MLB ALL-STAR GAME

July 10, 2000

Sammy Sosa

SAMMY SOSA: Hi, everybody. You enjoy the show?

SAMMY SOSA: Certainly. One thing that I just wanted to say, I came here for the last three years and I didn't do anything. If you all remember, I hit two home runs and one home run the last two years I have been here. And I just came today with a different plan, and went up there and gave myself an opportunity, took some pitches and started to swing the bat and make some great contact. The fans, they motivate me so much. Every time I hit one a long way, you know, they cheered for me, and that was -- you know, made me keep going right there. That was a good show, and I just came here to want to put on a show pretty much, and I didn't come here to win, but I guess I got the win.

SAMMY SOSA: Definitely. I think with the hurricane that happened to me the last month, everything has come down to normal. I said I want to stay in Chicago till the end of the year. I feel more comfortable myself, I start to feel much better. Before I was there and I was playing the way that I was supposed to be playing because I was really happy. Now I feel that I can come back again, go out there and get ready for the second half. Hopefully, I will do well tomorrow and go to Minnesota, and then go from there.

SAMMY SOSA: I was surprised that I made it. You know, but -- pretty much a situation like that, it is a lot of activity. Everybody's cheering, everybody's happy. You don't really pay attention to how many home runs you're going to hit. I was feeling great because everybody was cheering for me. So that's a great feeling.

SAMMY SOSA: Definitely. That was one of the keys. He used to be my manager in the Minor Leagues with Texas, and he knows where I really like the ball.

SAMMY SOSA: Well, I knew I got that one good. But I hit one to leftfield that I really enjoyed this one a little bit more when I went like that, because it feels so great. One of the things that made me keep going was the fans. They were really, really excited. They really enjoyed everything. So that's a great feeling right there.

SAMMY SOSA: Well, you know, every time you compete against Ken Griffey in the Home Run Derby, you know, that's something that pretty much -- because he's been there so many times, and he's been winning so many Home Run Derby's, I was hoping that maybe, you know, he would do something different, because he is the guy that when he's hot, you know, he can hit ten in a row.

SAMMY SOSA: One thing for sure, they were watching tonight. I don't want to just talk about a contract right now, because I want to wait until the year's over and relax. And whatever happens from there happens, which everybody knows, I would love to stay in Chicago; this is the city I want to stay with. But if it doesn't work out, you know, if I have to go, I don't have a choice. But I would love to stay there. Let's see what happens.

SAMMY SOSA: Well, as everybody knows, number-wise, he's been the guy that everybody was looking for. He's a great person. He's a good friend of mine. But because he's not here today, you know, I came here to represent. But I think, you know, everybody enjoys -- we know we miss him. Everybody enjoys today.

End of FastScripts….