EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: JACK CURRY

I've had my share of being star struck in my lifetime. meeting Joe Torre after the 1996 win was in my mind, one of the top 5 moments ever. But there are others. Being able to interview Jack Curry, someone whom I've admired for a while now is up there as well. The whole YES gang is terrific; Along with Curry, Bob Lorenz, Kimberly Jones, David Cone, Ken Singleton, Michael Kay, Paul O'Neill and John Flaherty do it better than any other sports people out there.

Jack Curry is tops in that group and of course, that passion he has stems all the way back to childhood. You remember when you were a kid, we all tried to make a newspaper, writing about sports or news, or whatever, handwriting it and then drawing pictures in boxes on several pages, then secured it with staples. Well, Jack probably did that too, but then followed through and became an actual sports news guy and now a top sports analyst. He's a huge success and had a drive for that success. Luckily for me, I got to interview one of my idols and Bleeding Yankee Blue is bringing it to you, as an Exclusive. So enjoy it...here's Jack Curry.
BYB: Growing up, were you always a sports fan and more specifically a baseball fan and is this the career path you dreamed of?

Jack Curry: I liked every sport as a kid and played whatever was in season, but baseball was, by far, my favorite sport. I played it in high school and attended one practice at Fordham University before I gave up on playing. It just seemed like it would be too time-consuming to be a backup outfielder (if that). But I still play in the New York-Boston media games at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park and I still get pretty excited about a game of Wiffle ball.

When I was 12, I started a newspaper at my elementary school. I was fortunate to have a teacher who understood my passion for writing and for sports and he helped me produce these little newspapers. I loved the idea of reporting and writing on things that were happening around the school so, in some ways, I kind of knew what I wanted to do with my life by the time I was in the seventh grade.

BYB: You were with the New York Times as their national baseball correspondent. Tell us how that came about?

Jack Curry: During college, I worked for The Jersey Journal for three summers. About a year after I graduated from Fordham, I was hired by The New York Times. I started at the bottom. I had to prove to them that I deserved a chance to write. Eventually, I began covering some college sports and then I became the New Jersey Nets' beat writer for one season. I took over the Yankees' beat in the middle of the 1991 season and stayed on that position through the 1997 season. From 1998 until 2009, I was a National Baseball Writer at The Times. I loved my years at The Times. I got to cover the Yankees during their dynastic period and got to travel to places like Cuba, Japan, Venezuela, Colombia and Puerto Rico to cover baseball.

BYB: I hope you realize that since you came to YES there is a much different energy. You and Lorenz are appointment television because of your complete analysis. How did that develop and is it because of your passion of the game?

Jack Curry: It's nice of you to compliment us on the energy you see. Bob Lorenz is as selfless as anyone I've ever worked with. He wants the people around him to do well and he works to make that happen. I think the reason we provide thorough analysis is because we study the games and the story lines and work with Jared Boshnack, our producer and another team player, to present this information to the viewer. All three of us have a passion for the game and for our jobs.

BYB: We wrote JACK CURRY: NEW YORK BAD ASS because we felt as though you needed "Props". What was your reaction the first time you saw it?

Jack Curry: When I saw the "Bad Ass" headline on your blog, I laughed. Not sure how many times I've been called a bad ass in my life, but I can assure you that I wouldn't need more than five fingers to recount those times.

BYB: What advice can you give young people that have a dream in becoming a baseball analyst like you?

Jack Curry: If you want to become a baseball analyst or a sports writer, the path to those positions is like the path to any other job. You have to work at it. It sounds like a cliche, but it's true. If you want to be a sports writer and you're not even working for your college newspaper, you're already adversely impacting you future. My advice to someone who wants to get into the news media business, whether it's TV or newspapers, is to try and focus in on what type of job you'd like to have. Once you answer that question, you need to do everything you can to get an internship in that field and network with other professionals. Make yourself stand out. Companies will make room for someone who shows he is exceptional at what he does.

