    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [June 24, 1995]
    [Page 944]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Interview with Gary Matthews of ESPN in Pine Bluff
    June 24, 1995

        Mr. Matthews. Thank you very much, Mr. President. Thank you for
    coming in. I understand that you're a great amateur baseball fan. Did
    you have the opportunity to play when you were growing up here in
    Arkansas?
        The President. I did. Everybody did when I was a boy, but I was
    never as good as these guys are.
        Mr. Matthews. Well, I'm sure you, like other fans across the
    country--and having played major league baseball myself--are happy that
    the strike is over. It's just so good to see so many fans here in Pine
    Bluff come out and support amateur sports.
        The President. It is. I was delighted when the strike was over. As
    you know, I did what I could to help bring it to an end, and I think it
    kind of keeps the spirits of baseball fans up all across America. But
    the real heart and soul of baseball in our country are people like this,
    all these fans out here in stands like this all over America today and
    all these young people that are doing it in this way. They build the
    spirit of baseball, and they make it possible for a few people like you
    to rise to the top and have the career that you had.
        Mr. Matthews. Well, thank you. I really appreciate that. I
    understand that you're the first President to come to Pine Bluff in over
    100 years. What took you so long?
        The President. I was here a lot before I became President. These
    people in this county were as good to me as any people in our entire
    State. They carried me on their shoulders through 12 years as Governor
    and I owed them a trip back here, and I'm honored to be here today.
        Mr. Matthews. Well, thank you, Mr. President. Enjoy the game today.
        The President. Thank you.

    Note: The interview began at 1:21 p.m. at Taylor Field, where the
    President threw the first pitch at the National Amateur All Star
    Baseball Tournament. Mr. Matthews was a former Chicago Cubs baseball
    player.