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CNN Saturday Morning News
"The Novak Zone": 42nd Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game
Aired July 12, 2003 - 09:30 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: When you put them together, watch out. Democrats and Republicans square off each year on the diamond for bragging rights and a few good causes.
The stars of the game join CNN's Robert Novak in this week's edition of "The Novak Zone." Batter, swing!
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERT NOVAK, HOST: Welcome to The Novak Zone. We're at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, Maryland, the home of the 42nd Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game.
We're with one of the three senators in the game, John Ensign, Republican of Nevada.
Senator Ensign, how come there are no Democratic senators in this game, only Republican senators?
SEN. JOHN ENSIGN (R), NEVADA: I think we have a few younger ones, Republicans in the Senate, and also I think that's one of the reasons that we've been winning these games lately, is, we've been electing younger Republicans in the House of Representatives as well.
NOVAK: Now, your picture is on the cover of the baseball program. How do you feel about that?
ENSIGN: Well, it was the catch of a lifetime, it was the luckiest catch I've ever made in my life. And they happened to catch it on a picture, and then I paid $2,000 for them to put it on the cover.
NOVAK: We're with Senator John Sununu, Republican of New Hampshire.
Senator, the first time in this game as a senator, but not the first time in the game.
SEN. JOHN SUNUNU (R), NEW HAMPSHIRE: Now, this will be, I think, the sixth year for me. There were a lot of people that thought that my entire Senate campaign was an effort to get more playing time in the game. That's not true, but I'm happy to be here as a senator.
NOVAK: What's the S.A. on your uniform stand for? SUNUNU: St. Anselm College, great...
NOVAK: Famous, famous baseball factory, huh?
SUNUNU: Great college in Manchester, yes, known as the Baseball Factory. But it's a great school, and I've been wearing their team uniform for six years now.
NOVAK: What position do you play?
SUNUNU: I play a little infield, second base or third base. Any time I can get in is a good day for me.
NOVAK: We're here with Joe Baca, Democrat of California, the most valuable player in last year's game.
What's the secret of your success?
REP. JOE BACA (D), CALIFORNIA: Just play fundamental balls, and execute and be lucky.
NOVAK: What, what was, what's your background in baseball?
BACA: Well I played a lot of Little League ball and then played, also, high school ball, and played college ball. Played semipro and then played major league fast pitch. So traveled all over the United States playing ball.
NOVAK: OK, next we're going to talk to Congressman Adam Putnam, Republican of Florida.
Adam, how old are you?
REP. ADAM PUTNAM (R), FLORIDA: Twenty-eight.
NOVAK: You're one of the youngest members of Congress. And how do you like playing with all these old guys?
PUTNAM: Well, it's pretty good. I was a -- I wasn't the best athlete in high school, but out here it's all relative. So this is sort of a boy's dream to be out here.
NOVAK: Now, they can't -- they restricted you last year to pinch running. Is that right?
PUTNAM: Well, they need a good set of wheels out there. And that's what I've been providing.
NOVAK: Some of these old guys have trouble?
PUTNAM: Just a little bit, coming around.
NOVAK: And here is Brian Baird, congressman, Democrat of Washington.
Congressman, you say you're going to hit for the cycle tonight? That's chewing off a big piece, isn't it?
REP. BRIAN BAIRD (D), WASHINGTON: It's a ruse to let the coach make me bat four times.
NOVAK: Now, what is the trouble with the Democrats? Why can't they win these games, do you think?
BAIRD: They have more talent than we do.
NOVAK: Talk to Chip Pickering, Republican of Mississippi.
Congressman Pickering, I think you were an athlete at Ole Miss, and you got a Mississippi State uniform on. What's happening?
REP. CHIP PICKERING (R), MISSISSIPPI: Well, the things do you to serve your country! Now, this is in my district, and I'm proudly representing Mississippi State University tonight. This is my seventh year wearing the Bulldog uniform.
NOVAK: And what position do you play?
PICKERING: I'm playing catcher tonight.
NOVAK: Do you call your own game, or does Tom DeLay give you the signals?
PICKERING: We call our own game. We each swing away and throw away everything that is out of bounds.
NOVAK: We have Chris John, Democrat of Louisiana.
Congressman, you got a hit last year in a losing effort. Do you think you can spread that magic around with your team tonight?
