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Interview With Jake Burnham, Kendall Burnham

Aired May 17, 2003 - 12:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: A married couple is making baseball history now. Jake and Kendall Burnham have the distinction of becoming the first husband and wife to play regular season pro ball together on the same team. They join us now live from San Angelo, Texas. Good morning to you guys. Thanks so much for being here.
KENDALL BURNHAM: Good morning.

COLLINS: I want to ask you, how does it feel to make this sort of historic moment in your lives?

K. BURNHAM: It's actually very exciting. Definitely something we didn't expect. But it's been kind of a neat experience so far.

COLLINS: What is it like to play together?

K. BURNHAM: It's great. We actually work out together in the winter. So it's a pretty comfortable position for us to be in. I was going to be out here for the summer and on the road with them anyway watching, and now I just have a better seat in the house, really.

COLLINS: Yes, I guess you do. Jake, how do you feel like having a teammate like your wife?

JAKE BURNHAM: Hi.

COLLINS: Hi. How do you feel about playing ball with your wife there?

J. BURNHAM: Well, it is definitely a unique experience.

COLLINS: How so?

J. BURNHAM: Well, I think I am the first ever to be able to play ball with my wife.

COLLINS: You are.

J. BURNHAM: I am very proud of her for being out here. And kind of subjecting herself to, well, the guys on the team.

COLLINS: How is that? What are you subjecting yourselves to?

J. BURNHAM: No, it's not that bad. I'm just joking. The guys have all been really supportive. Basically, Kendall is kind of a reserved type person, and for her to sign a contract with a professional baseball team like she did -- she is opening herself up to all of the media attention and phone calls and everything that we've been getting. And it kind of seems like this thing has gone completely across the nation. And I talked to some people in Canada already also. So I guess is is international now.

COLLINS: Indeed it is. Especially now that you are on CNN.

J. BURNHAM: Yes.

COLLINS: Jake, let me just ask you, because I have to, who's better?

J. BURNHAM: Who's better?

COLLINS: Yes.

J. BURNHAM: I better not answer that. We can't answer that question. Because we're sitting right here.

COLLINS: All right, let me ask Kendall a couple of other quick questions. It sounds like you guys are sharing a phone.

J. BURNHAM: Yes, we are.

COLLINS: So, Kendall, I just want to ask you, what sort of baseball experience have you had up until this point?

K. BURNHAM: I played baseball until I was 11, I think, 11 or 12 years old. And then I started playing competitive softball. And I actually haven't played baseball since I was 11.

COLLINS: Really? So does that make it that much more difficult for you, or at least maybe the scrutiny of all this?

K. BURNHAM: It does. It is actually quite a challenge. Wasn't really expecting to be playing ball at all, softball or baseball this summer. So there is going to be a little bit of an adjustment. But it's something that I'm looking forward to.

COLLINS: OK, so I have to ask you now, since I have you on the line, who's better?

K. BURNHAM: Who's better?

I heard his response. I probably should say the same thing.

All I can say is Jake is bigger and stronger than I am. But I will leave it at that.

COLLINS: Oh, come on. You guys are so diplomatic. That's probably why you play so well together. How is the team doing?

K. BURNHAM: The team is doing OK. We're off to a little bit of a slow start. We lost a tough one last night. Yes. It's going to be a good team. Got a lot of power in the line-up. COLLINS: So do you see a future here, not only for what you two are doing together, but do you think this kind of opens the door for other husbands and wives who might want to do the same sort of thing?

K. BURNHAM: You know, that's hard to say, because this actually really wasn't supposed to happen either, and kind of blindsided us a little bit. But it's definitely possible. I don't know who would really be interested in doing that. But if it does, that's great. You know. Opens the door.