BYB: If you had to name 1 player on the Yankees that was most impressive, approachable and kind, who would it be and why?

Jack Curry: In more than 20 years of covering the Yankees, I've developed a working relationship with a lot of different players. If I had to pick one player who was always a pleasure to deal with, it would be David Cone. Interestingly enough, we're now colleagues at YES. If David's baseball career hadn't worked out, he talked about how he wanted to be a sports writer. What I liked about David was that he gave thoughtful answers and didn't act as if every interview needed to be conducted as if there was a 30-second play clock over his head. They were conversations, not interviews. He didn't dismiss questions or issues. He embraced them. Cone was so approachable that his willingness to talk to players ended up helping his teammates. Since Cone was willing to deal with reporters and was very good at it, other players were allowed to avoid interviews.

BYB: My son wants to know, is what you do the best job in the world?

Jack Curry: Tell your son it's a very cool job, but Derek Jeter has a cooler job. Seriously, I love being an analyst at YES. I get to talk about baseball. Your son is right. Very cool.

BYB: Do you ever read Bleeding Yankee Blue? If so, what do you think?

Jack Curry: Ever since your called me a "Bad Ass," I've been checking out Bleeding Yankee Blue. Keep up the solid work.

Jack, I can't thank you enough for doing this interview with us. You are truly great at what you do and you bring sports analysis to another level because like I've said, you actually know what you're talking about and you never talk down to the fans. You deserve everything good that comes your way. The best to you!

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JACK CURRY: NEW YORK BAD ASS

Jack Curry is the biggest stud of the Yankee gang, no offense Bob Lorenz, you’re a close second. There’s something about Curry that brings a calming to us Yankee fans when there’s news or information about the New York Yankees that’s coming down the pike. He has the coolest approach to reporting and analysis that the others in baseball just don’t have. Let’s face it, Curry’s the man. In this day and age of Twitter, the guy puts out the info faster than anyone. This is his Twitter handle @JackCurryYES. (send this post to him.) I think he’s actually on Twitter more than anyone, OK, maybe Kim Kardashian has him beat, but you know what I mean.

But what makes Curry rise to the occasion time and time again? He tells it to you straight, something that the others in baseball don’t always do. Plus, here’s an interesting observation… he actually knows what he’s talking about. Plus, there is no skirting around the issue, Curry knows the game of baseball and he knows these Yankee players like he’s been rooming with them in a frat house for years.

Curry’s background lends itself to this; after all, he was a National Baseball Correspondent for the New York Times before moving onto the Yes Network as a commentator and with that background, he brings an energy, good looks and title of “Stud” to us fans, never leaving us in the dark. When he and Lorenz are in the studio after the game, you may think you have the answers going into the post game recap, but you don’t know Jack, pardon the pun, until you hear it from Curry himself.

Yes, this piece is self-serving, we hope one day soon Jack Curry takes the time to speak with Bleeding Yankee Blue, but the thoughts in this post are genuine. Much like our love for Ken Singleton, read THE JOY OF KEN SINGLETON, Kimberly Jones, EXCLUSIVE INTERIVEW: KIMBERLY JONES and Suzyn Waldman, read WHY I NEED TO MEET SUZYN WALDMAN, Curry is a great part of the Yankee family. Hell, maybe Kim Jones can pass on a kind word? What do you say Kim, can you do your magic?

Any way you slice it, Curry’s the man, a great commentator and a New York Bad Ass and Bleeding Yankee Blue thinks the guy brings analysis to another level, and we’re glad you’re there Jack, thanks.

Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

THE JOY OF KEN SINGLETON

When I think of Ken Singleton, I don't think of him as a great Yankees broadcaster as much as I think of him as a Baltimore Oriole first. Why do I sound so harsh you ask? Because when I think about my childhood and baseball card collecting, Ken Singleton is the first person that comes to mind. See, Singleton was the card I would get every year in literally every pack of cards. In the 80's it was overwhelming. I'd always get about 200 of him each year. I couldn’t give that card away. Meanwhile, all I wanted was a nice Mattingly rookie card of a Dave Winfield.

