JD: I want you to tell us and the audience how you learned of BAB and what it means to you.

GS: Leland and I were working together, and we'd have batting practice at Taylor...I was one of the first tag-alongs for BAB. It started off that way, and then they started (saying) "Let's try to gather enough to get a game going" and so we had enough to play 5-on-5...that's how I learned about it. BAD ASS Baseball means a lot to me. I got a chance to meet other people. It's more about the comraderie than it is about playing, although I do love baseball, I've developed new friendships and they're meaningful to me.

 

JD: I want you to tell us about the softball league you participate in when you're not playing BAD ASS Baseball.

GS: I play on Thursday nights in a league at Twin Creeks. (My team is) actually a pretty good team; we've been to the championship game for the past 3 seasons, although we've come up short every time. Guess you could call us the Buffalo Bills of softball. Hopefully the winter league season we're in right now, we can go all the way.

 

JD: Greg, the play at the plate against Soonam, were you out or safe in your opinion?

GS (not waiting for question to be finished): I was safe. In my opinion, I was safe. You can look back at it from different angles, the throw was there but my feet were first. It was a close play, but to this day I still say I was safe.

 

JD: I noticed that early in your career you played a lot of infield, especially SS, and pitched a lot. These days, not so much. Is there a particular reason why? Do you see yourself playing a lot of infield in the future?

GS: Honestly, I look at the league and there's a lot of great players...if Greg Lynas or (Bryan) Bush is on my team, I'm not gonna play SS because they have a better glove than I do. Whatever it takes to win a ballgame. If it means me not playing a key position that's fine with me. All I care about is getting the W.

 

JD: Word. for players who don't know, you were the one who introduced the infamous Ryan Ledeit to BAD ASS Baseball. Can you tell us about how you two met, and how you introduced the league to him?

GS: How I met him was pretty much through my (then) girlfriend; he was her best friend's boyfriend. I heard that he played baseball and supposedly was one of the top high school baseball players. Something personal happened to him and he just could not play anymore. So one day we went out for batting practice at Silver Creek high school baseball field...he was just hittin' BOMBS. All through the trees and onto the street, he was just hittin' bombs. So I figure, I'll bring this guy in (to BAB)...yeah, his skill level topped everybody in the league but I figured "why not?"

 

When he started out he didn't really know anybody (but) this was a way for him to get out, get to meet some people and add people to his life. That's basically how I got him into it. It would be something good for him, you know? He hadn't been playing ball in a long time. I'd been listening to his stories and his regrets, and I figured, why not (have him) come out and play with a bunch of dudes and just have fun?

 

JD: Do you remain in touch with either he or Nick English (former BAD ASS introduced with Ledeit)?

GS: Yeah. Nick English is actually up in Seattle; he moved up there because of school and his job. I still keep in touch with him. As far as Ryan, I still see him. He's in our softball league and actually doing pretty good, too.

 

JD: Now, I wanna talk a little bit about Greg Sacramento. Most everyone, even those who don't know you that well, know you're the biggest Lakers fan in Northern California (Greg laughs). Tell us was that the case even before 1996 when they got Kobe and Shaq, or did it develop later on in your adult life?

GS: Since I was a kid, I've always been a Laker fan. How I became a Laker fan? Back in the 80's my uncle---who is actually from Boston---was a HUGE Celtics fan. (Practically) everytime I'd go to his house during the summer, you know, the Lakers and the Celtics were in the finals. So he introduced me to the Laker/Celtic rivalry. You know when we're kids, we naturally wanna go against the elders. So they had the purple and the gold and they were from California---back then I didn't know any other California teams. I didn't know any other basketball teams! Ever since then I've been a Lakers fan. I had every Lakers jersey: Magic Johnson, the back to back...

 

It was also the fact I fell in love with Magic Johnson. He was the ultimate team player, and that's part of the reason I rooted for the Lakers--Showtime. That and the fact they were beating the Celtics too and I could throw it in my uncle's face.

 

JD: Your uncle must have enjoyed this most recent NBA Finals.

GS: (laughs) I'm sure he did.

 

JD: You sent me a MySpace video, a commercial with Kobe Bryant and a few other people dancing to the Old Time Rock & Roll song. Did you know one of them was Michael Phelps?

GS: Yeah, it was Michael Phelps, Tony Hawk and A-Rod.

 

JD: Good. Cuz I only knew two of them, Kobe and A-Rod, and misidentified Michael Phelps as Tony Romo, and I didn't know who the hell the other one was. This won't be in the interview; I just wanted to point out.

 

What was your take on the Kobe Bryant rape situation (before the case was thrown out)?

GS: I didn't think he raped her. I believed the woman saw an opportunity to get money, and she obviously got something. I looked at it like this: If you're married, you should stick to your vows. I lost a lot of respect for Kobe as a person. As a basketball player he's great, I even have more respect for him as a basketball player especially after last year---he finally saw that the team is better than personal awards, even though he got the MVP last year, like he said he wouldn't have gotten it without his teammates. That's why they went to the NBA Finals.

