Director Q and A with Wolf Steger

Recently, we launched our “Director Q and A” series with Camp Director's Jonathan Isaac and Julia Garisto. Today, we introduce our Program Director of Elite Baseball Camp, Wolf Steger!

1. Hi Wolf. Tell us about yourself. Give us your 60-second elevator pitch….

2. Why do you like working at summer camps?

I really enjoy being outside every day and getting to play/teach a sport that I love.  It is great to be able to interact with kids in a fun environment and seeing/hearing that they are having a good time and enjoying themselves.  There is also not a lot of repetition and each day is never the same, which for me is very important.

3. You used to have long hair. Like, very long. Why did you decide to cut it?

I just woke up one day in Grade 11 and realized it was time to cut it off, you can only rock a mullet for so long.

4. You’ve said your dream is to become an MLB Umpire. Why have you always waned to become an umpire? Can you update us on your status?

I really enjoy and perform well being under constant pressure to be perfect and to make big calls regardless of the situation.  As an umpire you can't take a play off, you don't get a break on the bench, and there is never a home game for an umpire.  There are so many intricacies of baseball that you learn as an umpire and you realize how much of the rulebook you don't know as a player.  When Jim Joyce made the obstruction call against Boston in the 2013 World Series or when the umpires got the call right when Russell Martin hit Choo's bat in last year's playoffs, those plays show how good MLB umpires are and how tough the job is at every level.  Joyce made that call in the biggest game of the year and the umpires in the Toronto series got an obscure rule right that you might never see happen again in a game. In terms of my status as an umpire, I am still umpiring games in Toronto at AA, AAA and elite levels. Sometime in the next 3 years I plan on going to one of the 2 umpire schools in Florida and if I am in the     top 25% I will be placed in Rookie Ball (below Class A) and will hopefully make my way up to the big leagues much like a prospect would do.

5. What is your most memorable moment as a player or umpire?

As a player it would have to be winning the 16U Ontario Provincial Championship with the   Etobicoke Rangers, we had a really strong team that year.  As an umpire anytime I get assigned to do a TBA championship in August it is a memorable moment and I'm lucky that I've been assigned at least 3-4 per year, usually with my brother as my partner.  I've had a few memorable arguments with players and coaches but those aren't appropriate (haha).

6. Who is your favourite athlete?

Derek Jeter no question.  He managed to perform on the biggest stages time after time and even though he had basically everything he could ask for, no one ever had a bad word to say about him. Great role model.

7. What is your favourite crime show?

There are so many to choose from but I'd have to say: 1) CSI: Miami because of Horatio Caine with the sunglasses and one-liners 2) Criminal Minds because being a criminal profiler is a career goal of mine and 3) The Shield which is just a great show overall.  Have to throw in the fact that Sons of Anarchy is the best TV show of all time as well.

9. If you could have lunch with any 3 people, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

1) Derek Jeter, for the reasons above. 2) Robert De Niro, favourite actor. 3) Jim Joyce-umpire, just to ask him what went through his mind after the call that cost Galarraga the perfect game, how he recovered, and about making the obstruction call in the 2013 World Series.

10. If you could order any lunch to camp, what would it be?

Gotta be Chipotle!

11. What is your favourite concert you’ve attended?

I will probably get chirped for this, but definitely Nickelback at the Air Canada Centre. Everyone says they hate them, but everyone knows at least one song.

12. Who is your favourite super hero?

Either Syndrome or Frozone from the Incredibles.

13. What is your favourite sports movie? 

The Rookie. Some great lines in that movie and an amazing soundtrack.  Honorable mentions to The Fan and For The Love of the Game.

14. When you put ketchup on your fries: on top or on the side?

On top.

14. Is a hotdog a sandwich?

Absolutely not.

15. Why is Elite Baseball Camp going to be so amazing in 2016?

We have a great group of staff for the upcoming year who are all passionate about baseball and are able to connect with the kids, teach and develop skills, and have fun all at the same time.   Above all, it is going to be a summer of being outside, playing baseball, and hearing about how far ahead of the Blue Jays the Yankees are! What could be better than that?