Hong Kong Slo-Pitch Softball Association

You are now living in North Carolina .  How is the south treating you?

Really enjoying the clean living.  The positives  are weather is great, the family loves it, and I am playing in an over 30 flag football league. On the flip side, people move pretty slow down there, which drives me crazy! 

How are the wife and kids adapting to the states? 

Janine and the kids are really loving it.  Lots of space and we live in a neighborhood w/ over 300 kids under the age of 6.  Having our 3^rd child shortly after moving back made losing the helper more difficult.  I do travel a lot but I work out of the house so when I am home, I get to spend a lot of time w/ them. 

Dom Martinetti lives near you in NC, do you guys ever get together?  That’s a lot of testosterone floating around for a southern city!

Yeah, Dom and I get together to play or watch games. He just re-modeled his basement and has a pool table so we hang there as well.  We watched our Giants roll through the playoffs to the Superbowl as well!  We shock every hick that gets paired up w/ us on the golf course w/ our horrible game, language, and Asia stories.

How much do you miss Hong Kong ?

I don’t really miss Hong Kong , I miss my friends.   I switched jobs a few months after returning and work for a company based in HKG so I get out here 2 or 3 times a year. 

Favorite tournament- Manila or Bangkok ?

Manila. I like both but coaching w/ Gleyze was a little easier then w/ Noonan.  I had to be the bad guy and tell guys who was or wasn’t playing w/ Noonan because we needed a buffer to avoid conflict if you know what I mean….

Without looking it up, how many presidents can you name in succession starting with George Washington and ending with George W. Bush?

Are you kidding me, I just went through a rugby sevens weekend and lucky I can remember my name!

Favorite teammate?

There were so many great teammates. Our Case Logic/Bulldogs teams are all such good friends.  I have never seen anyone hit like Vince, field like Mabardy or Dirty, throw like sniper Matt Brand or coach like Gleyze.  I would have to narrow it down to Jimmy Grandolfo and Chris Mikosh. 

Favorite King’s Park memory?

There were so many great times. From a playing perspective, hitting a home run off Dave Wand was definitely a highlight.  There is nothing better then having the early game on a SAT and not leaving the field until it is dark outside.

Case Logic always had the worst uniforms!  First there was the blue and green ugly mesh.  Then there were the bland T-shirts.  Finally, you guys donned the Pittsburgh Pirates, putrid yellow and black!   The year you left, 2006, you guys finally got some nice uniforms and became Bulldog’s!  It also marked a two year run making it to the finals!  Any coincidence??

Absolutely! They finally found a second baseman that could finish off the double play for Dirty!  I still have all those Jersey ’s so if they a have throw back weekend and any of the boys wants to borrow one, let me know.

You and Vince Zaleski worked together for several years.  He was also the first person you met in Hong Kong !  Tell us about your boy….

I named my third son Vincent to give you an idea of how much I look up to Vince from a business and friendship perspective.  He introduced me to all the guys I played w/ on Case Logic my first weekend in Asia , which made my HKG transition very easy.  I still talk to him every week.

Match the following HKSPSA player with their home state/province…..

Wayne Lau                             Mars

John Kelly                              Colorado

Fares Jammatte                     Idaho               

Ryan Young                            Minnesota

Tmac                                       Idaho

Chris Rork                             Tennessee

Preston Powell                        Prince Edward Island

Dean Tzembelicos                  Florida

 I would say that Wayno is from definitely MARS! 

Editor’s Note: I’m sorry but you failed this portion of the test!  The answers should read…..

Wayne Lau- Minnesota

John Kelly- Colorado

Fares Jammette- Mars

Ryan Young- Idaho

Tmac- Prince Edward Island

Chris Rork- Florida

Preston Powell- Tennessee

Dean Tzembelicos- Ontario

Bigger A-hole during games- you or me?

That is pretty close. I definitely don’t take it as seriously as you do.  I did most of my talking to back up a teammate, like when you and I almost battled it out! 

Please tell us how you got the name “monkey boy”….

My first tournament in BKK in the Mikosh palace, I had a little too much to drink and my dance moves were a lot like a monkey jumping around in heat.  That’s my story and I am sticking to it.

What were you better at- Moon Walking or The Macarena?  And don’t even try and tell me you didn’t do either one!  I can just picture you on the dance floor at some wedding circa 1996 busting out The Macarena on some bridesmaid!!

I am the Macarena king! 

Who do you keep in touch with the most from the league?

 I keep in touch w/ Vince, Mikosh, Jimmy, Dirty, and Rork. I see everyone 2 or 3 times a year on my travel through HKG. Living close to Dom means I see him the most.

 Favorite thing about being back in the states?

Getting to travel back to HKG as a visitor!

Hypothetical question- Let’s just say there’s a gorilla with super intelligence for a primate.  Something like an 85 IQ.  Let’s also say that this gorilla posed no threat whatsoever to the general public.  Assuming he could hit a softball like a ton of bricks would it be morally acceptable for him to play in the HKSPSA?  Of course he’d be susceptible to the occasional base running error or “ball in the glove” trick but can you imagine how many home runs he’d hit at King’s Park?  Where do you stand on this issue??

 I know that you would try to recruit him to play on your team!

 How great was that Giant Super Bowl victory?  I mean he caught the ball off his friggin’ head!!  It’s been a tough couple of years for us New Yorkers.  We’ve had to deal with those Massholes and two Red Sox World Series but this just erases that in one fell swoop!  Anything you would like to say to the Boston guys in the league?

 18 wins and one GIANT LOSS!! 

Any final shout out you want to give to the boys in Hong Kong ?

 Bring home the championship Bulldogs! Looking forward to seeing everyone at the field again soon.  If you are ever in Charlotte , I know 2 guys that would appreciate hearing from you!