Monday March 25th, 2024
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An interview with sponsor Jerry Backman!

 

 

 

John Backman

 

Interview conducted on 2/11/2016

Who are you managing/sponsoring in 2016 and what teams have you been with in the past?
Sponsor of Backman/Shoppe/Louisville Slugger /S&S Landscaping /PowerHouse Sportz

Why do you like the game of softball?
I played Baseball thru high school and played softball after.  It's a family oriented sport that with all the levels you can always achieve a higher goal.  I've made many life long friends and have traveled to many new towns since 1987 playing ball and meeting people.

Who is the best softball player you have ever seen (by decade if possible)?
Dirk Androff Ritches/ Supierior 90's
Todd Joerling 1990's
Brett Helmer 2000's

Where do you call home?
Aurora, Indiana

What do you do for a living?
Self Employed

What is your softball background as a player?
Played 1979 for Ball State U League
1981-1986 United States Navy Western Pacific Traveling Team
1987-1989  C & B Level

How did you get your start in softball and how did you get to the upper level?
Started playing B & C league and Tournaments in 1987 around the Cincinnati area. I'm from a small town in Indiana where we were looked as Hillbillies that had no talent . It took a few years and we starting winning tournaments around the Cincy area when we were the Backstop and started traveling out of our area.  A Nationals.

In 1996 I decided to put a super major team together, without Brian Ellinghausen (Pitcher Deceased) I would have never moved up.  We won our first Tournament in Super Major at Statesboro, Georgia.  I was hooked.  We didn't win again that year, I learned a lot from Dave Neal, Mo Tackett & Hank Bassett.

What is your teams goal for 2016?
Playing together as a Team that is competitive and plays every game as hard as if it is the W. S. Finals .

Where do you look for talent?
Q gets phone calls, texts, emails from players and we go watch them play.  Some players also have a great eye for talent as they play many tournaments around the country

How do you evaluate players?
Overall Play, Team Ethics, Leadership.

What is your favorite sports team?
Cincinnati Reds

Do you have any superstitions and if so, what are they?
None, My favorite number is 13

What is your most memorable softball moment?
Winning the 2004 World Series Best Team I have ever been apart of!

What is your favorite non-World tournament?
Smoky Mountain Classic

Who was the best team in softball history?
Remember you asked Best Team that's 1 year to me !!!!!  Team T. P. S .
Resmondo is a SoftBall Legacy in forever. What they have done will Never be Surpassed !

What is the funniest thing you have ever seen on a softball field?
Jason Kendrick doing a 360 in the outfield, the ball hit his head and went over the fence, Jason threw his hands up in the air .

Tell us something about you that most would never know?
U.S.N 1981-1986

What is your favorite way to spend an off weekend?
With my son JJ & friends spending some Great Time together .
I love to hunt and spend as much time outdoors as possible,  Traveling .

What advice can you give a young player who is trying to move to the upper level?
Work hard on your hitting & fielding skills. Make sure you willing to commit yourself to all of your team mates for the whole year . Be a Team Player !!!!

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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