September 6, 200520 yr Jason Giambi doesn't play for the A's anymore but that doesn't mean he's forgotten about the friends he made while playing here. When the Yankees' first baseman heard that Oakland third-base coach Ron Washington lost two homes ? his own and his mother's ? in Hurricane Katrina, he immediately asked to join the A's players who were raising money to help Washington. Giambi, who played in Oakland from 1995-2001, donated $20,000 to help Washington in his quest to find housing for 16 relatives who were forced out of New Orleans last week and have taken refuge in Alabama. ??They pretty much lost everything,'' Giambi said. ??I just felt (the donation) was something I wanted to do. He's a great man.'' The A's players donated about $9,000 and when Washington heard about the size of Giambi's contribution, he tried to tell Giambi it was too much but Giambi insisted. ??That's the way Jason is ? he's a class act,'' Washington told the San Francisco Chronicle. The coach, who fought back tears when he was told about the donations, has also reportedly told other players who offered contributions that he's received enough help and they should donate to charities dedicated to helping other affected families instead. Giambi said he spent a lot of time working with Washington and credited him for helping to refine his powerful swing. Joe Torre wasn't surprised to hear about Giambi's generosity.
September 6, 200520 yr Giambi has certainly started to regain my respect with this. Sometimes something horrible can bring out the best in people.
September 6, 200520 yr Giambi has certainly started to regain my respect with this. Sometimes something horrible can bring out the best in people. 932213[/snapback] Same here. He's handled the last year perfectly. Barry Bonds oughtta take notes.
September 6, 200520 yr Well he does have some extra money this season now that he doesn't have to buy roids anymore.
September 6, 200520 yr Well he does have some extra money this season now that he doesn't have to buy roids anymore. 932246[/snapback] How about a positive comment in here? I mean seriously.. :thumbup to Giambi.
September 7, 200520 yr Good for him. He's still a cheater. 932535[/snapback] a cheater thats not cheating now and still posting big numbers. Give him credit, he's a gamer.
September 7, 200520 yr Usually steroids are taken by the morons and idiots of baseball, like Canseco... Giambi is by far one of the nicest guy in and out of baseball and you wouldn't be able to link steroids to this guy based on his personality, it was a stupid move, yet Jason is a class act, I know on the few occasions I've met him, he has been much nicer than any other ballplayer
September 7, 200520 yr You know I am trying so hard to hate this guy like the others that did the deed with the steriods. But the more and more I read of him the harder it is to do that. Outside of a baseball game I have respect for the individual and a decent human being all around. But within I still dont want him there in the game. Anyone that has anything to do with steriods should be banned and lose all awards, place in the HoF everything. If individuals like Shoeless joe jackson and Pete Rose lost it all they should too. But, I think Giambi is truly showing a strong moral character and heart for the people. Either that or at least handles the media right.
September 7, 200520 yr The difference between Giambi and Palmeiro is at least Giambi admitted it and came clean. You have to respect a guy who tries to make amends.
September 7, 200520 yr you won't find a nicer guy in baseball than Giambi 933739[/snapback] Alfonseca, dude..guy goes up to people with a tin can saying "MONEY!" to help the hurricane victims..so nice..
September 8, 200520 yr you won't find a nicer guy in baseball than Giambi 933739[/snapback] Alfonseca, dude..guy goes up to people with a tin can saying "MONEY!" to help the hurricane victims..so nice.. 933746[/snapback] :lol and that's why he's my favorite marlin/
September 8, 200520 yr you won't find a nicer guy in baseball than Giambi 933739[/snapback] That's so true! I'm a huge Giambi fan, and have heard nothing but great things about how awesome a person he is. Some friends and I were hangin outside Yankee stadium a couple weekends ago, and stood near where the players come in, not standing close enuff for sigs or anything, but close enuff to try and illicit a wave. We were talking with some of the police officers, who all said how great a guy Giambi is. A lot of the players didn't bother waving to us when we called their name, as we clearly were not VIP's since we were made to stand at a distance. Giambi was one of those that did. Sounds dumb but it meant a lot to me. Now, I hope to be able to report the same of the Marlins I go to see them in Philly this Friday!
