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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview With Ozzie Smith

Aired June 23, 2002 - 08:09   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher Darryl Kile is being remembered today by fans and friends as one of the best in the business. Kile was found dead in his hotel room in Chicago yesterday. Authorities say no signs of foul play. He died in his sleep. An autopsy is scheduled for later today.

Ozzie Smith is a former St. Louis Cardinal who knew Darryl Kile. He joins us now to talk a little bit about him.

It's been a very tough week for the Cardinals' organization, Ozzie. I just want to send my condolences to everybody who's a Cardinals, a member of a team or just a fan. I hope you're doing OK there.

OZZIE SMITH, FORMER ST. LOUIS CARDINAL: Thanks, Miles. It certainly has been a tough week with Mr. Buck and this was sort of a blow here that's unexpected.

O'BRIEN: Yes, 33 years old and die in your sleep, that's, suffice it to say untimely really doesn't even give it justice. Ozzie, how are you going to remember Darryl Kile?

SMITH: Well, as a competitor, a person who was liked by all of his teammates. He's one of those people that you love to be the in trenches with. He gave his best effort each and every day out there and it was a real blessing to have him here in this Cardinal organization. He was certainly one of the people that really fit in and sometimes it's hard to explain why things like this happen.

O'BRIEN: Now, he is known for his awesome curve ball, I believe seen right there on that shot. I know he played for Houston for a spell. Did you ever have the misfortune of trying to hit one of his curves? And tell me about that.

SMITH: Well, you know, it's always, when you're facing a Darryl Kile you just hope that he doesn't have that breaking ball working that particular day. And it was always going to be a battle. Even on days when it wasn't working, he was going to give you a tough time out there on the hill. And, you know, it's just unbelievable. This was something that was not expected.

O'BRIEN: How does this affect -- I mean we know how it must affect his family. He has three young children. He leaves behind a wife. But for a team, I don't know if you've ever been in a situation like this in all your many years of major league baseball, losing a teammate in, just right in his prime. How does that impact a clubhouse?

SMITH: It's devastating. It can be devastating. You know, I think that we certainly know and you try and use the guidelines by which that person operated in his life and, you know, Darryl certainly would be one of those people that would say hey, you know what? You guys move on and go ahead and play.

But it's very tough when you, when you run up against a situation like this, and especially a guy only 33 years old who was liked by everybody and is one of your best pitchers. It's, it could be devastating for the team. But what you try and do is use that as a positive and go out and use it in some positive way to make yourself a little bit better.

O'BRIEN: I guess clearly the season, the remainder of the season will be dedicated to him. There's no doubt about that. In talking to your friends in the organization, what is, the mood is obviously shock right now. But do you get the sense that there's some sense of purpose that will come out of this?

SMITH: You know, well, we hope that there is a sense of purpose in everything. We won't know more until tomorrow after the autopsy and all of that. But, you know, it's just right now everybody's still reeling from it, just trying to figure out why.

O'BRIEN: Ozzie Smith, the Wizard of Oz, called by some, of St. Louis Cardinals great. We send our condolences to you and the rest of the Cardinals organization. Thanks for being with us on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

SMITH: Thank you very much, Miles.

O'BRIEN: Take care.

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