StarTribune.com

What Carlos told Telly

Posted on September 26th, 2008 – 3:31 PM
By Howard

Here’s a pretty good attempt at a transcript of the TellyMonster/Carlos Gomez interview after last night’s win. There’s a little bit of clean-up here and the intent is not to make fun of anyone, but to capture a truly tumultuous and joyful moment. You try interviewing or answering questions when 43,000 people are going batpoopy, regardless of whether English is your first or third language.

TM: How does it feel right now?

CG: You know, I feel great because you know I come to the clubhouse today and I saw a lot of good thinking in the clubhouse. And I say, tonight the team is coming here to play like every day and you see what happens.

TM: In the eighth inning when Denard hit that ball down the line was there anyone in the building that was going to stop you from running?

CG: No, no, no, no! You know, When I saw that ball go down the line I don’t look at nobody. You know, the only thing I look for was the plate.

TM: Four hits tonight. You guys are in first place. It must feel good.

CG: Last year, I got the experience. This year, it’s more fun to me because we’ve got a new team and, you know, they brought me here and I feel so excited when we play here.

TM: One last question, your friend Alexi Casilla came through with another big hit. You’ve got to feel good for one of your best friends.

CG: You know, when I’m on the bench and there’s a guy on second base I know he’s going to get him home because I have a lot of confidence in him, and he’s got a lot of confidence too.

36 Responses to "What Carlos told Telly"

JimCrikket says:

September 26th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

Thanks Howard. I also enjoyed the clip of Casilla’s interview that ESPN showed. He mentioned how he had been told he was swinging at bad pitches and this time he was just going to wait for a strike… and just put the bat on the ball.

Good to know these kids listen when they’re coached… regardless of whether its coaches or veteran team mates doing the talking.

Jason says:

September 26th, 2008 at 3:45 pm

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

OMG Wow. Howard is the best.

Telly should moderate a debate between Go-go and Ozzie Guillen next.

Louie says:

September 26th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

Thank you Howard! THANK YOU GOGO!!!!!!!!!!!!

billhedrick says:

September 26th, 2008 at 3:51 pm

When I saw that they were going to interview Go-go, I turned on my captioning just to see if the poor transcriber could keep up. He/she gave up about a third of the way through. I love Go-go to death, but you have to admit he and the English language have an uneasy truce.

Dome Dog says:

September 26th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

One of my Dad’s favorite players growing up was Tony Oliva. One, because he was such a good player. Two, because he seemed like such a nice guy in interviews but my dad could NEVER understand what Tony O. was trying to say. Here’s hoping that Carlos Gomez follows the footsteps of Tony Oliva!!

gobbledygookguy says:

September 26th, 2008 at 4:01 pm

well i can’t speak any spanish (barely eng), and i can’t imagine moving to a new country and trying to learn their language and customs and then being interviewed on tv and trying to communicate when hyped up from a big win.
i comend all these guys, way more difficult than any of us native twinkies can even guess!
it would be nice to have a latin coach, maybe if ozzie gets fired gardy can hire him.

The Pro from Dover says:

September 26th, 2008 at 4:02 pm

Without trying to get to deep or call anyone out,I don’t know why some think that interview was funny.Try and do an interview using a second language you are not comfortable with.I applaud Gomez and other latin players for having the courage to get in front of the camera.The interview was priceless just for the sheer joy Gomez showed.Other than the Casilla hit in the 11th it ws my favorite moment of the night.

matt says:

September 26th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

GOGO makes sweet love to the English language. no one articulates quite like him, and the English language finds him very refreshing.

GO TWINS!

D says:

September 26th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

i loved it when telly asked gomez if anyone was going to stop him from scoring, No, No, No, No, that was awesome…he was in the zone last night, locked in.

Call Me Stupid says:

September 26th, 2008 at 4:08 pm

I wonder how many takes they had to do with Tony O. in the Delmon Young Commercial.

