Team Italy manager Mike Piazza interviewed on the Jim Rome Show
Team Italy manager Mike Piazza was interviewed live on CBS Sports Radio Network's Jim Rome Show on March 18, 2020. The Jim Rome Show is a sports radio talk show produced by 24-year radio veteran host Jim Rome. Over more than two million listeners tune into the popular program for three hours each weekday from 9 a.m. to noon Pacific Time. The show is produced in Los Angeles, syndicated by CBS Sports Radio, and can be heard on affiliate radio stations in the U.S. and Canada.
Mike Piazza spoke about taking on managerial duties for Team Italy, his family ties to the Motherland, living in Italy, and how the coronavirus has taken its toll on the country. Mike Piazza said, "Many, many healthcare workers, doctors, people who are caring for the sick, who are exposing themselves to possibly getting sick, that to me is true selflessness and bravery in a way, that they're not allowing the fear to overcome what they need to do."
MIke Piazza was asked if the current pandemic drew any similarities to when baseball came to a sudden halt due to the 9/11 attacks. While the circumstances are vastly different, Mike Piazza said the acts of heroism have connected the events in his mind. Currently with his family in Miami after school closures in Italy, Mike Piazza responded: "So even though maybe in a crisis situation like 9/11 it was more about first responders, police, firemen, and people who were racing to try to rescue people in a terrorist attack, here it's the doctors, nurses, people who are giving up themselves and putting themselves in harm's way to try to comfort the sick and the researchers in the companies that are looking for some sort, hopefully, of protection from it, and ultimately, hopefully, a cure."
When the National Baseball Hall of Famer and 12-time MLB All-Star was asked about his approach to managing Team Italy, Mike Piazza credited his former managers Tommy Lasorda, Bobby Valentine, and Bruce Bochy as major influences. Listen to the entire interview by clicking . Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