REP. CHRIS JOHN (D), LOUISIANA: Well, we sure hope so. We've been practicing very hard, 7:00 every morning. It's great exercise for us. We just got to eliminate the errors. We have as many hits as the other side does. But we've just got to get rid of all the errors, and I think we'll do well.
NOVAK: But the problem is, you got a little older team than the Republicans do?
JOHN: That is a fact, but we still get out there and we play. I'm, like, one of the youngest ones on the Democratic side. But we have some old guys that been around for a while, can still play. And we take this game really serious. When it comes to legislation, that's one thing. But the baseball game...
NOVAK: That's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) game.
JOHN: ... is serious business.
NOVAK: What kind of uniform is that?
JOHN: This is MacNee (ph) State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It's in my district, and they actually made the regionals this year in the College World Series. So I'm supporting them this year.
NOVAK: And now, the manager of the Republican team, Congressman Mike Oxley, Republican of Ohio.
Congressman Oxley, the Republicans usually win this game. What's the secret?
REP. MIKE OXLEY (R), OHIO: Well, the secret is great athletic ability on the part of our team, great defense, and solid pitching, just like you'd expect from a Republican team.
NOVAK: And where does the money, the proceeds from this game go?
OXLEY: We have the Adult Literacy Council, we have the Boys and Girls Club, and then a designated charity for the -- by Bowie, in Bowie, by the Bay Sox (ph). I'm not sure which one they selected this year, but great group. We expect to raise about $100,000 for charity.
NOVAK: Congressman Mike Oxley, thank you very much.
OXLEY: Thank you, Bob.
And now, the big question for Ozzie Smith, Hall of Fame shortstop from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Ozzie, you played with the best. Do you consider these politicians baseball players?
OZZIE SMITH, HALL OF FAMER: Well, you know, this is my first look at them, and they don't look too bad.
NOVAK: They don't look too good, though, do they?
SMITH: No, this should be fun. I'm looking forward to it. They tell me these guys have been preparing for this for about two to three weeks. So it should be an entertaining evening.
NOVAK: Thank you, Ozzie Smith.
And thank you for being in The Novak Zone.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And thanks for a little sports and politics there. The Republicans were victorious once again, beating the Democrats five to three in Thursday night's game. The GOP now leads the classic 28 to 14.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Baseball Game>
Aired July 12, 2003 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: When you put them together, watch out. Democrats and Republicans square off each year on the diamond for bragging rights and a few good causes.
The stars of the game join CNN's Robert Novak in this week's edition of "The Novak Zone." Batter, swing!
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERT NOVAK, HOST: Welcome to The Novak Zone. We're at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, Maryland, the home of the 42nd Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game.
We're with one of the three senators in the game, John Ensign, Republican of Nevada.
Senator Ensign, how come there are no Democratic senators in this game, only Republican senators?
SEN. JOHN ENSIGN (R), NEVADA: I think we have a few younger ones, Republicans in the Senate, and also I think that's one of the reasons that we've been winning these games lately, is, we've been electing younger Republicans in the House of Representatives as well.
NOVAK: Now, your picture is on the cover of the baseball program. How do you feel about that?
ENSIGN: Well, it was the catch of a lifetime, it was the luckiest catch I've ever made in my life. And they happened to catch it on a picture, and then I paid $2,000 for them to put it on the cover.
NOVAK: We're with Senator John Sununu, Republican of New Hampshire.
Senator, the first time in this game as a senator, but not the first time in the game.
SEN. JOHN SUNUNU (R), NEW HAMPSHIRE: Now, this will be, I think, the sixth year for me. There were a lot of people that thought that my entire Senate campaign was an effort to get more playing time in the game. That's not true, but I'm happy to be here as a senator.
NOVAK: What's the S.A. on your uniform stand for? SUNUNU: St. Anselm College, great...
NOVAK: Famous, famous baseball factory, huh?
SUNUNU: Great college in Manchester, yes, known as the Baseball Factory. But it's a great school, and I've been wearing their team uniform for six years now.
NOVAK: What position do you play?
SUNUNU: I play a little infield, second base or third base. Any time I can get in is a good day for me.
NOVAK: We're here with Joe Baca, Democrat of California, the most valuable player in last year's game.
What's the secret of your success?
REP. JOE BACA (D), CALIFORNIA: Just play fundamental balls, and execute and be lucky.
NOVAK: What, what was, what's your background in baseball?
