pitch. 08:17.731 --> 08:19.833 It's going to take a little bit of adjustment but we've been 08:19.833 --> 08:21.501 doing that to a certain extent. 08:21.501 --> 08:24.304 In the years past, the second base umpire would have a stop 08:24.304 --> 08:25.939 watch in his pocket. 08:25.939 --> 08:28.541 And he would signal the plate umpire at a certain time in the 08:28.541 --> 08:31.978 break to say, hey, it's time to start moving along. 08:31.978 --> 08:34.347 The difference is now that everybody is going to be able to 08:34.347 --> 08:37.217 see that clock instead of the umpire saying hey, 08:37.217 --> 08:39.285 you know, the second base umpire is telling me let's go. 08:39.285 --> 08:41.287 You can point to the clock and say hey, 08:41.287 --> 08:42.288 it's 20 seconds. 08:42.288 --> 08:43.289 We have to go now. 08:43.289 --> 08:44.691 And everybody knows it. 08:44.691 --> 08:48.928 I want to talk to you about some of your run-ins in all these 08:48.928 --> 08:52.632 years of umpiring and starting with the major leagues. 08:52.632 --> 08:54.968 Has there ever been an instant where you had to toss somebody 08:54.968 --> 09:00.840 or had a good run-in, nice argument with somebody 09:00.840 --> 09:04.477 where it's lingered? 09:04.477 --> 09:06.479 In other words, somebody has held it against you 09:06.479 --> 09:07.480 down the road. 09:07.480 --> 09:11.317 Or does eventually a player or a manager get over that? 09:11.317 --> 09:13.319 I think for the most part you get over it. 09:13.319 --> 09:16.556 I think in the minor leagues sometimes those things 09:16.556 --> 09:17.857 kind of lingered sometimes. 09:17.857 --> 09:21.361 You would see teams for longer periods of time 09:21.361 --> 09:22.362 in the minor leagues. 09:22.362 --> 09:26.032 You might see a team for a week to nine days because it was cost 09:26.032 --> 09:28.201 prohibitive for you to travel as much. 09:28.201 --> 09:30.203 Nowadays I'll see a team for three days. 09:30.203 --> 09:32.472 I may not see him again for a month. 09:32.472 --> 09:34.741 And by then, you forgot we even saw each other. 09:34.741 --> 09:37.777 Exactly, when you're playing eight or nine games in a row 09:37.777 --> 09:40.113 then you can grade on each other's nerves. 09:40.113 --> 09:41.114 Absolutely. 09:41.114 --> 09:43.116 And that was part of the reason they merged the staffs, 09:43.116 --> 09:45.118 the American League and the National League -- they merged 09:45.118 --> 09:47.120 those staffs in 2000 -- was to do that, 09:47.120 --> 09:50.390 was to allow for more umpires to go to more places and to 09:50.390 --> 09:52.459 alleviate some of those situations. 09:52.459 --> 09:53.460 Days off. 09:53.460 --> 09:55.728 How many games will you do in a week and when do you get off? 09:55.728 --> 09:57.931 Six to seven games in a week. 09:57.931 --> 10:00.867 Baseball is traditional off days are Mondays and Thursday. 10:00.867 --> 10:02.869 So, occasionally we're in the schedule. 10:02.869 --> 10:05.572 It's built in to have a day off there. 10:05.572 --> 10:08.541 We also have four weeks where we're off during this season. 10:08.541 --> 10:11.744 And that's also built in to the schedule. 10:11.744 --> 10:15.215 There's 19 crews of four and there's 19 schedules and the 10:15.215 --> 10:18.218 crew chief picks a schedule based on his seniority. 10:18.218 --> 10:20.253 And often times when they're choosing a schedule, 10:20.253 --> 10:22.255 it's not where you're going, it's when you're going 10:22.255 --> 10:23.256 to be off. 10:23.256 --> 10:26.192 The ideal schedule, you don't take your first week off until, 10:26.192 --> 10:28.194 you know, four or five weeks in to the season. 10:28.194 --> 10:31.264 And it works down from there. 10:31.264 --> 10:33.266 Somebody is going to have to take the first week of the 10:33.266 --> 10:35.268 season and probably this year, it'll be us because 10:35.268 --> 10:36.369 I'm on the crew chief. 