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This weeks Hot Corner profiles Chad Johnson. Chad has been a well known player for the Nitro2Go team but recently announced a leave of absence. it is rumored Chad may find himself behind the dish for HardCor but that is unconfirmed at this time. This Hot Corner interview was done prior to the World Series so view it with that in mind.
Name: Chad Johnson
Nickname:
Team: Nitro 2 Go (aka: Dirty Dirty)
Position: Catcher
Years Playing LEO softball: This is my 4th year with the dirty dirty.
Q-Describe your game in one word?
A- LOUD
Q-What would bother you the most, forgetting your bat(s) or glove at home?
A- I would lose the feel of the my bat and glove. Right now the glove I could live with out, I normally just use my shins to stop the ball. But the bat… that’s my baby!
Q-Favorite Tournament and why?
A- The series is the easy answer. But all tourneys are a blast. I’ve made some good friends in l.e. softball. It’s great to see them every tourney!
Q-Who is the best gamer in cop softball?
A- From the evil empire…. Big George Reyes. Our left center fielder (Justin Long (aka JLO)) is a freak. He looks like a nice lil blond guy. He hits the ball a mile! And he has a freak arm!
Q-Who is the best player right now in the East?
A- Double D… we played them this past year in Vegas… He was a solid cat… & damn he was good. And he could almost out talk me…almost
Q-You unintentionally nail the pitcher with a line drive. Do you acknowledge him?
A- I definitely do. I do not think anyone in l.e. softball goes at the pitcher on purpose. But it happens.
Q-Is the middle open?
A- The middle is my game. Just to either side of the pitcher (hopefully).
Q-Should pitching masks be mandatory or optional?
A- Keep them optional. They will be mandatory when something bad happens. They are a good idea.
Q-What would you like to see added to the policesoftball.com website?
A- More tourney pics. The website is an amazing tool for l.e. softball! I would like to see more big companies get on board and show the l.e. tourneys some love. We deserve it!
Q-Whose message board posts do you enjoy the most?
A- Meat… seriously… just cuz his name is meat
Q-Who is the best player right now in the West?
A- Said George was the best gamer. Here’s a shocker… Ryan Coe…. “The godfather of softball”… It kills me to even think it….
Q-Who is the best overall player EVER in the game?
A- I’ve only been around a short time…. There are some straight balers in l.e. softball.
Q-Who is the best player that flies under the radar?
A- Our short stop. Mike “Ocho” Salazar. He solid at short & he’s a Legit clutch hitter!!!
Q-What is the best team you have ever seen?
A- the evil empire… Pick the year… But burnt orange makes you look fat
Q-What does your current team need to do to improve?
A- Go back to our roots. Play hard, play dirty dirty, and play for each other! We need to put in more time between tourneys,
Q-Based on your team needs, what in state player would you want to trade for right now?
A- any player with a sick work ethic!!
Q-What team gives your team the most problems?
A- The “Quake” Benji’s mustache throws us off. It’s amazing. They play ball start to finish! Business like…They just don’t let up. It will be Quake, Hardcor (put the “e” on the end of the word), or the evil empire this year winning the series.
Q-If you need a base hit, who do you want up on your team?
A- Mike “Ocho” Salazar
Q-If you need a HR, who do you want up on your team?
A- Justin Long… or ME
Q-If a defensive play needs to be made on your team, who do you want to have the ball hit to?
A- Justin Long.
Q-What is your most exciting moment in police softball?
A- Last years world series… we made a run… We beat some very good teams in our last at bats. It was crazy!!!
Q-What is your biggest disappointment in police softball?
A- Playing the State Razed tourney this year. We were in the winners bracket. We let the Quake beat us. We ended up in 3rd. We were playing a helluva team tourney! But we lost it.
Q-If a teammate was using a juiced bat, what would you do?
A- It can’t happen. Juiced bat + ball = the pitcher or any infielder going to hospital. That would ruin l.e. softball! I’ve had my talks with my team and other teams. Either you can hit it 300’ or you can’t.
Q-Are you on the social networking site called Facebook?
A- Nope.
Q-What is your biggest weakness on the softball field?
A- I get too high…and too low… Softball is an emotional game for me.
Q-Who do you think is a player of the year candidate?
A- Big George. Or me
Q-Who do you think is a manager of the year candidate?
A- Paul and Lyle for the dirty…. They deal with a lot of stuff for us. Like most managers. But we keep things interesting for them! And they do a great job dealing with it.
