Q & A With Shane Victorino [Video]
By World Wide Ed
Alright alright! It's another exciting day up in hurr. Can you feel it?
I'd like to first start off by welcoming you new readers who found your way here via my floating head on the cover of today's paper. Hope you like what you see and decide to check back often!
I would also like to send mad love to all y'all regular (dare I say daily?) readers! Majahloz for being a loyal member of our little WWE `ohana we got goin' on ova hea!
Earlier this month, I asked you to post your questions for Mr. Shane Victorino to my blog. You see, your boy had the unique opportunity to meet and interview our beloved All Star and I wanted to take some of your questions with me, as we did with Bruddah BJ Penn. Well, I finally had the chance to edit, transcribe, and Youtube the puppy, and, below, is the fruit of our loins, er labor.
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-fh0p1FANY
[bB ]: Did you have any baseball heroes and did you collect baseball cards of them?
I collected baseball cards, but I didn't have really no baseball heroes growing up. I was very big into every sport I think. I never really focused on baseball, but I watched it definitely as a kid, but you know I never really was like "baseball's gonna be my passion," you know growing up as a kid. And of course now it is my passion, it is my job, it is my career, yeah I never really had any baseball heroes.
(Ed's notes: Sorry beeBz, I got rayboyjr's question mixed up with yours! *blush*)
[hemajang]: Does Shane have any thoughts about life after baseball.
Life after baseball. Right now, you know what, I'm trying to line myself up with some things. You know things that you brainstorm. Hopefully I'll have a long enough career, and hopefully I'll save enough money that I make during my career and hopefully get to retire and sit back on the beach, but no, I definitely want to uh, you know anytime in this business I think you meet so many people you know, you just, you try to keep getting better and you try to keep learning and you always listen to people's advice and try to get the best advice you can.
[Matt ]: what's it like when he runs into other Hawaii boys in the league?
What's it like? I mean it's just like you know it's one of those things where it happens everywhere. You know how Hawaii is. We're very family oriented, we always stick together. Like last night for instance, going over to support BJ (at UFC 101), going around the league and facing guys like Tyler Yates, and Brandon League, and playing against Kurt Suzuki. You feel good because you see a fellow "Hawaiian," a guy that you know, hey, there's not many of us out there that get the opportunity to do what we're doing. You know you feel good for the guys that get the opportunity to go out there and do that.
[kuya.d ]: What do his teammates ask him to bring back for them from Hawaii?
Um, you know what, a lot of them always ask about the pineapples. Hawaii's got great pineapples. We got a lot of guys on our team that love pineapples. You know I brought President Obama... I gave him macadamia nuts and chocolates during the All Star game, so, you know stuff like that, little things like that that you bring home from Hawaii.
[NeedaHobby ]: did he know Kurt Suzuki growing up and does he keep in contact with him?
Yeah, no yeah. In fact we just spoke last night during the fights. He text messaged me over the phone and we definitely, I did play against him growing up. He was a couple years behind me. I think he was a sophomore when I was a senior. But I definitely played against Kurt. It's definitely exciting to see another guy, another fellow Maui boy in fact, do well and with guys like Tyler, with Brandon, you know just seeing the state of Hawaii do well in baseball.
[rayboyjr]: Which current Major League player(s) are you a big fan of? Have you asked for autographs or game-used stuff from them after a game?
Yeah, no I get autographs from as many guys as I can. I never know how long I'm going to be playing in this game. I think when you go out there every day, playing with guys like Albert (Pujols), playing with guys like Jimmy (Rollins), Chase (Utley), and being friends with guys like (Ryan) Howard, you know being friends with the guys on my team, especially, you know, we got so many guys that are good on our team. I'm definitely a guy that likes to talk to people, and say hi and get to know people, so...
[zzzzzz]: Has he got any of his teammates hooked on Spam Musubi? Is PETA still giving him grief about Spam Musubi being his favorite food?
No PETA's not giving me a hard time yet this year, but Scott Eyre, one of our relievers, he's big into SPAM. He bought me some SPAM last week and we actually fried it up and ate it. Yeah we have some fun around here.
[skycastles]: Boxers or briefs?
Boxers or briefs? No answer on that one (*laughs*). No answer to that one. A little too much for me. (*laughs*)
(Ed's notes: Never again sky! Nevahhhhhhh agaaaaain!
)
[Dave Oi]: What do you miss most about Maui in particular (not necessarily Hawaii)…besides family & friends.
What do I miss most about Maui in particular? I think uh, the beautiful weather, the beautiful beaches. Just paradise. I definitely miss that. The Jersey shore is about an hour from here, and it's definitely not walking out to the white sandy beaches of Hawaii and uh, you know, it's definitely different living on the east coast. But like I always said, if everybody's healthy and my family's doing well, home will always be home. But when I retire, that's where I plan to be, I plan to be back home in Hawaii. I make my house right now what we consider the 9th island, and that's in Las Vegas in the off season. When all is said and done, I definitely want to move home to Hawaii again.
[snow]: Does he feel that, coming out of a small state like Hawaii, he was at a disadvantage trying to break into the major leagues? Or might that have somehow worked in his favor?
Um, I say yes and no. It might've worked in my favor, but yet it might not have. I think once you get to where I'm at, when you get drafted, I think that everybody's on uh, you know there's guys that are, you know a different level, 1st rounder 2nd rounder, but you know what, to me, when you get drafted, everybody has a shot. If you work hard, you play the game the right way, you try to go out there with the right approach. You know I've seen a lot of guys get drafted after me, a lot of guys get drafted before me that didn't get to the big leagues, so I think it depends on the individual, the character of the individual. Everybody has a chance. It might've helped me in a way being from Hawaii, but I think everybody gets a fair shot.
