This is the end of our series, MEET THE BYB FAMILY, and to be honest, I wasn't going to do this, but one of our readers emailed me to simply ask, "So, when are we gonna learn about you, Casey?" So, I decided to do this, even though, as you all know, I've built this site so my writers can become truly great and well read and we could express different and fun opinions. It's not so much about me. I know, I know, I built it, but I'm not "that" guy.
Anyway... I was convinced to do this interview and so here I am. I asked all the BYB writers to ask me questions and we put them all together in this interview. The questions were terrific and courteous to my privacy. I love them like family. Our writers are amazing individuals and I am actually glad I went through this exercise. It was fun.
Oh yeah, and if you haven't checked them out yet, be sure to read about all of our terrific writers here at Bleeding Yankee Blue:
And now... here's me... be gentle.
BYB: What does the Casey family like to do together for fun?
Robert Casey: Well, our life is surrounded by sports. So, depending on the day, that's what we will do. My wife and I actually love watching our kids compete, but usually I'm the one coaching. We like to take trips, to theme parks or just "adventures" as we call them. But the best time ever may be when my wife and I can sit on our patio in the summer, grill up some eats, have a few glasses of wine and let the kids run around barefoot with their water guns. We will chill and listen to some music. A couple hours of that a few times a week in the summer is just perfect for me.
BYB: We know from past stories that you aren't a big Tex fan. He's doing well so far. Have your opinions changed at all?
Robert Casey: Mark Teixeira to me personally is like the dude you see on the train every day, but you never talk to the guy. He's there, he's filler in your life and then he eventually goes away. I am not a hater, I just don't feel like Mark Teixeira is a true blue New York Yankee. I want him to contribute, I will root for him, I always have and I'm happy he is doing well now, but that's it. I know, Mike O'Hara and I should be brothers.
BYB: Why do you like Ron Guidry?
Robert Casey: Ah, now that's a guy I love! I remember being a little kid watching Gator strike out 18 on TV. I admired his stride, his balls on the mound and thought, "Wait, I'm a lefty, he's a lefty." I was so taken by the way he handled himself, that was that moment that sucked me in. I had longish hair like Gator, and I threw into a crate in my back yard for hours. I wanted to be Ron Guidry.
BYB: What is your Yankee Dream Team of all time?
1B- Lou Gehrig
2B-Robinson Cano
SS- Derek Jeter
3B-Graig Nettles
Outfield: Joe DiMaggio, Rickey Henderson, Mickey Mantle
C-Yogi Berra
DH- Babe Ruth
Bench:
Don Mattingly
Thurman Munson
Alex Rodriguez
Tony Lazzeri
Dave Winfield
Jorge Posada
Pitching:
1. Whitey Ford
2. Ron Guidry
3. Red Ruffing
4. Andy Pettitte
5. Lefty Gomez
6. CC Sabathia
Relief:
Ryne Duren
Sparky Lyle
Rich Gossage
Mariano Rivera
The truth is, no one has a "wrong" all time list, it's personal and unique to the individual.
BYB: What is your favorite baseball movie of all time?
Robert Casey: Bad News Bears. The 1976 version. It's the all-time greatest baseball movie. As a coach, as a kid that's played on baseball teams in the 70's, as a guy that's seen the disgusting politics of youth sports first hand, it's the most realistic film, minus the drunk Buttermaker.
It teaches you lessons and allows you to see a transition of "not so talented" to downright confident. It's that stuff that brings a dude like me to tears of joy, and that's a good thing.
BYB: How did you build BYB into such a popular baseball blog?
Robert Casey: Hard work. When I was a kid, my parents taught important values to my brother and I. If you don't work for what you want, you don't get there. It's that simple. No one hands you the keys... you need to earn them. I always wanted to write, but never had the outlet. When I discovered I could whip together a blog, I did and I figured it would just be between me and a few friends. It quickly became something more and I began to teach myself little tricks, unique writing skills and I found writers with the same dreams and drive as me. We started making clothes and started really interacting with our readers.
