FATHER IN GAME ONE OF THE WORLD
SERIES IS COMING UP TO THE
PODIUM RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
NOW, BASEBALL QUESTIONS.
MARK?
IT
CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A TOUGH
WEEK FOR YOU.
HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO TAKE THE
MOUND TO CLINCH THE WORLD
SERIES?
REALLY EXCITING.
IT IS A DREAM COME TRUE.
I THINK EVERYBODY FEELS THE SAME
WAY.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED AND HAPPY
TO WIN THE GAME WITH A CHANCE TO
WIN THE WHOLE THING.
WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS
TOMORROW.
GEORGE?
SINCE YOU PITCHED LAST, HAVE
YOU DONE ANYTHING BASEBALL
RELATED?
I PLAYED A LITTLE
BIT.
I PLAYED CATCH IN THE BATTING
CAGE.
FAR LEFT.
WHAT IS YOUR EMOTIONS GOING
TO BE LIKE TOMORROW?
FOR ME, I WILL BE REALLY
EXCITED.
YOU KNOW, I WILL THANK
GOD FOR
MY OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THE
MOUND AND SHOW THE WORLD
WHY I'M
HERE.
TO COMPETE AGAINST THE OTHER
TEAM AND WIN.
UNFORTUNATELY, MY DAD WILL NOT
SEE ME PITCH TOMORROW.
WHAT ELSE?
IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT
SITUATION WHEN YOU PITCHED IN
GAME ONE.
WERE YOU OK WITH HOW IT WAS ALL
HANDLED?
YEAH, I THINK IT WAS THE BEST
WAY TO TELL ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T
KNOW -- IF THEY TOLD ME BEFORE,
I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO PITCH.
TO DECIDE TO TELL ME LATER, I
THINK THAT WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE.
LIKE I SAID, I DON'T THINK I WAS
ABLE TO PITCH THAT DAY IF I WAS
TOLD BEFORE THE GAME.
JUST A QUICK TWO-PART
QUESTION -- WILL YOU HONOR YOUR
FATHER ANYWAY TOMORROW?
I WILL PUT IT INSIDE MY HAT,
HIS INITIALS.
AND IN MY GLOVE.
I WILL DO THAT TOMORROW.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT
YOUR FATHER AND WHAT KIND OF
PERSON HE WAS?
WHAT KIND OF INFLUENCE THAT HE
HAVE ON YOUR LIFE?
HE WAS EVERYTHING TO ME.
HE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST MEN
EVER.
I REMEMBER WHEN HE BOUGHT ME MY
FIRST LOVE.
MY SPIKES.
HE TOOK ME TO THE FIELD.
HE KNEW
THAT I WANTED TO BE A
BASEBALL PLAYER.
HE BOUGHT EVERYTHING FOR ME.
HE PUT ME IN THE RIGHT WAY.
MORE QUESTIONS?
IN THE CENTER.
SPEAKING OF ALL WHAT YOUR
FATHER DID FOR YOU, HOW MUCH
WOULD IT MEAN FOR YOU TO GO OUT
IN YOUR FIRST GAME AFTER THIS
TRAGEDY AND CLINCH THE WORLD
SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP?
FOR ME,
I WISH HE COULD BE
HERE RIGHT NOW AND ENJOY EVERY
GAME I PITCH.
TOMORROW WILL BE -- I WILL THINK
OF MY MOM AND MY FAMILY.
THEY WILL BE SO HAPPY.
SHE TOLD THE BEFORE I GOT HERE
TO ENJOY THE GAME LIKE I ALWAYS
DO AND BE PROUD.
WE ARE PROUD OF YOU.
AND MAKE PEOPLE PROUD, MORE
PROUDER THAN THEY ARE.
YOUR DAD -- SHE TOLD
ME.
HE WOULD BE REALLY HAPPY.