Chi Chi : On helping kids, the death of showmanship, and why he just can't stop the music - Chi Chi Rodriguez

Yes. He was the best friend America ever had. He had a bad rap. When I went to the Philippines before he took over, I swore I would never go back, because I left my hotel and I hadn't walked half a block when three guys came out of the bushes to hold me up. I swore I would never go back, but then he took office and he had martial law, and four guys raped a young lady. And he had the execution on radio, and he said, "We have martial law from now on."

We have probably the best government in the world, but not everybody can be like we are. Imelda and I used to sing a duet. We were a great duet. A tremendous lady.

You supported Bob Dole in 1996, didn't you?

I gave three speeches for him. I knew he wasn't going to win, but he was an American hero who almost lost his life fighting for little guys like me. I felt like he stood up for me when we needed him, so I should stand with him when he needs me.

Is it true that you lied about your age to try to get into the Army?

Yes. I was 16. Most of my friends lied, too. They wanted to go fight for the USA in Korea. Many of them got killed.

It's a good thing you were caught.

That's right. I might have been dead, too. There was a whole company of Puerto Ricans. I think one of them got the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Golf wasn't your big sport back when you were growing up, was it?

No. I used to be a baseball pitcher. I could throw a baseball 100 miles an hour for a Double A team in Puerto Rico. I could throw the "screwjie," the curve, the sinker. I played with Roberto Clemente.

Were any Major League teams interested in you?

The scouts in those days went to see the professionals; they didn't go see the Double A ball.

Any regrets that you didn't pursue a baseball career?

No. There was no money in the old days. I might have never made it.

Clemente's now in the Hall of Fame. What was he like?

He was a very quiet guy. He hardly ever smiled. He was very stern. Let me tell you something: He died the way I would like to die. He went to help someone. He was on a mission [flying supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua in 1972]. I want to be helping someone when I die.

You were nicknamed after Chi Chi Flores. Tell us about him.

He was a baseball player in Puerto Rico, a third baseman. I was a fan of the team he was on since I was a kid. I used to tell the kids, "I'm Chi Chi Flores," because he was my idol. They started calling me "Chi Chi" like him, and it stuck with me. He's in the Hall of Fame in Puerto Rico. He was a hard worker who never gave up.

We talked before about being in control. Is control the reason why you sued over the use of your name in the movie "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar"?

My name has been copyrighted. My name is not supposed to be used by anybody under any circumstances, and those people used my name. They can use Chi Chi, but they can't use Chi Chi Rodriguez.

What happened in that case?

We settled, and the settlement said we couldn't talk about what was in it.

What do you think of today's Hollywood?