We started to get to know the players, their lovely wives, the people over at YES Network and it was merely because we were friendly people with a passion for our team and for family. If you told me 6 years ago that this was going to happen, believe it or not, I would have told you I knew it. It sounds arrogant, but it's not, it's common sense. I gained a good work ethic from my parents... they taught me I could do literally anything I wanted if I believed I could. So here we are. Thanks, mom and dad.
BYB: You have allowed your writers to express opinions that aren't always popular, and you've supported them strongly. How do you approach it when they express an opinion you disagree with? Do you find it hard?
Robert Casey: Disagreeing is a human trait, but if you find yourself aggressively disagreeing, it becomes worrisome. I try not to take all this stuff too seriously, it's just baseball. There are US Soldiers in the combat zone, families sometimes not able to make ends meet, sick children dying of cancer. Those are real problems... whether or not Stephen Drew sucks or not isn't that important to me. If my writers bring perspective and uniqueness to their thoughts, agree or disagree, I will always champion that. They work too hard for me not to. I will always have my writers' backs.
BYB: When did you start writing?
Robert Casey: As a kid, I always drew cartoons and wrote stories or poetry. High School was filled with me being a part of the school paper or being part of creative writing classes. I was once told by my creative writing teacher... "Oh, you're a lefty. You must be a child of the devil." This is true. She was trying to break me, though I didn't realize it at the time. She then gave us an assignment; to write about anger. I was so bent out of shape by her comment that my paper got me an A. She later let me in on that secret... she got to me and I used that anger and expressed myself pretty good that day. When I hit college, I took more creative writing courses and at one point I was the only male in the class. It was great to pick up chicks, but that wasn't the goal. The goal was to expand my mind. I never thought of myself as the best writer, but I love expressing myself and I find the medium to be truly wonderful in so many ways.
BYB: BYB has done a lot of interviews with some pretty famous people in Yankees Universe, as well as folks that are just inspirational. Which one was the most exciting, the biggest score?
Robert Casey: I once said this to Greedy Stripes who was nice enough to interview me a while back. We here at BYB take these interviews seriously. It's an interview as much as it is a courting. We want to get to know these people. We want the audience to fall in love. I can't give you a specific name other than to say the people we have interviewed, the players that have given us time... that's very special and I appreciate them all very much. Put it this way, there are hundreds of other things they could be doing instead... but they interviewed with us. That speaks volumes of their character.
On a personal level, I have really grown fond of the Hensley Family and we speak a lot. Marci is a great mom and Ty and Jake are products of terrific parenting in she and Mike. I can't say enough good things about them.
On a personal level, I have really grown fond of the Hensley Family and we speak a lot. Marci is a great mom and Ty and Jake are products of terrific parenting in she and Mike. I can't say enough good things about them.
BYB: Who
is the one person you haven't gotten that you wish you could interview?
Robert Casey: We want Brian Cashman. That's the one I want.
BYB: What does the future of BYB look like?
Robert Casey: First off... I can't believe we're 4 years in. We're almost to 5. I didn't expect anyone to read year 1. Remember, this was a gag that turned into something big. The future? Look, like Derek Jeter would say, "One day at a time." I have many family obligations that trump my BYB family and I know the audience knows and respects that. Over time we'll find new ways to provide our information, but remember, I'm a suburban dad with no idea what I've gotten into here. I'm just enjoying the ride, aren't you?
BYB: If you had to root for another team, which one would it be and why?
Robert Casey: My first "favorite" player was Pete Rose and so I would say the Cincinnati Reds. For a short time in my young life I lived in Lexington, Kentucky. While I was just a little kid and barely a baseball fan, I remember going to Kings Island on family vacations and seeing Pete Rose or Big Red Machine shirts and Reds hats everywhere. Remember it was right around that big run for the Reds, 1975, 1976. If I had to root for a team and never saw the Yankees, I would have been a Reds fan based on the popularity alone. There you have it.