Q-Who do you think is a defensive player of the year candidate?
A- He’s new to our team…. But is a freak with the leather..”Happy”
Q-What percentage of bats are juiced in the LEO game?
A- Now that I’ve been catching for a couple years… 75% no..25% yes. East coast or west coast. If you hurt another cop because you need more pop in your bat… Well you can figure it out!
Q-Provided bat tournaments, yes or no?
A- YES!!!!!!! Make it fair across the board. It saves all the questions.
Q-Is your game more resemble a lion, a bear or a greyhound?
A- A bear that is thirsty.
Q-What team is the next elite team?
A- Sin City . They have been hit or miss the last couple of years. This year they are good!
Q-What team is not living up to their potential?
A- US! And it’s killing me!
Q-Best looking uniforms in the game?
A- Us. Cause we are the best looking team out there!
Q-Worst looking uniforms
A- the burnt orange of the evil empire. Or the quakes purple barney uniforms. Hardcor’s light blue looks precious.
Q-What is your biggest mistake on the softball field?
A- bat control…. Right benji. I still get excited when I get the cookie tossed up to me.
Q-State rule, yes or no?
A- yes.
Q- Who will win the 2009 Police vs. Corrections All Star game?
A- If I’m playing… Police… if not corrections.
Q-The HOF, too hard to get into, too easy, just about right?
A- It’s just right. It’s a great time for police softball, and all of those that have played in the past.
Q.-Of the past World Series HR Derby winners, which one is the best HR hitter?
A- There have been some freaks! They are all studs.
Q-Who was/is your police softball mentor?
A- Justin Long… he plays the game right!
Q-If you are king of police softball, what do you do?
A- provided bat touneys. We need to organize more pre or post touney functions! Get all the boys together!
Q-Who is the toughest pitcher you have ever faced?
A- I still can’t hit Buck (Quake). Maybe it’s the mustache.
Q-Biggest problem with cop softball
A- Juiced bats. And those that need them.
Q-What is your best position?
A- at the bar. Or singing karaoke with Michigan . Or the talking catcher
Q-Which team has the hottest girls?
A- I will not answer that but we got some absolutely beautiful women out there.
Q-Which team parties the most east/west
A- We do! At tahoe I did some drinking with some Jax boys at CaboWabo.
Q-Who is your hardest working teammate?
A- Our pitcher. Joe…. The man does work. he is softball thru and thru!
Q-Worst city on the travel circuit?
A- There is none.
Q-Other than your own, what manager would you want to play for and why?
A- Tough to answer that… Anyone that requires his team to work…and work hard.
Q-What team you wouldn't want to fight after the game? (biggest bruisers)
A- Really… I’m pretty sure that’s what we do…. We fight! I guess the eastcoast lawmen. But fighting makes everything better. It solves problems.
Q-Best glove on the circuit?
A- Nate… I hate the evil empire
Q-Best wheels on the circuit?
A- Lil Andy Grisly… He plays 2nd base for us. Lil Andy hustles always!
Q-Who has more overall talent, East Coast or West Coast?
A- West coast. We play ball year round.
Q-What team do you root against even when you are not playing them?
A- the evil empire
Q-Most overated player? Most underated player?
A- no one is over rated. Under rated… there are a handful of guys on my team that are ballers. Big Freak Freddy Hernandez…Narci Souza… Lil Andy Grisly
Q-Most overated tournament? Most underated tournament?
A- I enjoy all of our tourneys! I’m like a little kid the night before. I can’t sleep and I’m trying to get myself in the zone.
Q-What player plays much better than they look?
A- We all look good. We are cops.
Q-Who should be in the Hall of Fame that isn’t?
A- I’m still too new to have an opinion on that.
Q-Tell us something about you that most people do not know?
A- I was borned and raised in upstate New York . I get up the most against the northeast teams. NYPD ..Eastcoast Lawmen… those are my boys!
Q-What is your pet peeve in police softball
A- Juiced bats… it’s gonna get someone hurt eventually.
Q-Any last words? (Use this to get out any message you would like to)
A- It’s all bout the families and children that are there. I applaud the wives and kids that cheer their fathers when we play. We have a good thing with law enforcement softball.! I want my lil 1”s to see the competition and camaraderie in l.e. softball. It means the world to me.
Thank you for this opportunity. Everyone Be Safe Out There!