10:36.369 --> 10:38.905 My crew chief has the least seniority in all the league. 10:38.905 --> 10:39.906 (Greg)  There you go. 10:39.906 --> 10:44.544 I mentioned in the open how many years that you honed your craft 10:44.544 --> 10:45.545 in the minor leagues. 10:45.545 --> 10:47.347 A number of different leagues. 10:47.347 --> 10:49.349 One of those leagues being the Southern League. 10:49.349 --> 10:52.552 And if you look up Andy Fletcher Wikipedia, 10:52.552 --> 10:56.055 folks, you'll see a deal with the Birmingham Barons when 10:56.055 --> 10:58.358 Michael Jordan played just one year, 10:58.358 --> 10:59.359 I believe it was. 10:59.359 --> 11:00.293 Right? 11:00.293 --> 11:02.462 You have a good story to tell us about you, 11:02.462 --> 11:05.231 Jordan, Terry Francona, who was the skipper of the Barons. 11:05.231 --> 11:06.299 He was, yeah. 11:06.299 --> 11:09.769 One night in Birmingham, one of the hitters for Birmingham hit a 11:09.769 --> 11:13.506 ground ball, double play ball with Jordan on first and Jordan 11:13.506 --> 11:16.309 tried to slide in to second and take out the second baseman 11:16.309 --> 11:17.310 or short stop. 11:17.310 --> 11:18.311 I forget which. 11:18.311 --> 11:20.313 So, I couldn't turn the double play. 11:20.313 --> 11:21.481 He was way out of the baseline. 11:21.481 --> 11:22.682 And I called interference. 11:22.682 --> 11:24.684 I called him out and the batter runner. 11:24.684 --> 11:26.686 And he jumped up and immediately said, 11:26.686 --> 11:28.087 "Andy, you know how tall I am? 11:28.087 --> 11:30.123 I'm big enough to reach the bag from here." 11:30.123 --> 11:32.125 I said, "Michael, you couldn't reach the bag 11:32.125 --> 11:33.126 with the telephone pole there." 11:33.126 --> 11:35.195 Michael was a good guy to us, he really was. 11:35.195 --> 11:36.195 He knew all of our names. 11:36.195 --> 11:37.196 Yeah, that's pretty cool. 11:37.196 --> 11:38.198 He really was. 11:38.198 --> 11:39.832 He treated us quite well. 11:39.832 --> 11:41.834 Terry Francona, who was the manager of the team, 11:41.834 --> 11:44.304 he came out to make sure that I didn't throw Jordan 11:44.304 --> 11:45.305 out of the game. 11:45.305 --> 11:47.307 Although, he wasn't close to getting out of the game. 11:47.307 --> 11:49.475 But he got thrown out of the game and the hitting coach, 11:49.475 --> 11:50.476 he got thrown out of the game. 11:50.476 --> 11:52.478 A couple of guys get thrown out of the game. 11:52.478 --> 11:53.479 But Jordan stayed in. 11:53.479 --> 11:54.480 But I tell you this. 11:54.480 --> 11:56.482 The next day, Michael made a point to come. 11:56.482 --> 11:58.484 I was working home plate the next day. 11:58.484 --> 12:00.420 Michael made a point to come to the plate his first at bat and 12:00.420 --> 12:03.990 tell me he was wrong and he apologized for kind of getting 12:03.990 --> 12:05.992 all that stirred up the night before. 12:05.992 --> 12:09.195 Yeah, you also told me that you threw out Albert Pujols one time 12:09.195 --> 12:10.897 and he apologized soon after. 12:10.897 --> 12:11.898 Right? 12:11.898 --> 12:12.899 He did. 12:12.899 --> 12:16.336 Last year in Boston I called in a strike he didn't care for. 12:16.336 --> 12:18.338 He lost his cool and got ejected. 12:18.338 --> 12:21.107 And as we were walking back to the locker after the game he was 12:21.107 --> 12:23.876 waiting for me there and was nice enough to apologize 12:23.876 --> 12:24.877 for his actions. 12:24.877 --> 12:25.878 I got two last year. 12:25.878 --> 12:30.483 The Chicago Cubs manager wanted to get thrown out of the game, 12:30.483 --> 12:33.052 I believe, and said somethings that maybe he wished he wouldn't 12:33.052 --> 12:34.654 have when he got thrown out. 12:34.654 --> 12:37.890 He actually wrote me a note apologizing. 12:37.890 --> 12:41.928 So, does that happen a lot where a manager says, 12:41.928 --> 12:43.463 "Hey, Andy, toss me." 12:43.463 --> 12:45.465 It happens every once in a while. 