Archbishop Kennedy High School - Kencensus Yearbook (Conshohocken, PA)

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The Real Tugger Many feel that nothing out-of-the- ordinary happens at Kennedy, not so. On October 14. Phillies' 1980 World Series Pitcher Tug McGraw delivered a guest Student Council Installation Speech in our own Tracy Hall. His speech contained many fascinating stories that placed students in the dugout and on the field during the World Series, but he also revealed another side of himself as he spoke his proverb, enjoy the effort.” He further unveiled a more serious personality in an interview with Maria lannozzi following his In- stallation speech: M.I.s How that you're retired from baseball, do you miss playing? Tug McGraw: I don't really miss the actual playing of the game of baseball . . . The thing I miss the most is the pump, the adrenalin. It's an exaggerated form of a natural high, it's unusual compared to other things you do in your life. M.I.: Were the Philies a close-knit team? Were there any problems? T.M.: We went through highs and lows and in terms of dissension and everybody getting along or not get- ting along, out team was pretty nor- mal. We had a wonderful ability, though, to give everybody their own space and sometimes, when we were going through a losing streak, it wasn't as easy to give everyone that space. Winning cures a lot of ills . . . There was a lot of character in our team, a lot of substance . . . They cared about what we did as a team. M.I.: Who were your role models? T.M.: Seaver and Carlton were probably the two finest pitchers I've ever seen. M.I.: How serious of a drug problem do you think there is in baseball? T.M.: Regardles of the numbers, it's a serious problem, even if it's just one major league player or more than that — it's serious. I think that before it was more serious than people thought it was and now that the trials are over, it's not as serious as people think it is. We were at an extreme disregard before and now I think that we re over-concerned. M.I.: Do you think the mandatory drug testing is fair? T.M: I don't think it's an invasion of privacy at all. If you're working in a group or team environment and there is some question about whether or not you are living up to your responsibilities, I think it's en- cumbent upon everyone including your teammates to want to know why. M.I.: What sort of a kid were you in high school? T.M.: I was kind of a goof off . . really high strung. I had a hard time concentrating in class although whenever I did I usually came out with a good result ... As a student I wouldn't call myself a role model. Although, I was really active in every type of club, activity or committee you could be in. M.I.: Looking back on your high school years, would you change anything? T.M.: If I had to do it all over again, I d try to figure out a way to spend more time pumping information in- to myself so I would have been more organized and aware of myself when I got older. What I said today in my talk was very sincere about the toughest part of being a parent is trying to teach while I'm still learn- ing. I think if I would have con- centrated more on myself as a kid in school I would have been a better parent today. M.I.: How are you enjoying your work at WPVI? T.M.: Very much, I think that the types of stories that they're giving me, to go out and interview people who are full of spirit and motivation and who care about other people, are really great... I really enjoy the theme of my reporting. M.I.: Do you have any advice for the students of today? T.M.: Try to turn tough times into good times and try to create a happy environment around you ... try to be active and care. Heedless to say, Kennedy certainly enjoyed Tug s adages and his in- telligent advice. In keeping with his proverb, he certainly deserves an A for effort.