Inadvertent Interview

I had my first Ducksnorts book interview on Friday. It probably would’ve gone better if either of us had realized we were doing an interview. Anyway, I was hanging out at Starbucks and Some Guy asked me a bunch of questions about the book while I was trying to work on it. Here’s a rough transcription:

Some Guy: You studying for a test?
Ducksnorts: No.
SG: Oh, it looks like you’re studying for a test. You’re not studying for a test?
DS: No. Um, I’m… uh, writing a book.
SG: Have you ever done that before?
DS: Nope, this is my first.
SG: I don’t read much.
DS: Ah, okay.
SG: I’m more of an audio person. I get my news from TV or the radio. I like to listen to books on tape.
DS: I do that sometimes on a long drive.
SG: People who read books are loners.
DS: Um…
SG: Is it about politics?
DS: No, sports.
SG: Oh, that’s a tough subject.
DS: Yeah, it’s a lot of research.
SG: Is that what writing a book is? Research?
DS: Pretty much.
SG: You can get people to do that for you.
DS: Uh-huh.
SG: You can pay thousands of dollars and they’ll do the research. [Ed note: I'm available to do research for thousands of dollars; let's talk.]
DS: Where’s the fun in that?

He smiled and stopped asking questions. I got back to writing. Apparently the interview had come to an end. Thanks again to Some Guy for taking the time to chat with me about the book.

13 Responses »

  1. That was too funny, GY. BTW, I am also available to do research for thousands of dollars; heck, I’ll do it for less than Geoff if anyone’s interested.

  2. Good stuff GY. If he would have said something at all complimentary, you could have put it on the back cover!

  3. Great entry,GY. MLB.com is reporting that Buck O’Neil has been awarded the Medal of Freedom. Truly someone who deserved the award. Now if the Hall would do it’s job.

  4. ESPN.com is reporting that the Padres have come to terms with Doug Brocail. No word yet on Giles or Wells, though.

  5. I’m available to do research for a mere “hundreds of dollars” not thousands.

  6. Are you sure that wasn’t Mike Lupica?

  7. Geoff, glad you are having fun.
    I love the last response, picturing Some Guy wondering away from your table.

    I’m holding out for the tens of thousands of dollars to do research.
    Heck, it works for Scott Boras.

    BTW, should the Padres invite Chin-Hui Tsao to ST? I thought his stuff were supposed to be pretty good.

  8. Thanks, guys, glad you enjoyed it. Didi, that’s not a bad thought. Another pitcher who was non-tendered is the Cubs’ Jerome Williams. Not sure how he’d fit in, but he seems like someone potentially worth the gamble.

  9. SAN DIEGO (AP) – Doug Brocail and the San Diego Padres have agreed on a $500,000, one-year deal, pending the right-handed reliever passing a physical.

  10. OK, here is an obscure piece of Padre trivia:

    What Padre pitcher finished the season 1-7 with an ERA of 4.26 in 11 starts and finished 6th in the Cy Young voting that year?

  11. Clarification: 1-7 with the Padres

  12. Re: 11 & 12 Fred Norman in 1973 went 1-7 with the pads with an ERA of 4.26, but also went 12-6 with the reds with an ERA of 3.30.