12:45.465 --> 12:47.467 I mean, they want to do that to get their team going. 12:47.467 --> 12:51.471 Like that particular night, the Cubs were in a tough streak. 12:51.471 --> 12:53.473 They lost like six or seven in a row. 12:53.473 --> 12:55.475 I think more than anything he was just trying to get his guys 12:55.475 --> 12:56.476 going a little bit, you know. 12:56.476 --> 12:58.478 A little fire never hurt anybody. 12:58.478 --> 12:59.479 I understand it. 12:59.479 --> 13:00.413 And that's part of the game. 13:00.413 --> 13:01.414 We get that. 13:01.414 --> 13:03.483 Favorite city to work a game at? 13:03.483 --> 13:05.485 And then I'll ask you about the stadium itself. 13:05.485 --> 13:07.553 But favorite city to go to. 13:07.553 --> 13:09.555 My favorite is probably Chicago. 13:09.555 --> 13:11.557 I like Chicago, New York, Boston. 13:11.557 --> 13:13.660 I like a city where it's a big city. 13:13.660 --> 13:14.661 We stay Downtown. 13:14.661 --> 13:16.029 A lot of places to eat. 13:16.029 --> 13:18.865 I say Chicago because especially if it's a Cubs series, 13:18.865 --> 13:22.835 you have day games and you have nice restaurants within walking 13:22.835 --> 13:24.837 distance so it's easy to get to. 13:24.837 --> 13:25.838 So, that's always a fun town. 13:25.838 --> 13:27.707 Is there a stadium preference? 13:27.707 --> 13:29.709 I've always liked the ballpark in Arlington. 13:29.709 --> 13:35.315 The Texas Rangers ballpark I think is a beautiful ballpark. 13:35.315 --> 13:38.084 Seattle also has a beautiful ballpark that is 13:38.084 --> 13:39.285 overlooked sometimes. 13:39.285 --> 13:41.888 And I think the most overlooked ballpark is Cleveland. 13:41.888 --> 13:44.424 Stand at second base and look in to the ballpark at Cleveland. 13:44.424 --> 13:46.893 It's a beautiful ballpark, too, that gets overlooked a lot. 13:46.893 --> 13:47.894 I've been there. 13:47.894 --> 13:48.895 It's beautiful. 13:48.895 --> 13:53.433 The manager of managers that maybe you respect the most? 13:55.668 --> 13:57.670 I don't know if there is any one guy I could tell you 13:57.670 --> 13:58.671 in particular. 13:58.671 --> 14:01.374 I think for the most part I've had a pretty good relationship 14:01.374 --> 14:02.675 with most all the managers. 14:02.675 --> 14:07.513 (Greg)  How about a player? 14:07.513 --> 14:09.515 Derek Jeter, I think, was one of the classiest guys 14:09.515 --> 14:10.516 that I ever ran across. 14:10.516 --> 14:12.885 I always thought that he played the game hard but I thought he 14:12.885 --> 14:14.454 was fair for the most part. 14:14.454 --> 14:16.556 And he was always a professional. 14:16.556 --> 14:18.558 Rob Manfred is the new commissioner, 14:18.558 --> 14:19.559 replaces Bud Selig. 14:19.559 --> 14:22.428 We talked earlier about tweaking things, the replay. 14:22.428 --> 14:26.099 He has talked about the possibility of lowering the 14:26.099 --> 14:29.936 amount of games in a regular season for 162 back to 154 where 14:29.936 --> 14:31.471 it once was. 14:31.471 --> 14:34.974 Do you know much about him and what do you expect if you do? 14:34.974 --> 14:36.976 What do you think brought Rob Manfred, 14:36.976 --> 14:38.978 a new blood, brings to baseball? 14:38.978 --> 14:40.980 I think it's an interesting time for baseball. 14:40.980 --> 14:45.618 Anytime there is change, it could be interesting just to see 14:45.618 --> 14:47.653 what a new mindset could bring to the game. 14:47.653 --> 14:50.356 We're already seeing the possibility of putting a clock 14:50.356 --> 14:52.725 up for the first time like we talked about earlier 14:52.725 --> 14:54.393 with the inning breaks. 14:54.393 --> 14:56.396 That's something that's very different. 14:56.396 --> 14:57.397 Baseball has never had a clock. 14:57.397 --> 15:02.435 And that was one of his new things. 