Braves Q&A w/ Mike Gonzalez

Curious about Mike Gonzalez’s musical tastes, his marital status, or where he gets his Mexican food? The Braves closer gives insights into his off-the-field life.

Q. What is your favorite movie?

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Rich Addicks/raddicks@ajc.com

You might seen Braves reliever Mike Gonzalez chowing down at the Atlanta restaurat Fogo de Chao.

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A. Scarface. Al Pacino has got so many good phrases. He’s a gangsta.

Q. What actor would play you in a movie?

A. Al Pacino’s best friend in the movie, Manny. I don’t know his name. That’s who everyone says I look like. (Manny Ribera is played by Steven Bauer.)

Q. What you’re favorite restaurant in Atlanta?

A. Fogo de Chao. It’s got all the meat you can eat, all types. I like having a good steak.

Q. Do you miss Mexican food from Texas or were you big into that?

A. I was big on my mom’s cooking, my mom’s tortillas, my mom’s type of food. Everything else doesn’t seem as authentic.

Q. What’s your favorite kind of music?

A. Hip Hop. Paul Wall. TI.

Q. Do you listen to it before a game to get up?

A. Yeah, definitely. When I’m getting ready, getting dressed ready for the game I’ve got my iPod on, getting myself situated.

Q. So how have you managed not to get married yet?

A. I’ve just been fully focused. I’ve had some goals in my head, and I’m getting pretty close to them. I want to make sure everything is taken care of — obviously family first, then career — but I want to make sure I don’t have to worry about anything once I do get married. Just smooth. And I’m getting there every way, financially, goal-oriented with my career, but first and foremost is my career. There are a few steps I wanted to get to first and I’m headed in the right direction. I feel like I’ve come too far now, I can’t stop now.

Q. Did you play other sports in high school?

A. I played a little bit of football and baseball in high school.

Q. What position in football?

A. Quarterback. Our offensive line looked like (5-foot-10 Kris) Medlen. I was the biggest guy on the team, and I was just getting crushed. I said ‘You know what? I better choose something else.’ “

Q. Did you run the option?

A. We did everything you can possible do. It just wasn’t working. Where I’m from — Robstown (Texas) — it was 99 percent Mexican. I was the biggest Mexican there; everybody else was 5-8, 5-7. When you meet up with the cowboys and the country boys, farm boys over 20 minutes north of you, you’ve got your 6-foot-4, 6-foot-3, 250 pound guys that were just crushing our guys. I said I’d rather get through this without a major injury. I quit after sophomore year.

Q. What was your welcome-to-the-big-leagues moment?

A. I was pitching (to) Andruw Jones. I was a big fan of Andruw and Chipper (Jones) coming up. They were my go-to guys. I faced him first, when I was with Pittsburgh. First pitch, I was like ‘I’m going to throw this guy three straight (fastballs). I’m going to challenge him.’ That’s when Druw hit all his bombs. So first pitch I threw right down the middle as hard as I could. And the ball still hasn’t landed. That to me was ‘Welcome to the big leagues, buddy.’ I was like, ‘Wow, OK, this is how they do it.’ “

— Compiled by Carroll Rogers