C Ball Hit Ball…..And after game go to Murray’s and eat big steak…. LOL

Call Me Stupid says:

September 26th, 2008 at 4:12 pm

It wouldn’t be easy doing an interview in another language…But you’d think they would catch on pretty fast with all the time they spend in the States. Especially Tony O after being around here for so long. Probably isn’t any sort of priority to them.

JimCrikket says:

September 26th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

Pro, what I find amusing isn’t that Gomez “struggles” with English… it’s his unbridled enthusiasm. It’s just so fun to watch these kids go through this kind of pennant race with so much excitement and joy in playing the game. May they never lose that feeling for the game, regardless of whether they ever master the English language.

Me says:

September 26th, 2008 at 4:38 pm

Great job Howard,

that was hilarious.

The Pro from Dover says:

September 26th, 2008 at 4:41 pm

Well put Crikket.I also loved the pre game intro of Gomez coming down the clubhouse steps.He might be the one guy least affected by the pressures of pennant race baseball.I’m starting to see why Gardenhire says the team simply plays better with GoGo’s enthusiasm in the line up.

JP says:

September 26th, 2008 at 4:41 pm

Agreed JimCrikket. The joy of the game was expressed very clearly in the interviews of Gomez and Casilla.

Call Me Stupid. Typical American arrogance and ignorance. Do you speak more than 1 language? Probably not. I think it is a black spot that we Americans don’t put forth more effort to learn more languages. You probably haven’t traveled much or you’d have a greater appreciation for that aspect. I’d go on but this is a Twin’s blog.

wheels says:

September 26th, 2008 at 4:45 pm

I’m with JimCrikket and others above. Honestly, there’s no better person to interview in that moment. You interview Mauer or Morneau, and you get the usual, feels great, team effort, battled the whole game, White Sox have a great team. blah blah blech. Not that I don’t appreciate their stoicism, but I don’t believe for a second that’s their initial reaction to that kind of victory.

But you interview Gomez, and it’s like you’re getting raw, unfiltered emotion. I think it’s partially due to his limited proficiency, you know, that he can kind of get away with being a little less, um, diplomatic, but it’s also his age and his personality. He’s not going over talking points, he’s just gushing. And I know the whole team feels the same way as he does, but they’re just a little less likely to express it with such enthusiasm.

The Pro from Dover says:

September 26th, 2008 at 4:49 pm

Wheels you are right,I’d just like to thank whomever was responsible for grabbing GoGo to do the interview.If it was Telly Hughs,great job for having the guts not to go with the safe pick.

tax guy says:

September 26th, 2008 at 4:52 pm

JP - I totally understand your point about speaking two languages - but what is most Americans’ motivation for learning a 2nd language? There isn’t the same motivation as there is in Europe/SA/anywhere else. If we had to learn another language, we would.

The Pro from Dover says:

September 26th, 2008 at 5:00 pm

tax guy,Look at the population demographics and projections for the next twenty to thirty years,and start brushing up on your spanish.And go ahead and call me a liberal or whatever but I don’t understand the “we” and “they” bit.Anyone who lives in this country voluntarily,and pays taxes,is one of “us” as far as I’m concerned

tax guy says:

September 26th, 2008 at 5:03 pm

we, they - I am referring to those of us who have chosen not to learn another language. Get off your pedestal. I’m aware of the demographic shift. Again, once “people” feel they have to learn another language, “they” will. It has nothing to do with the bigotry you’re implying. Thanks, from a fellow liberal.

Call Me Stupid says:

September 26th, 2008 at 5:06 pm

JP, doesn’t matter if I speak multiple languages if I don’t plan on moving somewhere that has a language other than English as the dominant laguage. If I decide to move or work somwhere other than an English speaking land, I will make sure I speak that language and pick up on it probably better than most.

For you to try and tell me what kind of person I AM is ignorant and arrogant on your part.