15:02.435 --> 15:04.103 I don't know much about him. 15:04.103 --> 15:07.907 He was a labor lawyer in New York for a lot of years for 15:07.907 --> 15:09.208 Major League Baseball. 15:09.208 --> 15:12.111 He negotiated our contracts for baseball. 15:12.111 --> 15:13.112 (Greg)  How about that? 15:13.112 --> 15:17.083 But I think he's well respected and I think he did a great job. 15:17.083 --> 15:19.085 You got your first taste of the post season, 15:19.085 --> 15:21.521 as I mentioned, last season, National League wild card game. 15:21.521 --> 15:25.124 I would assume the ultimate goal for an umpire is not 15:25.124 --> 15:26.125 unlike a player. 15:26.125 --> 15:28.127 You want to reach the World Series. 15:28.127 --> 15:29.128 Right? 15:29.128 --> 15:30.129 Absolutely. 15:30.129 --> 15:32.131 I've been fortunate enough to reach all the goals that I've 15:32.131 --> 15:34.133 set for myself except for that one. 15:34.133 --> 15:38.237 When I first started, it was to work the play-off's championship 15:38.237 --> 15:40.239 series of the Appalachian League. 15:40.239 --> 15:43.176 And Midwest League, Southern League, 15:43.176 --> 15:45.178 Pacific Coast League all the way up. 15:45.178 --> 15:49.248 Now I've gotten play-offs first rounds and my ultimate goal is 15:49.248 --> 15:50.249 to work a World Series. 15:50.249 --> 15:53.820 Is seniority the biggest thing or are you graded out 15:53.820 --> 15:54.821 all the time? 15:54.821 --> 15:55.822 It's some of both. 15:55.822 --> 15:58.891 There's some seniority issues there. 15:58.891 --> 16:01.861 And we're great on everything we do. 16:01.861 --> 16:04.697 In this day and age, there's a camera following us every step 16:04.697 --> 16:05.698 of the way. 16:05.698 --> 16:06.699 And you can't hide from that. 16:06.699 --> 16:07.700 (Greg)  Absolutely. 16:07.700 --> 16:09.702 Andy, we like to end all our interviews with something we 16:09.702 --> 16:10.703 call "Five for the Road." 16:10.703 --> 16:12.705 So, I'm going to give you a question. 16:12.705 --> 16:14.707 Quick answer, first thing that comes to mind. 16:14.707 --> 16:15.708 Don't be nervous. 16:15.708 --> 16:17.777 We're going to learn a little bit more about you. 16:17.777 --> 16:19.779 Favorite professional sports team? 16:19.779 --> 16:20.780 Any league. 16:20.780 --> 16:22.481 I grew up a Packers fan. 16:22.481 --> 16:23.483 (Greg)  Green Bay Packers. 16:23.483 --> 16:24.483 Absolutely. 16:24.483 --> 16:26.419 How about favorite pro athlete? 16:26.419 --> 16:27.420 Oh, wow. 16:27.420 --> 16:29.488 I'm an Ole Miss guy so I'll say Eli Manning. 16:29.488 --> 16:30.489 Eli Manning, good choice. 16:30.489 --> 16:31.958 What's your favorite music? 16:31.958 --> 16:32.992 What do you like to listen to? 16:32.992 --> 16:34.927 I'm a country music fan. 16:34.927 --> 16:36.929 (Greg)  In particular, any   artist that stands out? 16:36.929 --> 16:37.930 George Strait. 16:37.930 --> 16:39.932 George Strait is the one guy that I've never.. 16:39.932 --> 16:41.934 In all the celebrities that I've been fortunate enough to be able 16:41.934 --> 16:43.936 to meet, that's the one person I've never met that I would just 16:43.936 --> 16:44.937 absolutely love to meet. 16:44.937 --> 16:45.938 We're going to make it happen. 16:45.938 --> 16:49.408 Do you ever listen to music before a game, 16:49.408 --> 16:50.643 like a player would do? 16:50.643 --> 16:51.644 Some guys do. 16:51.644 --> 16:52.712 I don't. 16:52.712 --> 16:56.048 Favorite movie of all time? 16:56.048 --> 16:57.550 That's a great question. 16:57.550 --> 17:00.987 Kind of cheesy but "Saint Elmo's Fire" is one 17:00.987 --> 17:01.988 of my favorite movies. 17:01.988 --> 17:02.989 (Greg)  "Saint Elmo's Fire?" 17:02.989 --> 17:05.124 I used to love that movie. 17:05.124 --> 17:07.426 Part of that filmed on the horseshoe of the campus 17:07.426 --> 17:09.428 of the University of Maryland, my alma mater. 