RUSH: Here’s Matthew, Ramsey, New Jersey, you’re next, Open Line Friday. Hello.
CALLER: Rush, it’s an honor to be on with you.
RUSH: Thank you very much, sir.
CALLER: All right, I just wanted to let you know, I’m 18 years old, and everything that’s been going on with the economy, the examples that you’ve been giving, I just want to let you know that there are people in this country that continue every single day to work their you-know-what off. I’m living proof to that, I’m 18, and I’ve authored two books on baseball history and they’re published. And I want to let you know that no matter what happens in this country, there will always be people doing the right thing.
RUSH: There’s no question about that. I have even myself over the course of the many years of this program made the observation in any number of ways. I have a phrase to describe it: “Oh, you’re gonna have a recession? Sorry. I’m not participating.” There will always be a select group of people, who, because of who they are, their upbringing, or just their own innate ambition, whatever obstacles are in their way, they’re going to work around them. They will find a way past them. Other people, you know, everybody’s different. There are differing levels of ambition and desire. And some people are way too eager for an assisting hand that becomes a providing hand. That’s what we want to avoid happening. But, you know, you’re unique. You understand that, don’t you?
CALLER: Yes. Thank you very much.
RUSH: You are unique. Now, what we want is more people who would look at you as an example and want to try to be like you.
CALLER: Thank you.
RUSH: And we would want the opportunity, if they sought to be like you, to have an opportunity to do that rather than have a bunch of penalties or obstacles placed in their way. ‘Cause not everybody’s gonna have… I mean, you’ve written two books at age 18. That’s unique.
CALLER: Yes.
RUSH: -What are the titles of your books?
CALLER: “Bonded at the Seams — Baseball in Our Lives,” and “Youthful Experience: The Baseball Way.” I’m a big Yankee nut so I’ve actually memorized every statistic.
RUSH: Have you?
CALLER: Uh-huh.
RUSH: Then why did you publish the book if you memorized every statistic?
CALLER: Well, I just love baseball history so much. My grandfather taught it to me, a war veteran, and I just love the history of the game.
RUSH: So you can never envision yourself outgrowing your love for baseball, right?
CALLER: Never.
RUSH: Never.
CALLER: Without baseball, there is no passion in my heart.
RUSH: Fascinating. So what do you want to do? Do you want to work in baseball?
CALLER: Ideally, I’d love to work at the YES Network for the Yankees, but I just love baseball so much. Any journalism field I would love to work in and —
RUSH: You just want to get as close to it as you can?
CALLER: Exactly. That’s just my dream, and I know I’ll make it a reality.
RUSH: Major league, minor league, does it matter?
CALLER: Ideally, I’d love the major league but, you know, the game of baseball is just so fruitful in this country, and I’ll do anything I can to make it a reality.
RUSH: Are you interested in marketing, for example? Like the business side of baseball.
CALLER: I do marketing to promote my book and stuff, but, yeah, I’m interested in any aspect of the game.
RUSH: Okay. But ideally you’d be on the baseball side. You’d be doing scouting, general manager, player personnel, that kind of stuff?
CALLER: You bet.
RUSH: Do you want to manage? I mean, do you want to put on a uniform?
CALLER: If they gave me a shot to manage, I definitely would.
RUSH: Yeah. Okay, well, you’ve got it. Do you play? Are you any good?
CALLER: When I was younger I was pretty good defensively at first base, caught a lot of line drives, made double plays from my knees, behind the bag a couple of times, it was a lot of fun.
RUSH: Can you hit the slider?
CALLER: Can most people hit the slider? (laughing).
RUSH: That’s why Alex Rodriguez gets $250 million bucks. Hits the slider.
CALLER: Well, he can’t hit it right now, unfortunately.
RUSH: (laughing) I remember when there was a big press report, the current contract that I have, partnership deal that I have, when it was announced, there was this exorbitant figure, and my buddy George Brett from the Kansas City Royals sent me a note, “When did you learn to hit the slider?” Nobody makes that kind of money unless they can hit a slider. That was his joke. Well, look, I hope you never lose your passion. And I hope you’re able to get as close to the game as you want, and I hope that when you do, you don’t lose your passion for it.
CALLER: Thank you so much, Rush.
RUSH: All right.
CALLER: It’s been an honor to talk to you.
RUSH: Thanks for the call, sir.