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REDWINGSBASEBALL.COM FURIOUS FIVE: MICHAEL RESTOVICH It's the RedWingsBaseball.com Furious Five: five minutes with your favorite Red Wings players, and a nonstop, fast and furious, Ramones-like barrage of at least 15 minutes' worth of questions packed into one interview. Some questions are serious, some are not - follow along as the player tries to determine which questions are which. The Player: Outfielder Michael Restovich
Michael Restovich: I think it was a little down early. We had confidence that we were going to win that series, but we also knew that Salt Lake was a great team. That first game was big; we had the game won, and we gave it up at the end. All of a sudden the momentum turned to them when they won a game at our place. I think all of us immediately thought, "This next game (two) was do or die." We had to win the next game, which we did, then went to Salt Lake and played well. RWB.com: A great title win, jumping out early and winning the final game 10-7. You caught the last out in right field - who was the first teammate you grabbed, or the first guy to grab you after you caught the ball? MR: You know, I really don't remember. I just remember jumping on top of a big pile. I caught it fairly deep in right field, so the pile had already started by the time I got in there. We had such a close team....it was such a great moment, then in the locker room afterward, obviously everyone celebrates when you win a title, but it was especially great because that group got a long so well. (The closeness) was a big part of our success. RWB.com: In 2001 with New Britain, the finals were called off in after September 11 and you guys were declared co-champs. You were quoted as saying after the final win in Salt Lake, " I had a vision of what it would it be like to win the championship." What did you mean when you said that, and did you fulfill your vision?
RWB.com: Rochester, New York has a strong group of Notre Dame fans, and I understand you have a lot of Fighting Irish fans in your house? MR: Both parents went there. My dad George went there, he was a baseball and basketball player, and he met my mom Helen while she was at grad school there. Then there's four kids in the family, the oldest daughter went to St. Mary's, which is the women's school right across the street from Notre Dame... I have a brother and another sister and they both went to ND. So I'm really the only one who didn't go to school there.
MR: I honestly think it's too young. I say that, and then obviously in baseball, I signed out of high school. But I think there is a difference, because in baseball it takes three, four, five years to refine your game, learn the game, and get to the big league level. In basketball you're thrown right into the mix right away. Obviously the Kobe Bryants and Kevin Garnetts that have done it have succeeded, but for every one of them, there's more that have had a really hard time adjusting. I don't see how a few years of college wouldn't help those kids, especially being around coaches and teachers who are more into nurturing, then just winning like at the NBA level. RWB.com: Rochester, Minnesota....there's also a town called Red Wing, Minnesota not far away from you. This year you could be playing for the Rochester Red Wings. Is it fate? Is it destiny? Karma? Ouija board? Magic 8-Ball? Your ultimate destiny in life? What is it that I'm saying? What do you think about that? MR: Well hopefully, I want to make the big club out of spring training, and be in the big leagues, but if I don't, I'm going be excited to get to Rochester. I've heard so many great things about it from the Twins' front office people. Hopefully it will be just like going home, and hopefully I'll have a great season there. RWB.com: Let's take it one step further, and move the questions into a more personal realm...Madonna went to high school in Rochester, Michigan - would you classify yourself as a Madonna fan? MR: I actually am not, I am more of a country music fan RWB.com: In our Rochester, we have a town that is spelled like chili, but is pronounced "Chy-lie"...and a neighborhood that is spelled like Charlotte, but pronounced "Char-LOT"...are there any comparable, unusually named places like that in your Rochester? MR: There really aren't that I can think of. If you gave me time I could probably think of one. RWB.com: Which of these four items would you guess is NOT a Rochester, New York food favorite: garbage plate, white hot dog, High Falls gravy, or pasta fazool? MR: I'll say...the pasta fazool.
MR: Actually I don't recognize any of those, sorry - but I'm looking forward to learning more about them. RWB.com: Budweiser or Hamms Beer? MR: I'm probably a Budweiser guy. RWB.com: How accurate was the movie "Fargo"? MR: (laughs) "Fargo"? In certain areas of Minnesota, it was fairly accurate. RWB.com: Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The actual number of lakes is in reality closer to which number: 8,000, 12,000, or 15,000? MR: I believe it's 12,000. RWB.com: Very close, Michael - it's actually 15,000. Mayowood Mansion was the home of which Mayo brother: Charles, or William? MR: I would say that William lived out there. RWB.com: It was in fact Charles. MR: I'm close to striking out here. RWB.com: The greatest Minnesota pro wrestler of all time: Jesse "The Body" Ventura, or "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig? MR: Actually I would say Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig. I think The Body has done a little more since leaving the ring though. RWB.com: Your favorite state nickname of all of the great Minnesota state names: Land of 10,000 Lakes, The Gopher State, Land of Sky Blue Water, or Star of the North? MR: I like the Land of 10,000 Lakes, I'm a big fisherman and I enjoy doing that. RWB.com: What is your nickname in the clubhouse? MR: Everyone just calls me "Resto." RWB.com: A couple of quick things here...last karaoke song you sang? MR: I think I sang a David Allen Coe song, the "You Don't Have to Call Me Darlin'" song. RWB.com: Eyeblack or sunglasses? MR: I would usually go with the eyeblack. RWB.com: Leno or Letterman? MR: I'm a Letterman fan. RWB.com: Conan O'Brien or Craig Kilborn? MR: Definitely Conan O'Brien. RWB.com: VH1 Behind The Music or E! True Hollywood Story? MR: I'm a Behind The Music guy. RWB.com: On "The Osbournes," what is it that Ozzy's saying? MR: I have no idea. RWB.com: J-Lo or Shania Twain? MR: Shania. RWB.com: Rush Limbaugh or Howard Stern? MR: I actually would say Stern more than Limbaugh. RWB.com: What CD is in your CD player right now? MR: I have Toby Keith, George Strait, and Clint Black in there right now. RWB.com: Eminem: musical visionary, or played out wanksta? MR: Played out wanksta is closer to it.
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RedWingsBaseball.com: The finals in Edmonton last season, game one...you guys gave up three runs in the ninth inning to lose the opener. What was the team attitude like after that?
MR: With what happened (Sept. 11) the year before, we didn't get to finish the playoffs. it was still a great honor, because we really had a great season. We just didn't get to have that championship game win celebration, and the common goal from all of us who were on that New Britain team, was to be able to win a final game and celebrate as a team. That was a big motivation for us. And the vision, I just could see in my mind what it would be like to share such a great moment with my teammates and coaches, and it was really true to my vision - a great thrill for sure. 
RWB.com: You grew up in Rochester, Minnesota, and went to Rochester Mayo High School...you played basketball there, and finished as the school's all time scoring leader. Should high school kids play in the NBA? 
RWB.com: Pasta fazool is actually an Italian dish enjoyed on a regular basis at many fine Rochester restaurants, the High Falls gravy was the fake choice....these three names are pretty recognizable in Rochester, New York...do you recognize any of them: Gary Smith, Gary Sciarratta, Gary Dell'Abate?