17:09.428 --> 17:11.430 That's the only reason I bring that up. 17:11.430 --> 17:13.432 Okay, favorite T-V show? 17:15.334 --> 17:16.335 Probably "Seinfeld." 17:16.335 --> 17:18.905 I could watch that over and over and over again. 17:18.905 --> 17:19.906 (Greg)  Yes. 17:19.906 --> 17:22.041 And you can because it's on like five times a day on T-B-S. 17:22.041 --> 17:24.310 It's also on most major league umpire's locker rooms before the 17:24.310 --> 17:26.312 game because it comes on at that time of day. 17:26.312 --> 17:28.314 We're all in the locker room before the game. 17:28.314 --> 17:29.315 Are you serious? 17:29.315 --> 17:33.185 That is probably the number one show on in every locker room 17:33.185 --> 17:34.253 across the country. 17:34.253 --> 17:35.254 Well, listen. 17:35.254 --> 17:37.256 I know you're getting ready to head down to Florida, 17:37.256 --> 17:39.258 getting ready for the regular season. 17:39.258 --> 17:41.260 You are always great to us on the radio show coming on 17:41.260 --> 17:42.261 when we need you. 17:42.261 --> 17:43.262 Andy, thank you so much. 17:43.262 --> 17:45.264 A pleasure having you on the show. 17:45.264 --> 17:46.265 Enjoyed it. 17:46.265 --> 17:47.266 That's Andy Fletcher. 17:47.266 --> 17:48.267 We'll take a break. 17:48.267 --> 17:49.268 "Overtime" is next. 17:49.268 --> 18:14.593 [theme music] 18:14.593 --> 18:16.762 The Rhodes college men's basketball team has had 18:16.762 --> 18:18.030 a tremendous season. 18:18.030 --> 18:19.999 And they are determined to keep it going. 18:19.999 --> 18:22.568 The Lynx won a share of the Southern Athletic Association 18:22.568 --> 18:25.638 regular season title and will host the conference tournament 18:25.638 --> 18:28.374 this weekend by virtue of their undefeated home 18:28.374 --> 18:29.375 conference record. 18:29.375 --> 18:32.778 Head Coach Mike McGeorge, in his fifth season at Rhodes, 18:32.778 --> 18:35.881 has won over 100 games and is 30 and 15 18:35.881 --> 18:37.750 over the past two seasons. 18:37.750 --> 18:40.886 This year's squad is 18 and 6 and went 11 and 3 18:40.886 --> 18:41.887 in conference play. 18:41.887 --> 18:44.890 And now they get the chance to earn the automatic birth into 18:44.890 --> 18:48.194 the N-C-A-A Division Three tournament if they can win this 18:48.194 --> 18:50.296 weekend on their home court. 18:50.296 --> 18:52.632 Earlier this week I had a chance to speak with Mike about his 18:52.632 --> 18:56.602 team and their chances to win the conference tournament title. 18:56.602 --> 18:58.604 Well, Mike, thanks a lot for being with us. 18:58.604 --> 19:00.539 I know it's a busy week for you getting ready 19:00.539 --> 19:01.540 to host the tournament. 19:01.540 --> 19:02.541  Thanks for your time. 19:02.541 --> 19:03.542 Yeah. 19:03.542 --> 19:04.143 Thanks, Greg. 19:04.143 --> 19:04.910 I appreciate you having me. 19:04.910 --> 19:05.678 Well, let's talk about this team. 19:05.678 --> 19:07.346 What makes it so special? 19:07.346 --> 19:09.582 Well, really interestingly enough about it is that we don't 19:09.582 --> 19:11.550 really have a clear strength. 19:11.550 --> 19:14.253 And so, a lot of teams, when we're preparing in front of the 19:14.253 --> 19:16.288 teams, we're like, "Okay, what does this team do best? 19:16.288 --> 19:18.290 What can we take away from them?" 19:18.290 --> 19:20.426 And when teams look at us, it's hard to find that one thing. 19:20.426 --> 19:22.428 You know, we have five guys basically averaging 19:22.428 --> 19:23.429 double figures. 19:23.429 --> 19:25.998 You know, we're really sound defensively but we're not.. 19:25.998 --> 19:28.000 We don't have a dominate shot blocker. 19:28.000 --> 19:30.236  There's no one position   defensively that we're great at. 19:30.236 --> 19:31.237  We're a solid rebounding team. 19:31.237 --> 19:33.205  We don't dominate the glass. 