With the Yankees and Red Sox battling again in the playoffs, Steve Serby talked to famous foil Bucky Dent about the rivalry.
Q: Are there ghosts at Yankee Stadium?
A: Yeah, there are.
Q: Have you seen any?
A: No, but you can feel ’em.
Q: Is there a Curse?
A: I think so.
Q: Who hates the Red Sox more: you, George Steinbrenner, Babe Ruth or Roger Clemens?
A: Probably George.
Q: Could you see Pedro Martinez as a Yankee?
A: Sure.
Q: How would he fit in?
A: He’d fit in like Roger Clemens and the rest of ’em did that came over.
Q: What were you thinking last year during the Pedro-Don Zimmer fiasco?
A: [Goose] Gossage and I were talking about that. Probably our whole team would have chased after Pedro instead of Zim.
Q: Who would have been the first one there?
A: Probably Nettles.
Q: How often have you watched your bleepin’ home run against Mike Torrez?
A: I’ve seen it a zillion times.
Q: It never gets old, does it?
A: No, it doesn’t.
Q: What do you remember when Roy White and Chris Chambliss greeted you at the plate?
A: It was a little eerie; the crowd was like dead silent. They were in shock.
Q: Do you wear your World Series rings?
A: I wear my ’77, the first one. I think it’s the prettiest one.
Q: One person in history you’d like to meet?
A: JFK.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Denzel Washington; Al Pacino; Bill Parcells.
Q: Parcells?
A: I like the way he coaches.
Q: Three wishes?
A: I could see my son [Cody, 13] play in the major leagues; I could manage a team to the World Series; beat the Red Sox every year in the playoffs.
Q: How did Russell Earl become Bucky?
A: My grandmother. She called me Cooterbuck. I used to get embarrassed by it.
Q: Favorite player growing up?
A: Mickey Mantle.
Q: If George Steinbrenner wasn’t a baseball owner, what would he be?
A: Football owner.
Q: What would people be surprised to learn about him?
A: (Laugh) I don’t think there’s anything people don’t know about him … he’s very loyal.
Q: Best pep talk The Boss gave when you played?
A: He didn’t make any pep talks when I was there. I remember in ’77, when we were six games behind the Red Sox, he told us, “Just go have a good time because I don’t think you guys are gonna make it.” It was a reverse-psychology type thing.
Q: What did you notice about Joe Torre when you were his third-base coach in St. Louis?
A: How even-keeled he was; his calmness.
Q: What one trait do you need to manage in New York?
A: Confidence.
Q: How was The Boss when you managed the Yankees [Aug. 1989-June 1990]?
A: He was good; he was excellent. I got along with him fine. We didn’t get into any screaming matches (laugh).
Q: Was it fun?
A: I enjoyed it.
Q: Why?
A: Because it was a lifelong dream. I didn’t like losing; I hated losing. But I enjoyed it.
Q: George fired you in Boston, of all places; what do you remember about that?
A: He called me on the phone.
Q: Would you be interested in a Bucky II?
A: It would be nice, but right now Joe Torre’s the manager. With his track record, it’s gonna be a while before somebody gets that job.
Q: Torre’s successor will have an unenviable task; what kind of man should that be?
A: You’re gonna have to be very confident and secure in what you’re doing.
Q: How have you changed as a manager since that time? [Dent has been the Columbus Clippers’ manager since 2003].
A: I’ve become more patient.
Q: What makes managing in New York different from everywhere else?
A: The expectations.
Q: Which manager did you learn the most from?
A: The guy I liked playing the most for was Dick Howser.
Q: What was it about him?
A: His demeanor and the way he was.
Q: One word to describe Billy Martin?
A: Fiery.
Q: Would George be happy if he beat the Red Sox but lost the World Series?
A: No.
Q: Who would you want to play you in the movie about your life?
A: Tom Cruise.
Q: What was it like being a matinee idol when you played?
A: Different (laugh).
Q: How many marriage proposals did you get in the mail each week?
A: Four or five.
Q: What did you do with the letters?
A: I threw ’em away.
Q: Did you get teddy bears?
A: Stuffed animals, all kinds of different things.
Q: Did your teammates rib you?
A: Oh, yeah.
Q: Who ribbed you the most?
A: It varied; Thurman [Munson] was pretty good at it.
Q: What do you remember about the night Reggie hit those three Series home runs against the Dodgers?
A: How electric the stadium was. How awesome it was.
Q: What was Reggie like as a teammate?
A: I got along with him great. I really liked Reggie. I just really enjoyed playing with him.
Q: The one pitcher you didn’t want to see in a clutch situation?
A: Jim Palmer.
Q: The one hitter you didn’t want to see in a clutch situation?
A: George Brett.
Q: The difference style-wise at shortstop between Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez?
A: Jeter probably has a little more range.
Q: You and A-Rod were in Texas together for a year.
A: He was a good listener.
Q: You’re not surprised A-Rod made such a smooth transition to third base?
A: No, he’s a great athlete. I didn’t think he’d have a problem.
Q: What did you think when Pedro said the Yankees are his daddies?
A: I think there’s a psychological edge there.
Q: Where does Mariano Rivera rank as a closer?
A: No. 1. He does it day-in and day-out like nobody else.
Q: You managed Drew Henson in Columbus; how will he do in the NFL with the Cowboys?
A: I think he’s gonna be excellent. I think he’s got the ability and he’s over there with a great coach.
Q: Was is rough on him being a Michigan kid in Columbus?
A: He had a lot of pressure on him. He was a Michigan quarterback playing in the Buckeye State. People used to boo him all the time. I think he made the right choice.
Q: Did he have a future at third base?
A: I think he maybe would have had a better chance in the outfield. He had a bit of a throwing problem at third, a little bit erratic.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Remember the Titans.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Denzel Washington.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Katherine Hepburn.
Q: Favorite singer?
A: Barry White.
Q: Favorite book?
A: The Bible.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Turkey.
Q: Favorite TV show?
A: “CSI.”
Q: Favorite vacation spot?
A: Hawaii.
Q: Pet peeve?
A: My family leaving all the lights on.
Q: Regrets?
A: None
