Just because nationally syndicated radio host Jim Rome is usually heard rattling off "asssss" in a way that makes you think his jaw is extending three feet and his favorite words include "jerk" and "cuuk" (sp?? haha) doesn't mean he doesn't offer up some of the best interviews with players who have more to offer than a few tired cliche's.
Ryan Zimmerman for example. Cue up yesterdays show, which featured an interview with the Washington Nationals third baseman and there was a bit of passion, as well as some pretty insightful comments from a guy just 22 years old who's in his second full MLB season.
The biggest thing he had to say reminded all of the listeners that baseball is just a game, but it is a profession that allows it's employees to go a step or two beyond the rest of society if they so desire. Insert Mr. Zimmerman. In 1995 his mother was diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis) and the disease, which affects the central nervous system gradually took over, relegating Cheryl Zimmerman to a wheelchair after several years. Ryan and his 20 year-old brother grew up having to do more than the average teens share of housework, while dealing emotionally with the fact that their mom was very sick.
Through all of this Zim became quite the prospect, good enough to be grabbed 4th overall in the 2005 amateur draft. After most of a season in the Nats farm system Zimmerman came to play in 06 and cranked 20 homeruns and drove in 110 runs, whiling hitting .287. His efforts earned him a runner-up finish in the Rookie of the Year voting and a brand new $400,000 contract.
Four G's to the hundredth is a lot of money, but hardly close to the 1.3 million dollar average salary of major leaguers today. Nonetheless Zimmerman took his newfound fame and hefty paycheck and decided to share them with his mom and with the country.
Zimmerman's foundation (ziMS) has a nice little website, www.zimsfoundation.com, and it is in the business of trying to help out individuals who have to deal with MS and ultimatley finding a cure to the disease.
At age 22 I am sitting here trying to find a job, thinking about the few mission projects I've been on, while I spend a little too much time with video games and flavored coffees. Zimmerman is trying to cement his place in D.C. (15 HR's this year, but an average below .260) and become a cornerstone for the new stadium next season, but he was most excited to talk about how he's dealt with MS in his family, how others can make it too and how through camps for kids and fundraisers he is going to make a difference.
If I didn't already like the kid just because of his commitment to a cause close to his heart, his wisdom on what it's like to try and figure out pitchers who have already had a year to nail down your strengths and weaknesses was brilliant.
He talked about how he was facing John Smoltz one time this year and even when he knew what pitch was coming he couldn't get get the wood on it because Smoltzy is just that good. Two sliders on the outside from a possible HOF is a little different than looking for variable speed fastballs in AAA and Zimmerman was the first to make that point.
If you're looking for good guys in the good ole game you best put down Zimmerman's name. And if it's in your heart and your pcketbook he has something more to offer, beyond the white lines.
Camping with the Dookies
Coach K might be on your hit-list of college coaches because his team has beat yours more times than not, embarrasing them on occassion and his sidelines slip-up/ dead man's walk willl live on in TV history forerver, but in the off-season he does more than just recruit blue chips to make other teams look silly.
As SI.com reports in "Campers live the Duke dream" Krzyzewski and former players such as J.J. Reddick and Jay Williams are part of an adult-experience that annually raises nearly $750,00 for community out-reach and Duke scholarships. I guess the Devil ain't so bad after all.
Consumate Cal gets what he deserves
His numbers aren't ginormous, his ego wasn't headline making, but his professionalism was bar none. As Ripken and fellow classmate Tony Gwynn enter the hall stories upon stories of both of these gentlemen make me smile at their place in the history books.
A story I heard from a caller on a radio station summed it up well: Following a loss to the Tigers in Detroit one year, when the Orioles were twenty games out and it was late in the season, Cal had an 0-for day (no hits). He still cordially greeted the media, smiled and shook hands and then did what only guys like Cal do. Even though the season was a lost cause and he was in the late stages of his career, Cal took out a bucket of balls and headed to homeplate all by himself to work on his swing mechanics. He sprayed them all over the field, jogged out, picked up the balls and proceeded to do it once again. No pitching coach, no fanfare, nothing but a guy paying his dues to a game that need more like him.
To follow up this story I especially found this Baltimore Sun article by Childs Walker to speak to what type of human being Ripken is, by entailing his post-retirement ambitions and accomplishments. Give it a look, good role models should be given their due.
Adu you know Freddy might be leaving?
Beckhamania is really all that any non futbol fanatic cares about, but beneath all of the other news stories I found it interesting that at age 18 Freddy Adu, a player who was supposed to save Team USA and bring renewed interest to the sport might be leaving for Portugal. Recently Adu looked like a young kid with tricks still to show off with his fine play in the under-20 World Cup and I think it's unfortunate we can't keep one of our own at bay and watch him develop.
The story, as reported by the AP on msnbc.com
No comments:
Post a Comment