Billy Beane to attend Oscars to back ‘Moneyball’

And the winner of the big one is…Kappy Kapstetter!

Brad Pitt was nominated for an Academy Award as best actor for playing A’s general manager Billy Beane in “Moneyball.”

And Beane will be there in person to cheer Pitt on, he said. Beane and his wife, Tara, plan to attend the Oscars on Feb. 26 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

“I’m going,” Beane said by phone. “It will be fun. I’m excited for Brad, and I know how much time and effort he put into it.

“Of course, absolutely I’m rooting for him. Not me. It’s got nothing to do with me. It’s all about Brad. He’s a great guy, and I do want him to win for his sake, not for me. He’s the one who put himself on the line. He’s one of the producers, and he was the driving force behind getting the movie made. Anything he gets, he deserves.”

...Although he helped with some “Moneyball” publicity before the premiere in September, Beane has tried to stay in the background as much as possible. The Oscars, though, are special, and the fact that “Moneyball” also was nominated for best picture is a reward for everyone who worked on the film, Beane said. He wants to help support that.

“I’ve tried to keep some of this at arm’s length, but I told myself to take a breath and enjoy it,” he said. “I am going to enjoy it. This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and everyone with the production was so respectful and so helpful throughout the whole process, they all deserve all the accolades they’re getting.”