Interview with Anthony Peburn,
New Milford Blazers

Biggest Daddy: Hey, Mr. Peburn. Thanks for joining us today! And I'd like to be the first to congratulate you on the New Milford Blazers' playoff berth. Tell us about the ups and downs of the season.

Anthony Peburn: Thanks for having me. I was wondering what the hell it would take to get an interview or my birthday on the front page. I guess getting to the playoffs does it.

First the downs of the season. Trading Jason Bay and Dan Haren were harsh, but put us in the position we wanted to be in. We knew they wouldn't have the years they had last year in MLB, but still tough to lose two guys so cheap.

The ups are the team we are about to put on the field for the playoffs. Now that our bullpen is intact and our hitters have no usage issues, we feel we have a very strong team.

BD: You have displayed quite a bit of confidence in the Blazers chances this year. Did you ever have any doubt at any point that the Blazers weren't going to make the post-season?

AP: No. This team is too good not to make the playoffs. We feel we are good enough to win it all. Lady Luck just has to be on our side now.

BD: Are the Blazers the team of destiny this post-season?

AP: If "destiny" means "first round exit" then no. All kidding aside, I hope we are a team of destiny. We have sucked since the inception of the league. We are going to suck again next year. This is all we've ever had, and it's all we've got.

BD: Without going into too much detail, what are some of your strategies that you and Billy will use during your post-season games? What will your playoff rotation look like?

AP: Rotation is Clemens, Carpenter, Colon, and Washburn. The latter two will be on a short leash with Small waiting in the wings.

Our strategy is simple: pitch well and hit a ton. We feel our 3B and 2B and #1 starter are the best in the game and we have balance throughout the lineup. Clemens just has to pitch the way he did down the stretch. That is the key.

BD: Can you explain to the league exactly how you and Billy divide the responsibilities between managing and general managing for the Blazers franchise?

AP: Up until recently, I sifted through and initiated trades and Billy did all the managing and gave approval and input on the trading. Since he started his on-line classes, I have started managing some of the games.

Managing actually gave me a better understanding of how to run our franchise. Up until a few months ago, I thought if I get a ton of talent, we win games. I have since found out that is NOT true entirely.

BD: Who will be managing the Blazer playoff games? It seems as if you've been managing the majority of the head-to-head games recently.

AP: We will try to manage the games together, if possible. Although I feel I do best in front of my computer in a dark room with my match up spread sheets in front of me. Billy (and Sharky's) schedule is tight next week.

BD: The Blazers have been so bad for so long. Is this playoff berth a direct result of your expanded responsibilities with this franchise?

AP: This playoff birth is a long time coming. I would like to think I had something to do with it, but who really knows. I feel I've made some good trades and draft picks over the last three years that have led to this point. I also feel I have made some mistakes along the way. With the mistakes aside, I wouldn't change any of them right now. I like where we are.

BD: Would you ever want to run the Blazers or another franchise totally by yourself?

AP: If Billy told me tomorrow that he was stepping down, I couldn't walk away from this franchise. I couldn't run any other franchise at this point. I am now a Blazer for life.

BD: Tell us something about yourself that nobody in the league knows about.

AP: I'm not really an asshole. Just play one on TV. Since Marazita left, there isn't a real "villain" in the league. I think I stepped into that role, and being a jackass is loads of fun. I actually do wear a black cape and top hat and have a pencil thin moustache. If it helps explain anything, the state-appointed psychotherapist (who, by the way, you should never think of as your "friend") says I'm delusional.

BD: Tell us something about Billy that nobody in the league knows about.

AP: He hates me more than anyone else in the league by far. Actually, when I was over his house to play the Corona series, I found his REAL birth certificate (not that fake Dominican one) and he is actually one hundred and six (I miss the Big Show.)

BD: How do you and Billy know each other?

AP: We hired Billy 6 years ago to run our athletic training program. With both of us growing up in New Milford and being Yankee fans, we kind of had a common bond.

BD: What do you do outside of the BDBL? Career? Married? Kids? What other hobbies to you have?

AP: Outside of the BDBL my life consists of my family and work. I have been married to my wife, Tricia, for 4 years and we have 2 sons, Nicholas (2 years) and Joshua (6 weeks.)

For work, I have been a physical therapist for 8 years specializing in a specific form of manual therapy which only a handful of people in the country know how to perform. My specialty keeps me VERY busy, as people travel from far away to see me.

Hobbies include changing diapers, preparing bottles at 3AM, yard work, and eating. I also read a lot and study and research the human body.

BD: What stadiums have you visited and which is your favorite?

AP: Yankee Stadium is the all-time favorite. My wife and I used to go to about 12 games a year before the kids. We saw David Cone's perfect game.

I have also been to the Trop, Shea, Veterans, Boston, and various minor league parks.

BD: Was Kenny Rogers cheating?

AP: Yes, and I am furious. I think Congress should launch an immediate investigation and ban the sale of pine tar in this country. As a matter of fact, I am only going to vote next week for the person who pledges to waste the most time and money on this cause. I want to hear about it everyday in the news. Screw healthcare, Iraq, and the national deficit. We NEED to fix this growing pine tar problem in this country. What if the kids start doing it?

BD: Guacamole or Salsa?

AP: Both. Only fresh made, though.

BD: Traditional IRA or Roth IRA?

AP: Roth.

BD: Saw III, Jackass: Number 2, or The Departed

AP: If Departed is the organized crime flick, then that. Otherwise, I'll go with Saw III, although I never saw the first 2. The concept is tweaked.

BD: Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton?

AP: Can I pass on a question, or is that not allowed? No deal. Howie!!!

BD: Blackberry Pearl or Motorola RAZR?

AP: Neither. They both require communicating with people who want something from you. My wife owns a cell phone but not me. I find them quite annoying. Especially the two-way ones. Bad enough I had to hear half of the conversation. Now these idiots have to show how important they think they are by actually proving that someone is on the other end willing to talk to them. I love when I am out to dinner, hear that annoying chirp, and listen to some dude's wife bitch about how fat she is.

BD: Thanks a lot for sitting down with us! Best of luck in the playoffs!!

AP: It was an honor.