19:33.205 --> 19:36.042  Offensively, we move the   ball and find the open man. 19:36.042 --> 19:38.044  So, whatever   teams are giving us, 19:38.044 --> 19:40.046  our guys, we have   a veteran group. 19:40.046 --> 19:42.048  And they're just really   comfortable and unselfish with 19:42.048 --> 19:44.083 making reads and finding that open man. 19:44.083 --> 19:47.286 So, you know, our greatest strength is kind of that lack of 19:47.286 --> 19:49.488 a weakness or lack of a clear strength. 19:49.488 --> 19:51.791 And so, it's hard for teams to prepare for us. 19:51.791 --> 19:53.793 And we've just been really consistent all year. 19:53.793 --> 19:55.795 Obviously you have that chemistry. 19:55.795 --> 19:56.796 These guys play off each other. 19:56.796 --> 19:58.798 They like playing with each other. 19:58.798 --> 20:01.400 Was it hard to find and discover that chemistry or was it pretty 20:01.400 --> 20:02.635 natural for these guys? 20:02.635 --> 20:03.736 You know, it all takes time. 20:03.736 --> 20:05.738 And each year we've had, you know, 20:05.738 --> 20:07.907 we've had four seniors a year ago and we had three 20:07.907 --> 20:08.908 the year before that. 20:08.908 --> 20:11.777 So, this group has a lot of experience. 20:11.777 --> 20:14.113 But their roles have changed each year and they've had to 20:14.113 --> 20:15.347 adapt and grow in to roles. 20:15.347 --> 20:17.349 And we've had, you know, a couple of injuries over the 20:17.349 --> 20:19.351 years that have changed people's roles mid-stream. 20:19.351 --> 20:22.288 So, it's really about that experience of being in different 20:22.288 --> 20:24.990 roles and having a different dynamic that has helped 20:24.990 --> 20:25.991 this group. 20:25.991 --> 20:27.993  Whatever adversity they   face, it's kind of been, 20:27.993 --> 20:28.994  you know. 20:28.994 --> 20:31.897  We've kind of been through    this road before and we figured 20:31.897 --> 20:32.898  it out before. 20:32.898 --> 20:36.402  And I think that's helped them   the most in terms of finding 20:36.402 --> 20:38.804  that consistency and being   comfortable with each other. 20:38.804 --> 20:41.507 You share the title, second time in three years. 20:41.507 --> 20:44.777 But you get to host because you went undefeated here 20:44.777 --> 20:45.778 on your home court. 20:45.778 --> 20:48.547 Having that advantage this weekend.. 20:48.547 --> 20:50.549 Well, how much of an advantage is it? 20:50.549 --> 20:52.818 Well, I think it's a big advantage if nothing else just 20:52.818 --> 20:53.919 because you're not traveling. 20:53.919 --> 20:56.889 Last year we ended the season with our last four games 20:56.889 --> 20:57.890 on the road. 20:57.890 --> 20:58.958 And we went to.. 20:58.958 --> 21:00.359 And Centre, who we tied with, 21:00.359 --> 21:02.361 won the regular season last year. 21:02.361 --> 21:05.765 And we went to their place and had to play them on their home 21:05.765 --> 21:06.866 floor in the semi-finals. 21:06.866 --> 21:09.835 Lost on a three right at the end of the game. 21:09.835 --> 21:12.838 And just the wear and tear of three consecutive weekends of 21:12.838 --> 21:15.808 that kind of travel with the academic demands our kids are 21:15.808 --> 21:17.810 under, you know, plays a factor. 21:17.810 --> 21:20.679 Now ultimately on game nights, you get 40 minutes and you got 21:20.679 --> 21:22.047 to outplay whoever it is. 21:22.047 --> 21:24.049 But obviously being at home, you know, 21:24.049 --> 21:28.420 we stay on top of the academics, get to rest in your own bed and 21:28.420 --> 21:29.421 all of those things. 21:29.421 --> 21:31.891 And then being on a home floor obviously creates another level 21:31.891 --> 21:33.893 of energy for your group, as well. 21:33.893 --> 21:35.361 As you said, senior laden team. 21:35.361 --> 21:37.730 Guys that have played with each other for a while now. 21:37.730 --> 21:41.233 With that said, is there a player or two that will be key? 21:41.233 --> 21:45.070 That they are in instrumental for playing well or needing to 21:45.070 --> 21:47.072 play well for you guys to be successful? 