The BioFile: Omar Minaya

Status: New York Mets general manager.

Childhood Heroes: “I used to love Willie Mays. I used to love Juan Marichal. And Roberto Clemente.”

Hobbies/Interests: “Playing with my kids (Teddy and Justin). And now I guess I like to go to a good restaurant for good food and wine.”

Favorite Movie: “A Bronx Tale.”

omar
Omar Minaya

Musical Tastes: “Good question … musical tastes … I like diversity, so probably Brazilian jazz.”

Favorite TV Shows: “I don’t watch much TV. The only channel that I watch is The History Channel.”

Early Baseball Memory: “I think the early memories were coming to Shea Stadium and sitting up in the upper (Omar looks up into the upper deck area behind third base) and watching the Giants and the Pirates play when I was a kid.”

First Job: “Working in a grocery store in Queens when I was about nine years old.”

Favorite Meal: “Anything my wife (Rachel)cooks.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Coffee ice cream.”

Funny Baseball Memory: “Something that made me laugh in baseball … for me a funny baseball memory is having association with Rickey Henderson, who I love.”

Childhood Dream(s): “Growing up, I always wanted to be a baseball player. I was always a baseball player. And if it wasn’t a baseball player, it probably would have been a police officer.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I’d say being part of The Subway Series (in 2000), when I was part of the Mets (as senior assistant GM). Being a New Yorker and being a part of the Subway Series, just being a part of that was exciting.”

Most Painful Moment: “Probably getting released. When I was getting released from the Oakland Athletics, when I was a kid.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “Fiercest competitors that I encountered … I think guys like Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens. Those are guys that I love to watch compete.”

Funniest Player(s) Encountered: “Rickey Henderson. He’s funny, in a good way. Rickey’s very … he knows baseball, but he’s one of the best teammates I’ve been around.”

Favorite Vacation Spot: “Castiglione della Pescaia in Tuscany, Italy.”

Pre-Game Feeling: “Every day is different. It’s just the anticipation that something good is going to happen.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “People that are honest, just good-hearted, honest people.”

Career Accomplishments: Became baseball’s first Hispanic general manager in 2002 when appointed vice-president & general manager by the Montreal Expos; Was invited and honored (along with Vladimir Guerrero) by The President of the United States at the 2003 gala dinner celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at The White House; current GM of the New York Mets.

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