COLLINS: All right, we certainly wish the both of you the very best of luck, and of course, the Colts, not to be partial to the other teams out there. But we appreciate your time today on CNN SATURDAY. Jake and Kendall Burnham. Again, we wish you guys luck. Thanks for being here.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired May 17, 2003 - 12:48   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: A married couple is making baseball history now. Jake and Kendall Burnham have the distinction of becoming the first husband and wife to play regular season pro ball together on the same team. They join us now live from San Angelo, Texas. Good morning to you guys. Thanks so much for being here.
KENDALL BURNHAM: Good morning.

COLLINS: I want to ask you, how does it feel to make this sort of historic moment in your lives?

K. BURNHAM: It's actually very exciting. Definitely something we didn't expect. But it's been kind of a neat experience so far.

COLLINS: What is it like to play together?

K. BURNHAM: It's great. We actually work out together in the winter. So it's a pretty comfortable position for us to be in. I was going to be out here for the summer and on the road with them anyway watching, and now I just have a better seat in the house, really.

COLLINS: Yes, I guess you do. Jake, how do you feel like having a teammate like your wife?

JAKE BURNHAM: Hi.

COLLINS: Hi. How do you feel about playing ball with your wife there?

J. BURNHAM: Well, it is definitely a unique experience.

COLLINS: How so?

J. BURNHAM: Well, I think I am the first ever to be able to play ball with my wife.

COLLINS: You are.

J. BURNHAM: I am very proud of her for being out here. And kind of subjecting herself to, well, the guys on the team.

COLLINS: How is that? What are you subjecting yourselves to?

J. BURNHAM: No, it's not that bad. I'm just joking. The guys have all been really supportive. Basically, Kendall is kind of a reserved type person, and for her to sign a contract with a professional baseball team like she did -- she is opening herself up to all of the media attention and phone calls and everything that we've been getting. And it kind of seems like this thing has gone completely across the nation. And I talked to some people in Canada already also. So I guess is is international now.

COLLINS: Indeed it is. Especially now that you are on CNN.

J. BURNHAM: Yes.

COLLINS: Jake, let me just ask you, because I have to, who's better?

J. BURNHAM: Who's better?

COLLINS: Yes.

J. BURNHAM: I better not answer that. We can't answer that question. Because we're sitting right here.

COLLINS: All right, let me ask Kendall a couple of other quick questions. It sounds like you guys are sharing a phone.

J. BURNHAM: Yes, we are.

COLLINS: So, Kendall, I just want to ask you, what sort of baseball experience have you had up until this point?

K. BURNHAM: I played baseball until I was 11, I think, 11 or 12 years old. And then I started playing competitive softball. And I actually haven't played baseball since I was 11.

COLLINS: Really? So does that make it that much more difficult for you, or at least maybe the scrutiny of all this?

K. BURNHAM: It does. It is actually quite a challenge. Wasn't really expecting to be playing ball at all, softball or baseball this summer. So there is going to be a little bit of an adjustment. But it's something that I'm looking forward to.

COLLINS: OK, so I have to ask you now, since I have you on the line, who's better?

K. BURNHAM: Who's better?

I heard his response. I probably should say the same thing.

All I can say is Jake is bigger and stronger than I am. But I will leave it at that.

COLLINS: Oh, come on. You guys are so diplomatic. That's probably why you play so well together. How is the team doing?

K. BURNHAM: The team is doing OK. We're off to a little bit of a slow start. We lost a tough one last night. Yes. It's going to be a good team. Got a lot of power in the line-up. COLLINS: So do you see a future here, not only for what you two are doing together, but do you think this kind of opens the door for other husbands and wives who might want to do the same sort of thing?

K. BURNHAM: You know, that's hard to say, because this actually really wasn't supposed to happen either, and kind of blindsided us a little bit. But it's definitely possible. I don't know who would really be interested in doing that. But if it does, that's great. You know. Opens the door.

COLLINS: All right, we certainly wish the both of you the very best of luck, and of course, the Colts, not to be partial to the other teams out there. But we appreciate your time today on CNN SATURDAY. Jake and Kendall Burnham. Again, we wish you guys luck. Thanks for being here.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com