MORGAN PARK — White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper wasn't expecting to be grilled Thursday evening at St. Cajetan School.
But the coach who's spent the last 14 years with the South Side ballclub seemed genuinely impressed by curious minds of the mostly third-graders who gathered at 5:30 p.m. in the school's Memorial Hall at 2445 W. 112th St. in Morgan Park.
"I'm enjoying your questions. You guys are bright kids," Cooper told the young audience who gathered near the elementary school's modest stage.
Cooper was a guest of the St. Cajetan Men's Club. He signed autographs for about 20 minutes before opening up the floor to a Q&A.
The kids — mostly third-grade boys fresh off of baseball practice at Kennedy Park — dominated the session.
They wanted to know who was Coop's favorite player (a question he dodged, saying they are all like his children, and he has no favorites), what player he wished had a mute button (Adam Eaton) and what he thought about the infamous dropped third strike in the 2005 World Series run (an omen).
Cooper also didn't shy away from sharing his strong Christian beliefs with the Catholic school students, urging them to know Christ throughout their lives.
He shared a bit of his backstory too, saying playing for his hometown New York Yankees was a dream come true. And he always envisioned himself returning to New York to be a local sports anchor after his big league career wrapped up.
Finally, Cooper also urged the kids to practice moderation when it comes to playing video games and other sedentary activities, particularly those with interest playing high school sports.
"There is no Xbox freshman team or a Playstation varsity team," Cooper said.
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