BACA: Well I played a lot of Little League ball and then played, also, high school ball, and played college ball. Played semipro and then played major league fast pitch. So traveled all over the United States playing ball.
NOVAK: OK, next we're going to talk to Congressman Adam Putnam, Republican of Florida.
Adam, how old are you?
REP. ADAM PUTNAM (R), FLORIDA: Twenty-eight.
NOVAK: You're one of the youngest members of Congress. And how do you like playing with all these old guys?
PUTNAM: Well, it's pretty good. I was a -- I wasn't the best athlete in high school, but out here it's all relative. So this is sort of a boy's dream to be out here.
NOVAK: Now, they can't -- they restricted you last year to pinch running. Is that right?
PUTNAM: Well, they need a good set of wheels out there. And that's what I've been providing.
NOVAK: Some of these old guys have trouble?
PUTNAM: Just a little bit, coming around.
NOVAK: And here is Brian Baird, congressman, Democrat of Washington.
Congressman, you say you're going to hit for the cycle tonight? That's chewing off a big piece, isn't it?
REP. BRIAN BAIRD (D), WASHINGTON: It's a ruse to let the coach make me bat four times.
NOVAK: Now, what is the trouble with the Democrats? Why can't they win these games, do you think?
BAIRD: They have more talent than we do.
NOVAK: Talk to Chip Pickering, Republican of Mississippi.
Congressman Pickering, I think you were an athlete at Ole Miss, and you got a Mississippi State uniform on. What's happening?
REP. CHIP PICKERING (R), MISSISSIPPI: Well, the things do you to serve your country! Now, this is in my district, and I'm proudly representing Mississippi State University tonight. This is my seventh year wearing the Bulldog uniform.
NOVAK: And what position do you play?
PICKERING: I'm playing catcher tonight.
NOVAK: Do you call your own game, or does Tom DeLay give you the signals?
PICKERING: We call our own game. We each swing away and throw away everything that is out of bounds.
NOVAK: We have Chris John, Democrat of Louisiana.
Congressman, you got a hit last year in a losing effort. Do you think you can spread that magic around with your team tonight?
REP. CHRIS JOHN (D), LOUISIANA: Well, we sure hope so. We've been practicing very hard, 7:00 every morning. It's great exercise for us. We just got to eliminate the errors. We have as many hits as the other side does. But we've just got to get rid of all the errors, and I think we'll do well.
NOVAK: But the problem is, you got a little older team than the Republicans do?
JOHN: That is a fact, but we still get out there and we play. I'm, like, one of the youngest ones on the Democratic side. But we have some old guys that been around for a while, can still play. And we take this game really serious. When it comes to legislation, that's one thing. But the baseball game...
NOVAK: That's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) game.
JOHN: ... is serious business.
NOVAK: What kind of uniform is that?
JOHN: This is MacNee (ph) State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It's in my district, and they actually made the regionals this year in the College World Series. So I'm supporting them this year.
NOVAK: And now, the manager of the Republican team, Congressman Mike Oxley, Republican of Ohio.
Congressman Oxley, the Republicans usually win this game. What's the secret?
REP. MIKE OXLEY (R), OHIO: Well, the secret is great athletic ability on the part of our team, great defense, and solid pitching, just like you'd expect from a Republican team.
NOVAK: And where does the money, the proceeds from this game go?
OXLEY: We have the Adult Literacy Council, we have the Boys and Girls Club, and then a designated charity for the -- by Bowie, in Bowie, by the Bay Sox (ph). I'm not sure which one they selected this year, but great group. We expect to raise about $100,000 for charity.
NOVAK: Congressman Mike Oxley, thank you very much.
OXLEY: Thank you, Bob.
And now, the big question for Ozzie Smith, Hall of Fame shortstop from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Ozzie, you played with the best. Do you consider these politicians baseball players?
OZZIE SMITH, HALL OF FAMER: Well, you know, this is my first look at them, and they don't look too bad.
NOVAK: They don't look too good, though, do they?
SMITH: No, this should be fun. I'm looking forward to it. They tell me these guys have been preparing for this for about two to three weeks. So it should be an entertaining evening.
NOVAK: Thank you, Ozzie Smith.
And thank you for being in The Novak Zone.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And thanks for a little sports and politics there. The Republicans were victorious once again, beating the Democrats five to three in Thursday night's game. The GOP now leads the classic 28 to 14.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Baseball Game>
