TMZ tracks down Cal Ripken Jr., has really awkward interview

Baltimore Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr.

Baltimore Orioles Cal Ripken tips his cap to the crowd at the start of the game against the California Angels before breaking Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games at Camden Yards in Baltimore in this Sept. 6, 1995 photo.

Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron

Foes after 10 years: Cal Ripken marveled at Mike Mussina's knuckle-curve from a new vantage point -- the batter's box.

Sun photo by Jed Kirschbaum

On the level: Consistency was Ripken's mark as a hitter, with 12 seasons of at least 20 homers and eight with 90 or more RBIs. Here, he takes a cut against the Brewers on Opening Day in 1988.

Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. jogs to his position as he runs into the record books, tying the standing world record of 2,215 consecutiive games played in baseball.

Sun photo by Hillery Smith

April 2, 1997: Vi Ripken looks up at her son's bronze likeness at the Cal Ripken Museum in Aberdeen, Md., where the Ripken Statue designed by Susan Luery was unveiled.

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Cal Ripken hits a 2-run homer, with Rafael Palmeiro on, during the second inning of the second game of the American League Championship Series Oct. 9, 1997, at Camden Yards.

Jed Kirschbaum/Baltimore Sun

Cal Ripken turns an opening day smile verses Boston.

Baltimore Sun

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On the bench: After a remarkably injury-free career, Cal Ripken has spent unfamiliar time on the bench since 1999 because of lingering back and rib injuries.

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A most valuable moment: Orioles' Cal Ripken shows off his All-Star Game MVP trophy, the second of his career.

Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr.

Orioles' No. 8, Cal Ripken Jr. greets fans during opening day ceremonies at Camden Yards in 1997.

Sun photo by John Makely

Sept. 20, 1998: Cal Ripken steps out of the dugout and lifts his arms to the crowd, which gave him a thunderous standing ovation after he ended his consecutive game streak by pulling himself out of the starting line up.

Baltimore Sun

Cal Ripken and Eddie Murray celebrate.

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The Chicago White Sox try to break up a double play on June 7, 1983.

Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam

April 5, 1999: Orioles' Cal Ripken Jr. bows his head in during a moment of silence for his father Cal Ripken Sr. during opening ceremonies before the Opening Day game between the Orioles and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Elizabeth Malby / Baltimore Sun

Cal Ripken on the first day of Spring Training.

Sun photo by John Makely

Everybody was kung fu fighting: During a pre-Opening Day workout in 1997, it was no stretch to say Ripken could be less than serious sometimes.

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Baltimore Orioles' Cal Ripken reads Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat to children from the Hollywood Park Elementary School March 2, 1998 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Ripken marked the anniversary of the late Dr. Seuss' birth by reading to the children.

Sun photo by John Makely

Mar 31, 1998: Orioles' NO. 8, Cal Ripken Jr., is introduced during pregame festivities at Camden Yards before the opening game of the season.

Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron

Fans pile on top of each other, with some even climbing the backstop, trying to get shortstop Cal Ripken's signature on items from photographs to cereal boxes following spring training workouts at Ft. Lauderdale Stadium Thursday, Feb. 22, 1996.

Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron

Another milestone: Cal Ripken rounds third base after hitting his 400th career home run against Tampa Bay at Camden Yards on Sept. 2, 1999. He now has 421 home runs, ranking 29th on the all-time list.

Sun photo by John Makely

Retiring type: Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken stands on deck in the second inning last night at Camden Yards, awaiting his first at-bat since announcing he would retire after this season.

Sun photo by Elizabeth Malby

The swing: Cal Ripken leads off the third inning with a first-pitch home run off National League pitcher Chan Ho Park, making the O's Iron Man the oldest All-Star to hit a home run.

Sun photo by Elizabeth Malby

Trading places: With a playful push, Alex Rodriguez switches spots with Cal Ripken, allowing the Orioles' third baseman to play his former position of shortstop in first inning.

Sun file photo

April 1982: Cal Ripken Jr. is greeted by father and Oriole coach Cal Sr. after slamming his first major league home run in opening day win over Kansas City at Memorial Stadium.

Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam

Call him "Crash": In a 1993 game, Ripken shows his streak wasn't built on avoiding the game's hazards. He runs over Athletics catcher Terry Steinbach at the plate for an Orioles run.

Sun photo by Doug Kapustin

Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr.

Saying goodbye: After a Hall of Fame career with the Orioles, Cal Ripken is saying farewell at season's end. Team owner Peter G. Angelos called Ripken "a great athlete, a great sportsman and a great Marylander."

Baltimore Sun

Sun photo by John Makely

July 6, 1999: Cal Ripken Jr. looks out the seventh floor window of the Camden Club onto Oriole Park during an event announcing his involvement with the Babe Ruth League Inc.

Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron

Sept. 6, 1995: Cal Ripken gets emotional during the festivities celebrating his 2,131st consecutive game.

Sun photo by Lloyd Pearson

Hero's welcome: Cal Ripken played in only one World Series, during his second full season in the majors in 1983, but got to enjoy winning a world title and its spoils, such as a hometown parade.

Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore Sun

Baltimore, Md.--Oct. 6, 2001 -- Baltimore Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken watches fireworks erupt in colors beside the U.S. flag from Fort McHenry as the Star Spangled Banner plays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards to honor him on his final game before his retirement Sat., Oct. 6, 2001. Ripken played in 3,001 games throughout his career, with a lifetime .276 batting average. (Baltimore Sun/Karl Merton Ferron) ELECTRONIC IMAGE (DSC_0111.JPG)

Gene Sweeney Jr. / Baltimore Sun

Orioles' #8, Cal Ripken, argues with second base umpire Drew Coble about a safe call he made.

Robert K. Hamilton/Baltimore Sun

Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam

Sign of things to come: During spring training 1995, Cal Ripken foreshadows his marathon autograph-signing sessions during that season while accommodating fans during an exhibition game in Florida.

Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr.

Hare he is: Ryan Ripken, obviously unimpressed with the occasion of a news conference in Minnesota for dad's 3,000th hit on April 15, 2000, gives his father 'bunny ears.'

Gene Sweeney Jr / Baltimore Sun

Billy, Cal Sr., and Cal Jr. during Spring Training.

Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron

Warmed up: Cal Ripken throws with son, Ryan, during spring training 2000.

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Baltimore Orioles third base coach Cal Ripken Sr., left, and Orioles batter Cal Ripken Jr., argue a called third strike with home plate umpire Jim Joyce during a game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, May 15, 1990.