(In Photo: 1984 Topps Card)

My point is, when he first started broadcasting for the Yankees, I immediately assumed it wouldn't work out, kind of like Charley Steiner. But I was wrong and right now, there is something I need to confess... I think I like having Ken Singleton in the booth. Sad but true. He’s a poor man’s Phil Rizzuto in my opinion. Why? Because some of the things he does is great entertainment, that's why. Look, there's no question Kenny knows the game of baseball, he's a pro at that, but the stories he tells and the catch phrases he's still trying to get people to "catch on" to make me laugh, because Kenny's funny. I don't think he means to be funny, but he is.

Take the home run call for instance. "This ball is gone!" Ok, it's simple, right? But now, I expect it every time and I like it. It's comforting to me. Sterling's call is "mmmm It is high, it is far, it is gooonnneee (throat breaks up here.)" Obnoxious doesn't begin to describe it. Now in fairness to Sterling, that home run call is now a staple in Yankee baseball so, it belongs, but I'm kind of moving away from it for a more soothing "This ball is gone!" call, just enough to let me know..."Well, that's a homer."

The next part of Kenny is simple…he's pure entertainment. I say that because I've noticed something funny happen when Kenny's in the booth. For example, sometimes pitchers will pitch the ball inside on a batter and sometimes it looks like it’s coming in tight but it’s actually about 3 feet away from the batter. Suddenly you hear “Look out!” Singleton shouts it like it's going for the guys head, yet, it hits the catcher's mitt. At that moment I usually sit there stunned for a few moments and then I just laugh. “Is he kidding?” I think. Not even close. Then we move on. Why does he do that? Not sure, unless he just doesn't have a good view, but who knows? It is pure comedy to me.

Thirdly, are the stories about former players, or should one former player. Ken Singleton tells alot of stories but they usually all surround another former Baltimore Oriole and New York Yankee...Paul Blair. (Paul Blair was #2 for the Yankees, that is freakin' crazy, is it not?) Now, I don't know why, but Ken Singleton has a fascination with Paul Blair and I get a huge kick out of it. Kenny talks a lot about how Paul and he played together in Baltimore and then he goes on a rant about how Paul Blair is the greatest outfielder of all time and how close they were and how much fun they had playing together... you know the drill. Now, I must have heard Paul Blair’s name mentioned during games over 100 times since Singleton’s been calling the Yankee games and you have too, you probably just didn't notice. I'm a baseball nerd, I notice. (In Photo: Paul Blair)

So I became curious. I thought "Man, Kenny and Paul must have played at least 10 years together in Baltimore. Let me check it out." I did. I researched it man was I surprised. Why? Because Paul Blair played for the Orioles from 1964 to 1976. Kenny came from the Expos after the 1974 season and played in Baltimore from 1975 to 1984. (In Photo: Ken Singleton)

Kenny and Paul played together for only 2 years. 2 YEARS. Weird right? The way Kenny talks about Paul Blair, you'd think they were twins and played together for 15 years or something.

Now look, I’m not saying Ken Singleton’s a liar, I'm just loving the way stories are fabricated in the broadcast booth, that's all. Look, Kenny and Paul may have turned into best friends after those 2 years in the 70's, who knows, I just found it really funny that it was implied that they had a long career together during those Baltimore days.

I also looked for a picture of he and Blair so I could illustrate this post. Guess what? I couldn't find one from those days. I did however find a more recent one of he, Blair and Jim Palmer, check it out.

Look, this isn't a hit piece against Ken Singleton. I really enjoy Ken Singleton. All I'm saying is he's a great broadcaster for the new York Yankees, he didn't play long with Paul Blair and he's damn entertaining in the broadcast booth. Thank you Kenny, keep up the great work!

Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.