September 8, 200520 yr Hang Giambi High........... Bwahahahahahahaha!!!!!LMAO http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:H3ODieH2PL8J:movies.nnov.ru/Covers/Hang%2520%27Em%2520High.jpg Ortiz, Guerrero open big pockets 09/08/2005 7:22 PM ET By Ian Browne / MLB.com BOSTON -- Together, they sat on a podium, perhaps the two most feared sluggers in the American League. But on Thursday afternoon, David Ortiz and Vladimir Guerrero weren't having a press conference to discuss their MVP candidacies, the pennant race or their baseball careers. Instead, they went about the business of trying to do something to aid the countless victims of Hurricane Katrina, a tragic storm that ravaged through New Orleans and surrounding areas last week. Ortiz and Guerrero, fellow Dominican countrymen, share the type of bond usually reserved for brothers. So there they were, following Tuesday night's Red Sox-Angels game, sitting on a couch at Ortiz's house and watching via television the latest grim details from New Orleans. It was then that the idea, which was revealed Thursday, began to form. Ortiz and Guerrero announced that they are each donating $50,000 to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. They hope to have plenty of followers in the baseball fraternity. "Right now, it's a time for everybody to step forward and give whatever you can give. Me and Vladdie decided to donate, each of us, $50,000 to this terrible situation that just happened in New Orleans," said Ortiz. "And we're going to challenge all the baseball players around to come and try to do the same thing. Especially players from the Dominican Republic. We have received a lot of help from this country when our country struggled. We need someone who has been in that situation to donate something, to give this country some help that really needs it right now." The Dominican Republic has often been in the eye of tropical storms. In fact, last year, when there was massive flooding, Ortiz and Pedro Martinez launched a collection fund in the Red Sox clubhouse and throughout the ballpark. The Red Sox aided in the effort, something that was not lost on Ortiz. "In our country, we go through a lot of things like that, always, and people try to help -- especially the United States of America, [which] has been so great to our country, our people," said Ortiz. "When a country is going through a situation like that, you don't want to see [a] country struggle in any situation, especially this way. There's a lot of people out there with no homes, no food -- nothing. I think everybody needs to step forward and give some help to the people, one way or the other." Red Sox manager Terry Francona was proud -- but not surprised -- to hear about Ortiz's contribution. "That's pretty terrific," Francona said. "That's not surprising. I think David's probably done more behind the scenes for some of the people in the Dominican. I understand the need for the publicity this time. The more publicity, the more money, which is awesome. I think David does things like this all the time. He's got a big heart." Guerrero and Ortiz are both too young to remember many of the details from when Hurricane David ripped apart the Caribbean. "[Guerrero] said he remembers his family talking about it, all the destruction we had down there," said Ortiz, translating for Guerrero. "One thing that's he's very happy about is helping people who struggle in situations like this, because his family struggled before and someone came and helped them out." Throughout this season-long 14-game homestand, the Red Sox and their players have been trying to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Before Thursday's game, center fielder Johnny Damon and right-hander Curt Schilling posed for $100 autographed photos with fans, with all proceeds going to the relief fund. Prior to previous games this week, Jason Varitek, Doug Mirabelli, John Olerud, Mike Timlin, Keith Foulke, Ortiz, Tony Graffanino, Tim Wakefield and Mike Myers posed with fans. In a six-game span at Fenway Park, fans donated a total $185,000 to the Red Cross' Disaster Relief Fund. Ortiz and Guerrero hope that players throughout the game continue to do their part. "All of us, we make enough money to at least donate something, to put it together and send it down there and try to help a lot of people down there," said Ortiz. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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