ArticlesCategory: SportsMeet Jeff Francis
By: Jake P
Rockies Interview by Jake Payne:
I arrived at Coors Field for my interview with Jeff Francis, #26, pitcher for the Colorado Rockies. They gave me my own press pass with my name on it to wear and then escorted me down to the dugout for my interview. It was pretty cool to see what was behind the scenes as we walked to meet him. When we arrived he was sitting in the dugout icing his left shoulder. (He's a lefty who had surgery to repair his shoulder in February and everyone is hoping he will return to pitching really soon.) I introduced myself and then he offered me a seat in the dugout next to him! Here is what we talked about:
What's the best thing about being a major league baseball player? I get to do what I love every day and play on the best baseball fields in the country
Do you have any personal superstitions or things you do before a game for good luck? I try not to rely on that, I am really not superstitious but some of us guys do have certain routines we do before each game
What kind of music do you like? I like rock and roll, old stuff, new stuff but my favorite band is The Counting Crows.
What was the first thing you bought after receiving your first paycheck? GMC Yukon
What do you do when you are not playing baseball? Where do you hang out?Well, we are not able to be at home very much so I really like to hang out there as much as I can. I also love to go fishing even it's for half a day or a full day on a lake or creek somewhere local. It's a great escape!
What do you like to watch on T.V. besides sports? LOST is my favorite show. I never miss an episode so I have to record them sometimes! I also really like C.S.I.
Reality T.V....love it or hate it? Don't like it at all!
If you could have one superhero power - what would it be? To fly! I have actually thought of this one before. Superman was my favorite movie and superhero growing up so definitely being able to fly would be my pick
Where is your favorite place in the world? Rome, Italy. I really like it there.
If you weren't a professional baseball player, what would you be doing?Good question! I probably would be a physicist maybe doing cancer or space research.
Favorite fast food restaurant? McDonalds for sure. I'm not ashamed to say!
Who was your hero when you were growing up? My older brother who is 4 years older than me.
How would your friends describe you? Canadian! They would probably also say that I'm a funny guy.
What celebrity would play you in a movie about your life? The guy from Transformers, Shia LaBeouf. He is about my age and we both have curly hair!
Do you go to Starbucks? What do you order? Hot chocolate or a Café Mocha
Are you on Facebook, MySpace or Twitter? Facebook
What is your most embarrassing moment? In my rookie year with the Rockies, the older players made all of us rookies dress up like babies. We were on an airplane at the time but they made us stay like that when we landed and then wave to the fans when we got off the plane. We even had baby bottles!
Have you ever had toilet paper stuck to the bottom of your shoe? No! But if I did....that would have been my most embarrassing moment!
What was your favorite subject in school? Physics
How would you spend $1000 in one day? Take a guided fishing trip with a few people. That would run about $1000.
Do you have a bad habit? Hmm...that's a hard one. I don't chew tobacco, or smoke or bite my nails. I guess I would have to say that I leave wet towels on the bed. My wife yells at me for that.
What is something about you that most people don't know? That my major in college was physics. I think most people would not expect a MLB player to have had that major.
What advice would you give me or any other teenager who plays baseball and might want to play professionally? Make it fun! If you are having fun then you will want to keep playing and you will just get better and better.
After my interview with Jeff we took a few pictures together and I thanked him and said goodbye. He is really a nice guy and even though I was pretty nervous, I had a great time!