 

So, I still have respect for him as a basketball player, but I don't like him as a person just because of that.

 

JD: On a lighter note, I wanna ask you about this recent story: Shaq expressed an interest in wanting to return to L.A. when his contract is up. How do you feel about that?

GS: I feel why not? As long as it doesn't disrupt the team I don't have a problem with it. I think, if anything, Shaq would have to understand he'd probably come off the bench. When you look at the Lakers roster with Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol---he'd have to come off the bench. That's my thing, but I wouldn't mind having him.

 

JD: In 2006 BAB played 34 games. You played 28. What are the chances of you playing that percentage of games in the future?

GS: To be totally honest with you...I'm not sure. The fact that I'm back in school and Sundays are the only days I can catch up on any homework, (plus) paperwork from my job I might have to do on the weekends too--it'd be really tough. Don't get me wrong, I wanna try to get to a majority of the games, but I probably wouldn't stick around for two. Maybe if the games started on time at 10:00 I could stay for two, as long as I could get back in the afternoon to do homework. I understand if I get drafted last or second to last, cuz captains wanna draft guys who are committed, not guys who are iffy.

 

JD: I think I speak for the whole league when I say just having you out for even half the games would be a plus. On that note, you're the only original who's never been a series captain. If the league ever wanted you to run a team, do you think you could make it out to 3-5 Sundays in a row?

GS: As much as I would love to do it, I would have to pass, only because I don't know what the future holds as far as homework, work---I don't wanna put myself in the position of being a captain and flaking out cuz I have other things to do outside of BAB. I would WANT to---I see myself playing til I'm about 40 or 45 as long as I'm in decent shape---and who knows, maybe when I'm done with school and have free time during summer. But as of next season I don't think I could commit myself to being a captain.

 

JD: Why did you miss the last game of 2008? I remember close to the end of the 2006 season you brought out your Fantasy Football draft on the phone and actually held up the game while you did it. Did that have anything to do with it?

GS: Actually, I had stuff going on with my family that I promised that I would do. I know that a couple of years ago I was with someone I'd been dating for a couple of months and I wasn't making it to BAD ASS Baseball. There were actually only one or two Sundays that I didn't make it to baseball because of "extra-curricular activities" I was having with this person I was dating---

 

JD: From a selfish standpoint, since she was keeping you from baseball, I'm glad she's gone then.

GS:---me too, I'll put it that way. But the actual reason I wasn't showing up was I had keys to a basketball gym, and in order for me to use the basketball gym for free, I had to open the gym for my mom and dad. Then I had to stay close by to close it up. They were doing me a favor by letting me use it, and so I did them a favor.

 

Cav thinks the reason I wasn't showing up was cuz I was JUST having sex, but honestly that was only once or twice. But this league is about busting balls. We all do it cuz we all like each other. You gotta have a thick skin.

 

JD: You were Cav's roommate for a period of time. Describe that experience.

GS: It was interesting. But I got a chance to know Cav. There are misconceptions about him but he really is a decent guy, a cool dude. He'll get your back, especially if you're a really close friend. One thing about him--he does bust a lot of balls. (Laughs) When he asked me to wear that bunny suit, I KNEW I was gonna get shit for that.

 

But I didn't care, it was all in good fun.

 

JD: Giants or A's?

GS: My answer is always gonna be both. Rob sent me a MySpace comment saying "Pick a team!" with the split hat on. It's weird, but my dad's father was a Giants fan, and my Mom's father was an A's fan, so I liked both. That's always been how I was. Seems like all my sports relationships come from family. I was torn apart in the (1989) World Series, but I went for the A's because I hated when the Dodgers beat them the year before. That's why I don't like interleague play---I don't know who to go for!

 

JD: Do you remember when Kuz hit you in the foot with the line drive while you were on first base?

GS (laughs): Yeah. I'm just glad it didn't hit me in the knee or other part of my leg. It got my shoe. That's why I wouldn't wanna play third anymore; these guys hit balls hard sometimes.

 

JD: Generic questions: Would you rather lose in a blowout, or by one or two runs?

GS: I hate both, but I'd pick blowout, just because a close loss hurts more. When you've been battling with your teammates and you think you're going to win and you don't...it's the worst feeling in the world. At least in a blowout you know you just sucked butt.

 

JD: Favorite field to play on?

GS: Taylor, because it's like our Fenway Park, with a lot of tradition. I still wish we could play one series there.

 

JD: Any particular game or moment that stands out for you?

GS: If I had to pick, there was a game, not sure if it was exhibition or series but it was at Taylor, bottom of the 9th and I'm up with a runner on 2nd. Every kid's dream. I got a hit, guy scored, and then we got a walkoff homer. I always cherish moments when I came through for the team.

 

JD: You have the top 7---no, there's 26 guys in the league now. Let's make it the top 9 picks in the draft. Who do you take?

GS (takes a VERY long time to think it over): Torance, Kuz, Andraesen, Simas, Bush, Cav, Ed, Lynas and Leland. That's nine but I gotta take Rob, too. It's kind of hard to pick because everyone contributes in their own way. JD