12/14/10

           

                       The Rockpile Rant Salutes “Jason Giambi”

There is no athelete I have enjoyed photographing more the last two seasons than Jason Giambi. When I heard he was picked up by the Rockies I was one happy blogger.

I think the timing of Giambi becoming a Rockie was perfect. He was the right fix/fit at the moment and proved his worth right from the beginning.

Below is my favorite picture of Giambi that I have taken. It is one of only two things I’d love to get the slugger to autograph. I took this picture on 4/24/2010

The other thing I’d love to have him sign is the homerun ball he hit into the batters eye inside Isotopes park in Albquerque on 4/4/10.

Here’s the actual video of me doing the deed…I just had to.

If you’ve never seen it, during that game Brad Eldred and Jason Giambi both hit home runs into the batters eye. Long story short, I couldn’t leave a Giambi homerun ball just sitting there…

Here’s the video of me sucessfully acquiring both baseballs.

I was able to get Brad Eldred to sign his homerun ball early on in the season.
 I still have not had an opportunity to get Jason to sign either his homerun ball or my picture of him in the air.

Most of the folks I know who were able to get Jason to sign for them managed to get it done while Jason was playing in Colorado Springs for the AAA Sky Sox. They all said he was totally cool and stopped and chatted with them and would sign almost anything.

When I tell you I like a player there is actually a lot that goes into my thought process. Statistics don’t mean a whole lot to me. I spend a lot of time at Coors Field and I get to see most all the players in different stages of the season or the day.

You know, goofing off having fun, taking hits during BP, warm-ups, the interactions with the fans just before the game starts.

So I watch how the players act around the other players and how they interact with the fans who so desperately just want them to come over and say hi, or sign a memento for them.

I feel so fortunate to have been able to see Giambi play here at Coors.  There are only a few Rockies who can pump up Coors Field in seconds like seeing Giambi grab that bat.

Giambi could, he did it every time he walked up to the plate.

I’m not sure but for some reason Jim Tracy liked to put Giambi in the game right about the time I was in line for the facilities.  Two of the all-time finest first basemen in baseball and we were lucky enough to watch these dudes live.

 You just know Jason Giambi has something to say to every player. I’d love to have an hour to pick his brain.

I bet just being his presence for an hour would be highly entertaining and extremely educational.

                             Alanna Rizzo interviewing Jason after his walk-off win                                              Giambi’s walk off Homer                                               

Giambi was just a natural fit around here.

Although I can’t personally brag Giambi up for signing my stuff and I always watched to see if he would come out and warm-up pre-game. What really happened was I devoted many hours to a nobel cause (so I thought) and I just never happened.

BUT SURPRISE…At least for me there is a lesson in all this is. I’m realizing that in reality what I cherish more is the memory of seeing him hit that ball and me climbing down after it at game’s end.

I could possibly lose the Giambi baseball but I’ll never forget the memory. Especially not if there’s video proof :).

Jason.. “Thanks for the good times, giving me the chance to see you play and making a brotha see something in a new light. Believe me that ain’t easy because I wear some dark sunglasses. Good Luck “G” wherever you may be.

I’m “D” The Rockpile Ranter… GO ROCKIES!!