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This much isnt in dispute.
Sam Dingman:With an ample amount of agita, to be sure.
What made this particular urban legend so appealing that its still known more than two decades later?
Montandon:I think theres probably a couple of different answers.
Anyone who loves a kind of juicy, salacious, gossipy story would be interested in this.
How did reporting on this change the way you look at the phenomenon of conspiracy theories?
Were you able to pinpoint exactly how this story spread?
Montandon:I love thinking about that.
Sorry, Sam, Im only telling you this now.
Dingman:It sounds like an episode seven, right?
Did you have a similar moment of feeling silly obsessing over just the most innocuous thing?
Like, okay, he was there.
No one can claim that he wasnt present at the stadium and in uniform.
And he moves it out of frame very, very quickly.
And sure enough, it would seem hes a fan of all of those very expensive cars.
What was the closest you both came to truly believing the whole rumor was true?
Dingman:I would agree completely.
I think that was the moment for me that felt the most like,This isnt a lark.
Besides the Ripkens and Costner, is there someone you really wish would have spoken with you but wouldnt?
Dingman:Well, Randy Johnson [who plays a key role in the finale], obviously.
ButBrady Andersons a big one for me.
I really, really, really wanted to talk to him.
The other person, purely because I adore him, was Baltimore native John Waters.
So hes meant a lot to me for a long time.
Who do you think likes to talk about it less these days?
Montandon:I love that question.
I love just thinking about them being home, like avoiding calls and texts.
But Im gonna go with Cal, just because he still lives in Maryland.
He still has his whole life and legacy there.
And I feel like ultimately, for him, its way more personal and with way higher stakes.
But I tend to think fundamentally Kevin Costners work is more about persona than Ripkens is.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