BYB: What is the one thing you hope your kids learn from playing baseball?
Robert Casey: Respect. You have to respect the game or it will eat you alive. You have to respect your teammates or you get no support. Respect your coach or you'll be shown the bench. You have to respect your opponent and their skill or arrogance and selfishness will destroy you. Respect the umpires or you're gonna have a real hard time out there. Respect the fans that see you play and remember why you're there... it's not for yourself, it's for your team and it's for those fans who come to see you win for them. Respect takes you through life... lose it, forget it, disrespect others and you will be nothing. Bottom line.
BYB: Derek Jeter recently founded The Player’s Tribune. If you could select 2 players to be guest staffers for BYB who would get the nod and why?
Robert Casey: CC Sabathia. The guy has a huge heart. I love what he and Amber do for inner city and helping poorer communities and I know their values as a family are important to not only their kids, but for others. He's just a terrific human being, a good person and a valuable part of the Yankees. If he's not there in 2009, we don't win the World Series. People tend to forget that. He's a perfect candidate to be on staff at BYB.
If I had to pick a second, it would be Alex Rodriguez. I am not a big fan of the guy, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't fascinated by him. I want this guy to open up and really express himself. I think that's all this guy needs! Stop hiding behind ARod.. be Alex! I know it's in there, bro!
BYB: There have been some great moments over the years, but as a fan, what is your personal favorite/most exciting Yankees moment?
Robert Casey: For a while there, there was only one that was my truly favorite and that was when Jorge Posada hit a bloop double off of Pedro Martinez to tie up Game 7 in the 2003 ALCS... the Yankees verses the Red Sox. I'm a huge Posada fan and that was big.
That's my moment and was my ONLY favorite moment until last year when Derek Jeter had his walk off in his last game ever at Yankee Stadium. Anytime the hair stands up on my arms, you have me.
BYB: Walk-up songs have become such a part of the Major League culture. If they called your name at the Stadium, what tune would you chose and why?
Robert Casey: For a while there, there was only one that was my truly favorite and that was when Jorge Posada hit a bloop double off of Pedro Martinez to tie up Game 7 in the 2003 ALCS... the Yankees verses the Red Sox. I'm a huge Posada fan and that was big.
That's my moment and was my ONLY favorite moment until last year when Derek Jeter had his walk off in his last game ever at Yankee Stadium. Anytime the hair stands up on my arms, you have me.
BYB: Walk-up songs have become such a part of the Major League culture. If they called your name at the Stadium, what tune would you chose and why?
Robert Casey: Right this second? "Centuries" by Fall out Boy. I made that song the theme for my little league team and on home games, they run out of the dugout to that song when they take the field. It's become a part of my routine with these kids. They don't win all the time, but this group of kids have heart... and that songs a pick me up and inspiring and hey, I don't even like Fall out Boy.
I'm an AC/DC guy. I listen to Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, Volbeat, Beastie Boys, Rush. 80's rock, Jazz, Metal, Opera. My library is ridiculous. My life is surrounded by music. I'm digging Overlake right now. If you don't know them, listen, they are terrific.
If I don't have my iPod, I'm lost. Anyway... now I'm rambling.
BYB: You've done so much so quickly with BYB and it sounds like your life is the same way. Where do you get your drive?
Robert Casey: I don't like to sit still and so, I work. I try to create. I've always done it since I was a kid. I drew pictures or I'd make something. I still do stuff like that to this day. It's kind of how BYB was created. But when people like it, I'm more driven. That's where the readers come in. You guys help me along alot. All of you. I also get it from great parents. You need to know your audience but you need to be grounded too. I know both, and for that I'm grateful.
This whole ride has been incredible. Thanks for joining me.
Ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for reading our entire MEET THE BYB FAMILY series. We hope you enjoyed it.
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