Talking baseball and Obama with George Will

A very brief interview with the famous conservative columnist before his keynote speech at the Contra Costa Council's CCUSA event

Contra Costa Council’s 20th annual Contra Costa USA event was held last night at the Concord Hilton. I always enjoy this event, because it’s a nice time to catch up with the East Bay business and political communities. Plus, they always have a nationally known headline speaker. Last night’s speaker was conservative columnist and baseball fanatic George Will, who is on the panel on This Week with George Stephanopoulos every Sunday morning. Since it’s my Sunday morning news show of choice, I looked forward to firing off a few questions at Mr. Will during the VIP reception before his address. Here’s what I got (it’s not much), before Will was whisked away to shake hands with various CEOs and politicos.

PC: Welcome to the East Bay. Have you spent much time in this part of the country?
George Will: I’ve been here many times over the years, most recently to visit Vallejo to discuss the financial issues that city was experiencing.

PC: This Week is broadcast live on the East Coast, and it’s on at 8 a.m. every Sunday morning. Are you ever concerned that you’ll oversleep because of a late Saturday night?
GW: I’m up at 5 a.m. every morning of the week, so that’s never a problem.

PC: Two East Bay baseball players have been in the news recently. Rickey Henderson was voted into the Hall of Fame, and Jason Giambi came back to the Oakland A’s after seven seasons with the Yankees. What are your thoughts on those two players?
GW: Rickey Henderson is, by far, the greatest leadoff hitter in the history of the game. I cannot comprehend what the imbeciles who did not vote for him were thinking. (Henderson received votes from 94.8% of baseball writers casting Hall of Fame ballots, easily enough to be inducted, but short of unanimous). And (in reference to Giambi signingwith the A's) anything that my friend Billy Beane does is brilliant.

PC: I read that you hosted a dinner with then-President Elect Obama at your house, just a few nights before his inauguration. What did you serve, and how was the evening?
GW: Lamb. It was fun.
 

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