One on One with 2008 Most Valuable Player:
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TJ Jorgensen sat down with the newly crowned MVP on
Sunday morning following the post season awards banquet.
Sunday morning following the post season awards banquet.
TJ: Jake, last night you mentioned that even though you had a good season, winning this award was not
just for you. What did you mean by that?
Jake: Its for my whole team. Many people outside of our circle have this opinion of me for whatever
reason, but everyone knows I want to win. I had a good season because my teammates allowed me to. If
it wasn't for Lanny (Fisher) and Tony (Hardiman) or Nick (Bishop) or anyone else getting on base, there is
no way I could have driven in over 400 runs. I understand that one man gets the award, but this is a team
effort.
TJ: You mentioned that you were surprised you won.
Jake: Lanny had such a fantastic season and he could have easily won. I thought he would have won it
but when you called my name last night, I just dropped my head for a second because honestly I couldn't
believe it. But with the voting so tight, that just shows how great Lanny is, and for me to win, that means
my numbers were comparable to Lanny's, who is one of the greatest players in the game.
TJ: Many people misconstrue your attitude for your passion for winning. Why do you think they do that?
Jake: Everyone is going to have your opinion of someone else until you get to know them. The people
that know me, especially my teammates on Street Kids, they know that I don't just show up at a park and
start talking shit. If someone says something to me or one of my teammates, I'm not going to back down.
Thats not how I was raised. I want to win, TJ. I was brought up in this game and watched my dad (Carl
Underwood) win for years and when I finally got to the age that I could play competitively, its been burning
in my gut to win something big. So when I see someone make a mental error, especially when we have
worked on it over and over, sometimes I let my emotions get the better of me and I will say something, or I
will yell out in frustration. My teammates know its not personal toward them, at least I hope they know
that. I just want to help this team win and maybe help other people around me become better players, like
others did for me.
TJ: You and I have been talking for weeks about the possibility of you returning to the Street Kids team in
2009. I know there are offers from several other teams, but what is the main reason you would want to
return to SKS? Strictly softball speaking that is.
Jake: I was talking with some guys last night at the banquet and I think the number one reason is that one
year is not enough to prove what we can do. I heard guys talking at the last tourney we played in that it
seemed like we were just now starting to blend. We started this season back in January with batting
practices, playing in the dome, indoor practices, etc and it was a long year, but I think that this team is
being built to win in 2009 and I feel I owe it to you and the team to try again. To prove to the haters out
there that we are better than what they think we are.
TJ: You told me last night at the after party that you had a major regret at the banquet, and it brought out
some emotions in you that not many people see. Tell me about that.
Jake: When you announced that I won the MVP, I was
shocked and obviously had nothing prepared to say
when I came up. I made my comments and I think that
I just went right to thanking my teammates and then
commenting on the haters, and forgot about the most
important person that is in my life, the man that taught
me this game when I was a child, and thats my dad, Carl.
My dad is the one that spends all the hours hitting with
me, all year round. He is the main reason I am playing
today and the one who also keeps me in line. When I
was young and watching him and his teammates play,
he would tell me why he made this play, or why he didn't do this. I learned like a student and thats what he
is to me, my teacher, my best friend, and last night when I was up there excepting this great award from an
organization that has been around for so long, I totally blanked and forgot to thank him. I basically slapped
him in the face, and that was the most regrettable thing I can remember ever doing. I have made a lot of
mistakes in my life, and I have done some things I am not proud of, but when I stood there accepting that
award, and not mention my dad the whole time, that was the worse thing I can think of.
TJ: Later that night, you spoke to your dad and it was very emotional. Can you share that with me?
Jake: I basically told him he taught me everything and I owe him
the world. Everything that I have done is because of him. I told him
how sorry I was that I forgot to mention his name and that he is the
reason I am here and able to accept any award. Of course, I had a
little to drink so that also brought more emotion out in me, but in that
conversation I started to cry thinking about that I might have hurt him
and I never intended to do that. I love my dad, TJ, and I am glad
you brought up that question because people that read this story
need to know that he is THE reason for everything I do.
TJ: I believe people know that, Jake. Your father is an icon in this
game and many people respect what he has done.
Jake: There are not a lot of people that can still hit, run, even field
when needed at 50 years old and I am just lucky that I could spend
these years playing competitive ball with the man I call my hero.
TJ: Do you feel you are at the top of your game right now?
Jake: Absolutely not. I am still a young guy with so much to work on. I am always trying to work on new
things like going the other way more consistently, running the bases better, playing better defense and
keeping my body in shape. Winning the MVP means people saw the year I had and voted for me, but that
doesn't mean I am where I want to be yet, personally. When I do reach that goal, if I ever do because I
am such a perfectionist and want to keep improving, I wonder how good I could actually be.
TJ: I am sure when they day happens your father will be very proud.