21:47.072 --> 21:49.375 Yeah, two guys in particular stand out, 21:49.375 --> 21:50.376 two of our seniors. 21:50.376 --> 21:53.279 Drew Miller is a senior from Fort Smith, Arkansas. 21:53.279 --> 21:56.682 And he was first name all conference last year. 21:56.682 --> 21:58.684 And he just, you know, offensively, 21:58.684 --> 21:59.818 he just has the ability. 21:59.818 --> 22:01.587 He's 6'4" with a 6'7" wingspan. 22:01.587 --> 22:03.589 And he just is able to get it in the paint and make reads. 22:03.589 --> 22:05.591 And he just makes other guys better. 22:05.591 --> 22:07.593 And then defensively, in my opinion, 22:07.593 --> 22:09.595 he's the best defensive player in our league. 22:09.595 --> 22:12.798 And his ability to use his length and his understanding of 22:12.798 --> 22:16.302 our defensive concepts and how versatile it is he can guard, 22:16.302 --> 22:18.304 you know, one through four on the floor. 22:18.304 --> 22:21.240 So, he just does so many things for us that people don't notice. 22:21.240 --> 22:23.242 And our point guard, Luke Collins, 22:23.242 --> 22:24.243 is also a senior. 22:24.243 --> 22:25.244 He's from Birmingham, Alabama. 22:25.244 --> 22:29.148 And, you know, when he goes and plays up tempo and gets us out 22:29.148 --> 22:31.383 running, and he's kind of the heart of our team. 22:31.383 --> 22:34.820 And, you know, it just kind of energizes the whole group. 22:34.820 --> 22:37.856 And so, those two are key as are all of our seniors 22:37.856 --> 22:40.092 and the roles they play. 22:40.092 --> 22:44.163 But those two in particular, when they kind of are dialed in, 22:44.163 --> 22:46.232 we're a pretty tough group to deal with. 22:46.232 --> 22:48.234 (Greg)  You're fine for   you here at Rhodes. 22:48.234 --> 22:50.236  You mentioned   some of the players. 22:50.236 --> 22:51.237  Fort Smith, Arkansas. 22:51.237 --> 22:52.271  Alabama. 22:52.271 --> 22:55.040  Recruiting wise, do you   have to go out of the area? 22:55.040 --> 22:57.409  There's obviously    academic responsibilities 22:57.409 --> 22:59.144  here to attend Rhodes. 22:59.144 --> 23:02.214  How seriously do you   look at the local kids? 23:02.214 --> 23:04.383  Talk about just your   recruiting philosophy. 23:04.383 --> 23:06.418 Well, I think recruiting locally is really important I think to 23:06.418 --> 23:07.419 be able to do that. 23:07.419 --> 23:08.420 Memphis has great basketball. 23:08.420 --> 23:09.421 It has some great schools. 23:09.421 --> 23:12.091 And our starting center, Ryan Van Hoeck is here from town. 23:12.091 --> 23:14.426 So, you know, we're always looking for that local kid. 23:14.426 --> 23:17.229 But when you start talking about our academic standards and the 23:17.229 --> 23:21.267 cost to attend, you know, we have to cast a pretty wide net 23:21.267 --> 23:22.801 to find that right fit. 23:22.801 --> 23:25.571 And somethings, you know, people don't understand about Division 23:25.571 --> 23:28.974 Three basketball is the N-C-A-A has a stat where there's three 23:28.974 --> 23:32.378 percent of high school seniors that play on their varsity high 23:32.378 --> 23:35.447 school basketball team go on to play in Division One, 23:35.447 --> 23:36.682 Two or Three schools. 23:36.682 --> 23:38.984 So, you know, if you take that, then only three percent are 23:38.984 --> 23:39.985 going on to play. 23:39.985 --> 23:42.922 And then our academic standards eliminate at least 85% 23:42.922 --> 23:44.223 of the student population. 23:44.223 --> 23:47.192 It's a pretty elite group of kids that are able to play 23:47.192 --> 23:48.193 at this level. 23:48.193 --> 23:51.130 And so, you know, we got to stretch pretty big net to find 23:51.130 --> 23:52.131 that right fit. 23:52.131 --> 23:54.133 Alright, final thing for you, Mike. 23:54.133 --> 23:56.135 We talked about the philosophy at Cornell. 