Live Q&As

It's important because when I was first asked to spread goodwill through sport, I understood the meaning of it intellectually, but I didn't fully understand it until I went to China. The same joy of sharing sport here is the same throughout the world. The same smiles, the same fun, it is really an opportunity to be with people. There is a magic of sport that I was able to discover and having that success, I'm going to keep doing it.

The answer is yes, it's very satisfying. It's two different feelings altogether. As a player, it selfishly was fulfilling a dream and testing yourself. But, spreading the joy of a sport you love in some ways is more meaningful, more heartfelt.

It's just an extension of a program that was started in 2007 when I was asked to be a public envoy for the state. I've been to China, Nicarauga, and this year, though ourrelations are very good with Japan , because of the tsunami and the earthquake, our goal is to celebrate sports and to celebrate basebal and show that we care. It can also serve as a distraction during times like this and to tap into the feeling that baseball gives you during the good and bad. Sport can be magical. It helps in the healing process, it just helps overall.

Haha - Yes, I did play in one of the longest games in baseball history - 33 innings. We played 32 innings that night. It wasn't too bad, except for the fact that I was one for 12. We played til 4:07 in the morning.

The Cal Senior foundation, in honor of my dad, does a lot of work along those lines. And a  good step would be contacting us through the foundation, or me directly, because I've visited bases and gone to different parts of the country. So, yes, I'm always willing to help.

An old retired player needs to hear that. I always try to remember when I was a kid, how I always looked up to baseball players. And though you can't always be 100%, I try to remember that at all times.

I think my ideal job would be able to impact a whole baseball organization. And since my team was the Orioles, I'd love to be in the position to do that someday.

Yes, we will! I'm trying to get up to speed in this modern world. But, yes, we'll be tweeting about the adventures of our trip. It hasn't been set up yet, but stayed tuned using the Ripken Baseball Facebook page and the Twitter handles at @RipkenBaseball @StateDept.

Well, one way to look at it, is that it could have come and gone much faster. Seriously, though, it was a wonderful experience and a great connection to the history of baseball. And in any era, I think it would have been great.

Yes, managing has always appealed to me. My dad always encouraged me to manage along in the game with the manager. And certainly my expertise lies in between the white lines. Are you offering me a job?

First of all, thank you for those nice words. And the integrity issue in baseball, I think if I was the commissioner, and I think all commissioners feel this way, is that baseball is such a great game that you never really want to let down the fans on how the game is played or viewed. There's been some dark clouds that have hung over baseball, but I'm satisfied that the honest and pure game of baseball is returning.