Jake: I hope so. I say some things to him sometimes out of frustration but like I said before, the number
one reason I play this game the best I can, is for him. I dedicate everything in my life to my dad and hope
he knows that I love him.
The End.
just for you. What did you mean by that?
Jake: Its for my whole team. Many people outside of our circle have this opinion of me for whatever
reason, but everyone knows I want to win. I had a good season because my teammates allowed me to. If
it wasn't for Lanny (Fisher) and Tony (Hardiman) or Nick (Bishop) or anyone else getting on base, there is
no way I could have driven in over 400 runs. I understand that one man gets the award, but this is a team
effort.
TJ: You mentioned that you were surprised you won.
Jake: Lanny had such a fantastic season and he could have easily won. I thought he would have won it
but when you called my name last night, I just dropped my head for a second because honestly I couldn't
believe it. But with the voting so tight, that just shows how great Lanny is, and for me to win, that means
my numbers were comparable to Lanny's, who is one of the greatest players in the game.
TJ: Many people misconstrue your attitude for your passion for winning. Why do you think they do that?
Jake: Everyone is going to have your opinion of someone else until you get to know them. The people
that know me, especially my teammates on Street Kids, they know that I don't just show up at a park and
start talking shit. If someone says something to me or one of my teammates, I'm not going to back down.
Thats not how I was raised. I want to win, TJ. I was brought up in this game and watched my dad (Carl
Underwood) win for years and when I finally got to the age that I could play competitively, its been burning
in my gut to win something big. So when I see someone make a mental error, especially when we have
worked on it over and over, sometimes I let my emotions get the better of me and I will say something, or I
will yell out in frustration. My teammates know its not personal toward them, at least I hope they know
that. I just want to help this team win and maybe help other people around me become better players, like
others did for me.
TJ: You and I have been talking for weeks about the possibility of you returning to the Street Kids team in
2009. I know there are offers from several other teams, but what is the main reason you would want to
return to SKS? Strictly softball speaking that is.
Jake: I was talking with some guys last night at the banquet and I think the number one reason is that one
year is not enough to prove what we can do. I heard guys talking at the last tourney we played in that it
seemed like we were just now starting to blend. We started this season back in January with batting
practices, playing in the dome, indoor practices, etc and it was a long year, but I think that this team is
being built to win in 2009 and I feel I owe it to you and the team to try again. To prove to the haters out
there that we are better than what they think we are.
TJ: You told me last night at the after party that you had a major regret at the banquet, and it brought out
some emotions in you that not many people see. Tell me about that.
Jake: When you announced that I won the MVP, I was
shocked and obviously had nothing prepared to say
when I came up. I made my comments and I think that
I just went right to thanking my teammates and then
commenting on the haters, and forgot about the most
important person that is in my life, the man that taught
me this game when I was a child, and thats my dad, Carl.
My dad is the one that spends all the hours hitting with
me, all year round. He is the main reason I am playing
today and the one who also keeps me in line. When I
was young and watching him and his teammates play,
he would tell me why he made this play, or why he didn't do this. I learned like a student and thats what he
is to me, my teacher, my best friend, and last night when I was up there excepting this great award from an
organization that has been around for so long, I totally blanked and forgot to thank him. I basically slapped
him in the face, and that was the most regrettable thing I can remember ever doing. I have made a lot of
mistakes in my life, and I have done some things I am not proud of, but when I stood there accepting that
award, and not mention my dad the whole time, that was the worse thing I can think of.
TJ: Later that night, you spoke to your dad and it was very emotional. Can you share that with me?
Jake: I basically told him he taught me everything and I owe him
the world. Everything that I have done is because of him. I told him
how sorry I was that I forgot to mention his name and that he is the
reason I am here and able to accept any award. Of course, I had a
little to drink so that also brought more emotion out in me, but in that
conversation I started to cry thinking about that I might have hurt him
and I never intended to do that. I love my dad, TJ, and I am glad
you brought up that question because people that read this story
need to know that he is THE reason for everything I do.
TJ: I believe people know that, Jake. Your father is an icon in this
game and many people respect what he has done.
Jake: There are not a lot of people that can still hit, run, even field
when needed at 50 years old and I am just lucky that I could spend
these years playing competitive ball with the man I call my hero.
TJ: Do you feel you are at the top of your game right now?
Jake: Absolutely not. I am still a young guy with so much to work on. I am always trying to work on new
things like going the other way more consistently, running the bases better, playing better defense and
keeping my body in shape. Winning the MVP means people saw the year I had and voted for me, but that
doesn't mean I am where I want to be yet, personally. When I do reach that goal, if I ever do because I
am such a perfectionist and want to keep improving, I wonder how good I could actually be.
TJ: I am sure when they day happens your father will be very proud.
Jake: I hope so. I say some things to him sometimes out of frustration but like I said before, the number
one reason I play this game the best I can, is for him. I dedicate everything in my life to my dad and hope
he knows that I love him.
The End.
