"Talentwise, I know I am close. I know I can play in the big leagues. Mental wise, I am not as far as thinking, like yesterday, I see Endy Chavez, and I was like, "Damn, he is so smart tagging on the fly ball to center." The way that he plays, without even thinking. I know that talentwise, mentalwise I can compete with them anytime. It is just that they are a little further. I really want to be like Endy. I know that when I have that, I am ready." (Drayer)
Every so often back in high school, I'd turn on the TV and daydream about one day becoming a successful actor. One of the shows I liked was Boston Public. I'd see Michael Rapaport and think "man, I really want to be like Michael Rapaport."
0 recs | 47 comments
To be fair
It’s not as if he’s got a lot of Dutch role models staring him in the face (unless he wants to learn how to pitch)
Sportszilla - February 27, 2009
Dennis Bergkamp
marinerdan - February 27, 2009
Dennis Bergkamp should be everybody's role model
because then everybody would be able to do this. Bergkamp is probably my favorite athlete of all time.
pdb - February 27, 2009
Did he even do that on purpose?
It almost looks like a happy little accident the way the ball flies around the other guy. Even if that were so, he was definitely able to take advantage of it.
appleshampoo - February 27, 2009
He got lucky that the ball didn't hit the defender
But he was clearly trying to do exactly that, in my opinion.
patsfan - February 27, 2009
Look at his first touch closely
that was no accident.
pdb - February 27, 2009
Favorited that YouTube clip.
Thanks for pointing it out.
Sentinel - February 28, 2009
Ovechkin is better
Graham MacAree - February 28, 2009
Wouldn't Andruw Jones be a great role model for him?
2008 excluded
seattlebruin - February 27, 2009
Andruw wasn't actually from the Netherlands, just an overseas territory.
I was going to go with Sir Eugene Kingsale, but same deal.
marc w - February 27, 2009
Represents the Netherlands though
which technically makes him a countryman
seattlebruin - February 27, 2009
Talentwise, mentalwise
lemonverbena - February 27, 2009
Mentalwise I can be like Rappaport
Actingwise, not so much.
Grady Clapp - February 27, 2009
If he hits like he does right now and plays D like Endy I'll be happy.
Sec 108 - February 27, 2009
In his defense,
it’s not as if anyone would say “No, I pretty much suck at the game. I honestly can’t believe they invited me to camp, but in an organization that gave 250 plate appearances to Miguel Cairo, I guess I should have seen it coming.”
Vatinius - February 27, 2009
That's not what I'm getting at
I just think Halman should aim higher.
Jeff Sullivan - February 27, 2009
In his defense,
I don’t think he’s saying he wants to PLAY like Endy, just to think like Endy. Again, maybe he could aim higher, but I think it’s a fine, typical quote; substitute Mike Sweeney for Endy, and we’ll see a variant of this every day.
marc w - February 27, 2009
I'd guess that he's overestimating how good Endy Chavez is
I think he’s striving to be what he thinks Endy Chavez is which is a much, much better player than Endy Chavez
Corco - February 27, 2009
You're taking the fun out of this
Jeff Sullivan - February 27, 2009
I'm confused
To me, it appears he’s saying he wants to play center field like Endy Chavez. If I’m not mistaken, doesn’t Endy Chavez play really good center field? I guess he could say Ichiro if Ichiro were there, but it doesn’t seem to me that he’s selling short by saying he wants to learn to react to and track fly balls like Endy Chavez.
Malcontent1 - February 27, 2009
This clearly didn't work the way it did in my head
Jeff Sullivan - February 27, 2009
delete?
OlSalty - February 27, 2009
I got it.
Aaron Campeau - February 27, 2009
Me too.
Thought it wsa funny.
appleshampoo - February 27, 2009
This is what I was thinking
Well said.
katal - February 27, 2009
WHY DO YOU INSIST ON HAVING FUN THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS
I’M GOING TO CANCEL MY SUBSCRIPTION UNLESS EVERY UTTERANCE YOU MAKE FROM HERE ON IN IS DEADLY SERIOUS
pdb - February 27, 2009
No fun now that we're linked to Yahoo
You should know this
Dewey N - February 28, 2009
In his defense, I always wanted to be able to sing like Jimi Hendrix.
JI - February 27, 2009
Really?
I always wanted to play drums like Tom Waits.
johnbai - February 28, 2009
That school had way too many problems going on at once
I don’t see too much wrong with what he said.
katal - February 27, 2009
Nothing's wrong
I just particularly like the line “I really want to be like Endy.”
Jeff Sullivan - February 27, 2009
Baseball players suck at evaluating the talent of other baseball players, I've noticed
Corco - February 27, 2009
If a former trainer for the Boston Red Sox I met once is right
Baseball players generally suck at things that involve higher level thought
ningwers - February 27, 2009
Mentalwise?
READ A BOOK!
And if Boston Public was your teenage television reflection, man I am old.
Shawk - February 27, 2009
Isn't English Halman's second language?
seattlebruin - February 27, 2009
Yes, but he's from the Netherlands, so it sort of doesn't count.
The dutch speak better English than most Americans/Britons.
marc w - February 27, 2009
/non-French Canadians
seattlebruin - February 27, 2009
French Canadians too
Corco - February 27, 2009
His English probably isn't that good.
Maybe he meant Adrian Beltre?
Wilder. - February 27, 2009
Annnd late on the English as a second language joke.
Wilder. - February 27, 2009
It's a great interview, that kid just loves baseball. I've heard him interviewed a few times
and he’s an instant fan favorite. He’s so determined to be a great player.
Rudy4three - February 27, 2009
The Griffey story is terrific
Jeff Sullivan - February 27, 2009
I hope he meant he wants to play defense like Endy Chavez
OlSalty - February 27, 2009
mike rap
Needless to say, Rapoport’s best work was his cameo on Chappelle’s Popcopy sketch. “Listen, lady. I gotta take a sh!+.”
wackomann - February 27, 2009
No need to censor yourself, atleast not like that.
Nobody cares if you say shit or fuck on this site.
Fin - February 27, 2009
yeah
Just a “me” thing, I guess. I did laugh at the clean version of “Ode to My Car,” though, if only for the cacophony of horns.
wackomann - February 27, 2009
lol foreign
Mariner John - February 27, 2009
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Lookout Landing to post a comment.