23:56.135 --> 23:58.137 What is your philosophy, your coaching philosophy, 23:58.137 --> 23:59.138 at Rhodes? 23:59.138 --> 24:01.073 Well, first and foremost, you know, 24:01.073 --> 24:02.074 Rhodes is a great school. 24:02.074 --> 24:04.076 And so, we get to deal with great kids. 24:04.076 --> 24:06.078 And we feel like we're part of the educational process. 24:06.078 --> 24:08.314  And so, everything we do is   about pursuing excellence. 24:08.314 --> 24:10.316  We want our guys to   pursue it in the classroom. 24:10.316 --> 24:12.318  We want them to   pursue it on the floor. 24:12.318 --> 24:14.320  We want them to pursue   excellence in the community, 24:14.320 --> 24:15.321  as well. 24:15.321 --> 24:18.090  And so, we really work hard   with whatever we're a part of, 24:18.090 --> 24:19.091  whatever we're doing. 24:19.091 --> 24:21.093 We're doing it right and we're doing it first class 24:21.093 --> 24:22.094 in every aspect. 24:22.094 --> 24:24.096 And then we're also about building trust. 24:24.096 --> 24:26.999 And so, you know, we think that the team dynamic is so important 24:26.999 --> 24:29.001 towards athletic success or success 24:29.001 --> 24:30.002 in anything you're doing. 24:30.002 --> 24:32.604 So, everything we do is about building each other's trust. 24:32.604 --> 24:35.074 And we want them thinking whether it's like showing up for 24:35.074 --> 24:38.344 class late or sitting in the back of a classroom or staying 24:38.344 --> 24:40.980 up late playing video games the night before a game or whatever 24:40.980 --> 24:43.282 it is, how are my teammates going to respond 24:43.282 --> 24:44.283 to this decision. 24:44.283 --> 24:46.418 And so, when we get guys thinking in that way, 24:46.418 --> 24:48.420 then you get a pretty good culture in your program. 24:48.420 --> 24:50.422 And we think that sets them up really well 24:50.422 --> 24:51.423 for their life ahead. 24:51.423 --> 24:53.425 Mike, thank you so much for being with us. 24:53.425 --> 24:56.028 Best of luck to you this weekend and congratulations to get this 24:56.028 --> 24:58.030 far to be able to host the tournament this week. 24:58.030 --> 24:59.031 Thanks a lot, Greg. 24:59.031 --> 24:59.965 Appreciate it. 24:59.965 --> 25:02.368 The tourney action tips off at 1:00 p-m on Friday while the 25:02.368 --> 25:04.870 Lynx hit the hardwood at 6:00 p-m. 25:04.870 --> 25:07.272 It will be a busy weekend in hoop city as the Grizzlies 25:07.272 --> 25:10.609 return home to face the Clippers tomorrow night at FedExForum, 25:10.609 --> 25:13.379 while the Tigers will host Tulsa on Saturday evening. 25:13.379 --> 25:15.748 And don't forget to catch the replay of the Tigers 25:15.748 --> 25:19.318 and 21st ranked S-M-U Saturday at 10:30 p-m 25:19.318 --> 25:20.686 right here on W-K-N-O. 25:20.686 --> 25:22.087 And one other note for ya. 25:22.087 --> 25:25.591 "Sports Files" is changing days and time the next two weeks. 25:25.591 --> 25:27.593 We'll be with you on Friday March 6th 25:27.593 --> 25:29.695 and the 13th at 7:30 p-m. 25:29.695 --> 25:32.898 Until then, have a great week and we'll see you next time. 25:32.898 --> 26:08.600 [theme music] 26:08.600 --> 26:10.202 (female announcer)  Production funding   for "Sports Files" is 26:10.202 --> 26:13.405  made possible in part by.. 26:13.405 --> 26:15.474 (male narrator)  Infiniti of Memphis has    moved to Germantown road 26:15.474 --> 26:18.110  just half mile north of   Wolfchase Galleria and is proud 26:18.110 --> 26:21.346  to support W-K-N-O for its   quality broadcasting and service 26:21.346 --> 26:22.681  to our community. 26:22.681 --> 26:24.550  Quality and service --   No wonder Infiniti of Memphis 26:24.550 --> 26:27.486  feels at   home on W-K-N-O. 26:27.486 --> 26:31.486 CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY W-K-N-O, MEMPHIS.