December 24, 200421 yr MIAMI -- The Christmas festivities start bright and early for Marlins left-hander Dontrelle Willis and his family. Each year the 2003 National League Rookie of the Year and his family gather at an uncle's house in Sacramento, Calif. Dozens of relatives get together, exchanging gifts and pleasantries. Awakening early, Willis drives from his Alameda home to be on time to open presents by 7 a.m. Though he has spent much of the offseason working out in Miami, Willis returned to his California home for a few days to celebrate Christmas. As he points out, after New Year's Day, Spring Training is just around the corner. With the holidays upon us, Willis took some time to talk to MLB.com about some of his family rituals during the Christmas break. What is your Christmas morning like? The last six or seven years, [we've been going] to my Uncle Frank's house in Sacramento for Christmas. We get up at an ungodly hour and are opening presents. The whole family is there. We have the presents open by the time most people are just getting up. Do you have a traditional family dinner? Glazed ham. Every year we have that honey-glazed ham. You'd think it would change, but it's always the same. And it tastes great every year. You get your share of the pineapples? Dude, I always eat the pineapples [laughs]. I eat all the pineapples until I get yelled at. I'll go into the oven to get the pineapples. Do you cook anything for the dinner? Come on. You don't make anything, any special treat or dessert? No, the only thing I make is people laugh. What's your favorite Christmas special? Oh, man, there are so many. Charlie Brown is the classic. And what's that one, Miracle ... "Miracle on 34th Street." The real old one that is not even remastered. What's that one where the kid gets his tongue stuck? "A Christmas Story." Yeah, that is a classic. That's great. Favorite present growing up? When I was 11 years old, I got a Louisville Slugger aluminum bat. It was black, gray and red. I told my mom, 'Hey, I know we're struggling, but I have to have that bat.' I literally walked around with that bat. This was the bat of all bats. On my team, we all used it. If it was too small, you choked up. I think even in high school, we used that bat. You still have that bat somewhere? I don't know where it is. It's probably in [a] friend's garage somewhere. If you could get a teammate any Christmas present, what would it be? I would try to catch a marlin. A real marlin. I'd mount it and give it to Jeff Conine so he can put it on his wall. You know, he's Mr. Marlin. So I'd try to get him a real marlin for his house. But I don't even fish. What's the favorite gift you gave a relative? Let's see. I am a good giver. Last year I gave my Uncle Calvin a used pair of Mike Jordan Nike shoes. These were real old-school Jordans. My uncle loved those shoes and always asked me about them. So last year I wrapped them up and gave them to him. Smelly and all, I gave him the shoes. He was so happy. He put them on right on the spot. They are a size 13. He's a 12 1/2, but he wears them. What message would you give to Marlins fans this holiday season? Stay out of that mall traffic. http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...s_fla&fext=.jsp
December 24, 200421 yr . If you could get a teammate any Christmas present, what would it be? I would try to catch a marlin. A real marlin. I'd mount it and give it to Jeff Conine so he can put it on his wall. You know, he's Mr. Marlin. So I'd try to get him a real marlin for his house. But I don't even fish. :lol Thats pretty cool! :thumbup D-Train is Awesome
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