A Crimson Tide Moment with Adam Pavkovich
1/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
On January 22, 2007 Bama Football player BJ Stabler interviewed former Bama Shortstop Adam Pavkovich who now plays in the Los Angeles Angels organization.
BJ: Where were you born and did you grow up there?
AP:Â I was born and grew up on the southwest coast of Florida in Sarasota.
BJ: Pavkovich is not your average, everyday, run-of-the-mill name. What kind of name is Pavkovich?
AP: It is Croatian and is actually my father's stepfather's name. We don't know too much about it, but my parents are going to travel this summer to what is the former Yugoslavia to meet family.Â
BJ:Â Tell us about your family.
AP: I have a sister who attends the University of Florida in the Honors Program. She is pretty smart. I'm pretty proud of her. Dad owns a lumber company in town and Mom is a stay-at-home mom.
BJ: Where did you go to high school? What sports did you play and what was your best?
AP: I went to Venice High School and played baseball year round. I played football my freshman year, but tweaked my ankle and got bruised up pretty bad so that was my last year.
BJ:Â Who was your favorite athlete as a kid?
AP: Michael Jordan was pretty big in the 90's when I was growing up having won all those championships. I had his posters up in my room, along with the sweatshirts and jerseys.
BJ:Â What was your favorite athletic highlight before arriving at Bama?
AP: I hit my first homerun my senior year in high school which surprises a lot of people because I played baseball since I was six years old. I tell kids I wasn't the most gifted athlete, but with a strong faith, a belief in God, and hard work you can become what you want.Â
BJ:Â Tell us about your recruiting experience and how you ended up coming to Bama.
AP: My high school baseball coach was from Louisiana and was good friends with Coach Jim Wells. He made a call to Coach Wells, sent a highlight film, but they still wanted me to come to Christmas camp so they could see me play. They didn't have any scholarship money, but I really wanted to come here so they gave me books.
My other choices were Vanderbilt, who had offered me about a 20% scholarship and Harvard, but it's pretty cold up there in Boston. Baseball doesn't seem to be taken quite as seriously up there so I wanted to come here.
BJ:Â What, if anything, would you change about your time here at Bama?
AP: My time at Bama was awesome, but if I could go back and change something it would be to stay, finish my senior year, and get my degree. I was drafted after my junior year and am still a junior in the classroom since baseball season coincided with the time that I could work on my degree. Baseball age is an important criterion in a player's career. A lot of the best players are coming right out of high school and are given time to produce whereas someone coming right out of college is expected to produce immediately.Â
BJ:Â Outside of the Bible, what is the best book you have ever read?
AP: I read two books that I really liked. Lance Armstrong wrote a book that talks about his fight against cancer and his wins in the Tour de France and Derek Jeter wrote a book about his personal life and it reveals just how humble he really is.
BJ:Â What movie have you seen numerous times and, if given the opportunity, would pay to see it again on the Big Screen?
AP: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. I thought that was a pretty good movie when I was younger.
BJ:Â What has your pathway to the Majors looked like?
AP: I finished my third season in minor league baseball last year. My first year was in A ball and the last two I have been in AAA ball in Salt Lake City. I have been fortunate to move through the ranks pretty well, but the last step from AAA to the Majors is the hardest.
BJ:Â What is the biggest difference between playing college and professional?
AP: College is more about the team. Professional baseball is more about the individual moving through the progression. It sounds bad, but that is the way it is.
John Parker Wilson: What kind of difference is there in pitching?
AP: Pitching is a little different. Everyone in the pros has something that they do really well. In college you might see three or four guys who are legit.
BJ:Â How and when did your walk with Jesus Christ begin?Â
AP: I was 12 years old. My family didn't go to church, but when I was 12 I started to hang out with a kid in my neighborhood whose family went to church. I started going with them. Eventually we started going to a Wednesday night Bible study for kids. When I was 13 I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.
BJ:Â How tough is it to live out your faith in the professional ranks?
AP: It is tough, but then it isn't. You have all the temptations. Money and all the other stuff, but if you are focused, disciplined and mature about it spiritually you can do it.  This year our manager at Salt Lake, who is a great Christian, started a mid-week Bible study with the players. Surrounding yourself with guys like that helps a lot!
BJ:Â What has God been teaching you lately?
AP: Lately He has been teaching me that you don't have to force the Book in anyone's face to get the message across or get up in their face. For me I have learned that you can lead by example. You can be yourself. When I see people like Lance Cormier, Andy Phillips, Coach Cramer ?? I mean you guys see ?? he is full of a love for Jesus ?? you guys can see it.  When I was here there was a fella named Wayne Waddell. They don't force it on you. Coach Cramer always reminds us about the "Turtle on a Fencepost." When you see a turtle on a fencepost you know someone else put it there.  He tells us that God has given us a gift to play a sport and people look up to us and the platform we have. People watch us because of our talent. By living our life as a strong Christian we can set an example without ever saying anything at all.
