August 21, 200323 yr 08/21/2003 1:45 AM ET Notes: Emotional days for Willis By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com Get tickets DENVER -- It started with a handshake and ended with a hug, and after the one-hour get-together, Marlins rookie Dontrelle Willis had conquered a personal hurdle. After the Marlins lost 10-2 to the Rockies on Tuesday night, Willis had a date with destiny. For the first time, he met his father, Harold Willis. Raised in Alameda, Calif., by his mother, Joyce Harris, Willis never knew his dad. The 21-year-old didn't have as much as a picture or any memories of his father, who lives in the Denver area. "Everything happens for a reason," said Willis, who joined Harold at the ESPN Sports Zone restaurant next to the Marlins' team hotel. "It is a blessing. We'll go from there." The meeting was initiated by Dontrelle Willis, the rookie rage who is 11-3 with a 3.18 ERA and makes his next start Friday against the Giants in San Francisco. The last time Willis pitched in the San Francisco Bay area was when he was in high school. His return Friday will be emotional, as he will see his mother and expects about 200 family and friends to be at the game. Willis said that he resembles his father, but not as much as he does his mother. Much of the conversation, he said, centered around family members. He said he didn't know what to expect in this first face-to-face meeting. He added that his father wasn't aware that his son is a professional baseball player who made the All-Star team as a rookie. "He is just real mellow, like I am when I'm off the field," Willis said. "You don't know what to expect. It actually turned out very well."
August 21, 200323 yr He added that his father wasn't aware that his son is a professional baseball player who made the All-Star team as a rookie. Does anyone really believe that?
August 21, 200323 yr He added that his father wasn't aware that his son is a professional baseball player who made the All-Star team as a rookie. Does anyone really believe that? I believe it just as much as I believe the judge in the Kobe Bryant case didn't know who he was.
August 21, 200323 yr booo hooo willis met his daddy for the first time... seriously.. who cares? have you all seen beradino lately? what a loser. Hes resulting to personal sides of players just to get accepted by the players again. Beradino isnt allowed in the clubhouse from what my "sources" tell me and the players wont talk to him.. hahahaha hes finished.
August 21, 200323 yr I was told after that AJ trade article of his that, that was the last straw lol what a loser, he tries to sound like the all mighty Beradino with his "ingenious" smart$$ trade, and he gets banned from the clubhouse. now hes begging to come back in with his mordecai family article and now with the Willis one... lol
August 21, 200323 yr Why did his dad ncome now when he is famous? What a Father....his father must be proud of him!
August 21, 200323 yr Why did his dad ncome now when he is famous? What a Father....his father must be proud of him! Dontrelle looked him up actually, not vice versa the way you are thinking.
August 21, 200323 yr some stuff sounds kinda (for lack of a better word) fishy.....he lives in the Bay Area, and had no idea his son played professional baseball? Much less made the All Star team! I mean, some people don't follow baseball at all, and maybe he's one of them....but it still sounds fishy. Oh yeah, and what a proud father he must be. "Hi, I'm Dontrelle's father. I have not been a part of his life for 21 years, but now, after Dontrelle has made it big in MLB, I'm gonna be the good father I should have been from the start." Douchebag
August 21, 200323 yr berardino's always done a bunch of those personal-side stories, this is nothing new. he's on LeBatard's ESPN radio show all the time now, how bad is that? the two of them have been singing the same tunes lately anyway...
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.