MILWAUKEE — Adam Dunn, welcome to the big time. In baseball, one of the first doses of the big time comes in the form of player interview sessions on All-Star eve.

        Which meant Dunn, the Reds' All-Star representative, sat at a table in a hotel ballroom Monday as the media paraded by.

        “Adam, do you know the game Strat-o-matic?” one woman asked.

        “Never heard of it,” Dunn replied.

        “Adam, have you seen clips of Ted Williams' swing lately?” one man wanted to know.

        “Yeah, I've seen my share,” Dunn replied.

        “Are you trying to model your swing off his?” was the follow-up.

        “No, that's way too much thinking for me,” Dunn replied.

        The two most common questions: What's your best All-Star memory? Are you surprised to be in the All-Star Game after playing in the Futures Game last year?

        Dunn has no All-Star memories. “When I was in high school, I wasn't staying home Tuesday nights in the summer.”

        And he is indeed surprised with the jump he made. “If you told me last year at this time I was going to the All-Star Game, I would have said, "Only if I buy a ticket.' ”

        Dunn, as usual, came off looking pretty good after the national media exposure.

        Still, the feel of the All-Star Game hadn't hit Dunn.

        “I went to a party (Sunday) night,” he said. “That was OK. This right here (the interview session) is big time. It's a zoo.”

        Dunn was the youngest All-Star. He drew a few oohs and ahs with some long home runs in batting practice. But Dunn was the second hitter in the cage, so he hit well before most people were in their seats.

        Dunn was just soaking it all up.

        “It's been fun,” he said. “I don't even have to play. . . . Being here was enough.”

        Just then, someone with a question came by.

        “Adam, do you miss football?” he asked.

        “Man, there's always a football question,” Dunn said. “Yes, I miss it. But I'll never regret the decision I made.”
       After all, he made the big time.

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