Nick Sandbun says:

September 26th, 2008 at 5:14 pm

I could understand gomez better then telly

The Pro from Dover says:

September 26th, 2008 at 5:14 pm

tax guy,I was actually refering to “Call me Stupid” with the “we and “they” stuff.I wasn’t implying bigory with your post.I’m not to sure about the one I was refering to.At any rate I’m sorry if I turned Twins talk into politics.That sort of thing just gets under my skin.

And for my part the only spanish I have learned so far is how to order a Negro Modelo cervesa and a Carnitas Tortas at my favorite Mexican Resturant.I’m as guilty as the next guy I suppose.Enjoy the game tonight!

wheels says:

September 26th, 2008 at 5:17 pm

We might just need to calm down a little here; I think we’re all saying the same thing.

If I understand Call me Stupid’s original comment, I think you’re suggesting baseball might be a higher priority than language proficiency, which I’d have to agree with. Baseball is, after all, what’s paying the bills.

I for one will be watching the debate tonight on the big screen while streaming the Twins game on my computer. It’s one of those rare occasions where baseball and politics are a happy couple.

tax guy says:

September 26th, 2008 at 5:21 pm

Fair enough Dover; no harm done. I’m with you on the Negro Modelo - that’s a nice beer. In fact - it’s time to go get one and settle into the couch…

The Pro from Dover says:

September 26th, 2008 at 5:25 pm

Wheels agreed.If I offended anyone,my sincere apologies.The trouble with the blogging “language” is that it is very easy to mis-read someones intentions without hearing the tone of their “voice”.Again, have agood night watching the game everyone.

JP says:

September 26th, 2008 at 5:44 pm

tax guy

funny you say that. if our banking system collapses and we continue to have issues, things could change pretty quickly.

zippers says:

September 26th, 2008 at 6:13 pm

I’ll work as an interpreter with the Twins next year. As a lifelong baseball man with playing experience both in the U.S. and Costa Rica, I’ve got the terms down in both languages. And I’ll work cheap!

sane says:

September 26th, 2008 at 6:57 pm

Yeah, we all want to hear someone interview a translator who will relay the questions to Gomez and hear Gomez relay his answers back through an interpreter to the interviewer.
I would rather watch two people fish.

Tyler says:

September 26th, 2008 at 7:11 pm

Nick

HAHAHAHAHA

joeiscool12 says:

September 26th, 2008 at 7:25 pm

“C Ball Hit Ball…..And after game go to Murray’s and eat big steak…. LOL”

THAT’S what he says? Lol I never knew.

Punto Rocks says:

September 26th, 2008 at 11:30 pm

Am I the only one who didn’t have a problem understanding Gomez during the interview? I can understand Gomez fine. Telly is the one that sometimes doesn’t seem like a native English speaker.

Mudcat says:

September 26th, 2008 at 11:55 pm

JOE IS COOL:
It took me a long time to figure out too! But I was distracted by Delmon not showing enough respect to Carew, Killer, and Tony O. He’ll never be in their category, but that’s OK. I also wondered why Larry the Cable Guy was asking about a meeting! (Hrbek)

Heinie Manush says:

September 27th, 2008 at 10:48 am

Telly is the worst! His questions are laMe, generally on the order of: “so how does it feel?”

To wit: Mauer after the twins win game one at LA: “So how important is it to win the first game of this road trip?”

Mauer after game 1 at Baltimore “So ow important is it to win the first game on this road trip?”

Alexei at Tampa: How did it feel to get the big home run . . .

You get my drift.

Sportscaster of affirmative action gone seriously wrong? You tell me.

Howard says:

September 27th, 2008 at 11:47 am

HM,

There are a lot of bad sportscasters of all genders and colors. You don’t hafta look long and hard to find ‘em.

AgateHunter'swife says:

September 27th, 2008 at 11:52 am

Telly always looks happy and I suspect the players don’t mind talking to him cuz there will be no hard or “surprise”
questions.