[YN]: what's the weirdest request he has ever gotten from a female fan?
Weirdest request. Boy, you get some weird ones. Some I can't talk about on camera, but some of the things you get asked to do, especially by female fans, it's like, I can't do it. It's just not realistic. You know being around and having a passion for the game and fans loving you I think is such a nice thing. The most I do is sign balls you know and do little things like that.
[uncle jimmy]: Shane's arrival and rise to a starting spot pretty much coincided with the re-emergence of the Philly Phranchise. try ask him if Pilly peopo consider him a good luck charm.
*modest laugh* I guess yes and no. I think this team's a good team, but I think we all work together, we work hard. You know it might've been just a coincidence, but you know what, I appreciate the opportunity that I get to play here in this lovely city. And it's one of those things where you never take it for granted.
...
If it sounded like I was kinda rushing, I really was. I had taken up a good part of his warmup time with my previous two sections and could tell he was getting a bit antsy. As you can hear towards the ending, some peeps started to trickle into the dugout as well! Apologies if I skipped your question but I think I got most of the non-duplicated ones in dea.
Look for the complete video interview and article at AroundHawaii.com on September 1st!
Hope you enjoyed it yo! Lemme know what you thank!
For those who get one holiday tomorrow (Statehood/Admission Day), enjoy! See y'all on Monday k? Shooots!



World Wide Ed





August 20th, 2009 at 2:07 am
Whoo hoo!! My question made it!
Good job with the interview, Ed-ster!!
August 20th, 2009 at 2:10 am
I think my question made him blushed!!! hahhahaha!!!
August 20th, 2009 at 5:00 am
I checked it out after your wedding clip the other day. Well done bruddah Ed. Shane seemed in a rush, like he had a game or something ...
August 20th, 2009 at 6:26 am
Whoa, very nice interview with local boy Shane. Good job Mr. Ed. Ok who you got lined up next? ...how 'bout sis Minna? I'm sure she has some stories about you.
August 20th, 2009 at 6:55 am
I think the camera needs to be turned around to interview you, Big Sexy Ed!
August 20th, 2009 at 7:40 am
I can't view the video, but congrats again on the interview! Thanks for including my question. I'll check out the video later...
August 20th, 2009 at 7:56 am
LOL! Right before he was yawning though. I hope I wasn't boring him THAT much.
LOLOL!
Nah, it's all gonna be embarrassing stories about me probably, so no!
Bwahahaha! You want your $20 now frankie? Nah, I have a face for radio and voice for closed captioning.
Maybe one day, I'll get in front... we shall see.
No problemo Hobbz! Hope you enjoy it when you check it out at home.
August 20th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Great interview Ed! Was surprised to see my question in there.
Thanks!
We're 1 for 2 with it. Not bad. I like how you always gotta say something like "that's a girl by the way..." Cracks me up!
August 20th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
LOLOL! I noticed that too sky. Natural reflex reaction I guess. Don't want them thinking I'm the one asking the crazy question.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Not crazy, just keepin' it real. Peeps (there's gotta be more than just me out there right?) wanna know this kinda thing about celebs. It's like life changing info LOL You better get a more Hollywood-type for your next interview. They won't be as shame to answer.
I wonder what's more bizarro - you asking him or a girl reporter asking him. I think a girl asking would be more worse, especially in this professional setting. It'd be like she was hitting on him or something.
Did you happen to ask him about any superstitions? Just thought about it and aren't ball players supposed to have weird pre-game routines? Lucky socks or whatever?
August 20th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
That would've been a good one. Baseball players are crazy with superstitions. We used to worry about our socks, underwear (boxer briefs, just FYI!
), bat, the foul ball line (not stepping on it), and more! Don't change anything if you're hitting well, change everything if you're not! Haha!
August 20th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
great interview ed! congrats! it was kind of exciting to hear you ask him my question! woo hoo!
August 20th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
WWE, thanks for asking my question!!
August 20th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Great job Ed! Did you get a chance to spit in the dugout? Seriously, that must have been a great thrill to be there in the dugout. Hope you land many more interview gigs like that!
August 21st, 2009 at 4:18 pm
@Ed - What's up with the foul line thing? I remember watching UH baseball as a kid and the coaches would always make sure to take a big step over the line. I thought they didn't want to mess up the chalk. And about the boxer briefs . . . now I can rest easy because man, that was keeping me up at night. All the possibilities had me tossin' and turnin' LMAO :p
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:47 pm
LOL! N/P Informer! Da only thing. You can make your questions shorter or wot? You could hear me pause and then struggling to re-word it to fit into context for him. Ahahaha! Nah, good question though!
No problemo zzzzzz! Sorry, I just called you "zzz" but I didn't think he wanted wait and hear me say z 6 times! LOL!
That would've been a good thing to do. Dammit! Ah, next time Maks! But yeah, it was a thrill. Looking forward to the next one(s)!
I NEVER stepped on the foul line. Not sure why cause I batted like $%^ regardless.
August 24th, 2009 at 5:01 am
finally had time to watch interview, good job ed and everyone had good questions.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
cool!!! i finally got to read this. loved the interview questions... i think i had a similar question to Dave Oi.
can't read to read the rest in your sept article....
August 25th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
opps... meant can't wait to read the rest next month...