Q&A with Baseball's Jon Kaplan
Mar 12, 2002 | Baseball
March 12, 2002
Chesterfield, Missouri's Jon Kaplan moved into the starting line-up last season and ignited the Green Wave from his centerfield spot where he led Conference USA in outfield assists. He is the lone returning starter in the Tulane outfield this year.
What is your most memorable experience with Tulane Athletics?
The 2002 Super Regional, because we came back and won two in a row against LSU.
How has being a student-athlete at Tulane changed or helped you?
Being a student-athlete has helped me stay on track with my academics.
What is your major?
Sociology
What is your favorite book?
The baseball rule book
What on-campus activity do you enjoy the most?
I get a charge out of playing our home games in front of big crowds at Turchin Stadium.
If you could play any other sport at Tulane, what would it be?
Basketball so I could dunk at Fogelman
What would you like to do after you graduate?
I hope to play professional baseball if I get the opportunity.
What was the last concert you went to?
Aerosmith, because I thought I might see Steve Tyler's daughter at the show.
Why did you choose Tulane?
Tulane was by far the best baseball program that would give me a chance.
What is your personal philosophy?
If you want to go for something, give it everything you've got.
What person has had the most influence on your athletic career?
My father
What class would you recommend to other students?
Calculus, because it's one of the easiest classes at Tulane.
What is your favorite movie?
"Major League." Only the first one, though. The sequels aren't very good.
What actor would you like to see in a movie?
Chris Farley. He's such a great entertainer who has a great body.
What cartoon character most resembles you?
The Roadrunner, because I hate coyotes.
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is anything from the cafeteria at Tulane.
What is your dream vacation destination?
I would like to travel Europe for a month or two, but hopefully I won't get the chance for a while because of baseball.
If you could have dinner with any three people in history, who would they be?
Babe Ruth, Ralph Macchio (from the "Karate Kid"), and Hank the Angry Dwarf (from Howard Stern)
Who are the people you would most like to thank?
I would like to thank many of my former teammates here at Tulane for making this a prominent baseball program, and also for teaching me a lot about how to play the game. I also want to comment on how we really do have the best fans in the nation. We might not have as many as some other places, but they all seem to be very loyal toward the program.
Who is your favorite teacher at Tulane?
Professor Wang in long calculus
What do you think is the most important community service activity you have done?
I did some volunteer work at G.T. Woods Elementary School. It was a lot of fun for me to run around with about 20 fifth graders at recess. They also recently came to a baseball game to watch us play.
What is your favorite award?
The Golden Spikes Award (given to the nation's top collegiate player), because Michael Aubrey is going to get it this year.
