Posted on Sun, Feb. 15, 2004

 

Lowell hasn't landed quite yet

 

 

Y ou know when it finally registered?

 

When the magnitude and majesty of what they had done stopped whirring and blurring and came into focus for Marlins third baseman Mike Lowell with the kind of clarity and enlightenment people look for in things like religion?

 

It wasn't while watching Barry Bonds, the best baseball player Lowell has ever seen, make another sad, slow walk into the offseason still without his first championship.

 

It wasn't while extinguishing another season in Sammy Sosa's ring-less career in the quietest Chicago you've ever heard.

 

It wasn't even while rushing merrily toward the mound in the New York home of the most famous champion in American sports.

 

No, it was in a jewelry store, of all places.

 

When the guy behind him started cursing.

 

Mike Lowell and Jeff Conine were at a fund raiser, gazing lovingly at sketches of what Florida's championship ring will look like, when they heard the jealous man's voice.

 

''You bleeping guys,'' he said. ``Bleep you. You know how many bleeping years I played without ever getting to bleeping hold a sketch like that?''

 

It was Dan Marino.

 

Lowell grew up here. His favorite team ever, in any sport? Marino's Dolphins. Lowell has a child-like reverence for all things Marino, still. And now one of Lowell's athletic heroes, a legend, was playfully envying what Lowell had in his hands.

 

''Pretty cool moment,'' Lowell said.

 

There have been a few of those this offseason for the Marlins. Standing ovations all over the city, in gas stations and grocery stores and coffee shops. A relentless avalanche of free gifts, from meals and drinks to cruises and vacations. All-access to all the best parties, concerts and fun South Florida has to offer. The Marlins lead the league in offseason love.

 

Lowell was talking about a champion's sweet rewards Saturday afternoon as he prepared to board a private plane to join the party at the Daytona 500. Whose private plane? Lowell wasn't even sure. When you beat the Yankees to become a champion, private planes fall out of the sky for you.

 

STILL FLOATING

 

Lowell was going to meet pitcher Josh Beckett, who just began dating lingerie model Leeann Tweeden. (Enjoy your Google image search, boys). But Beckett somehow doesn't even have the most famous new girlfriend on his own pitching staff. Or even his own starting rotation. That distinction belongs to Carl Pavano, who is now dating actress Alyssa Milano. Nothing shouts quite how good it is to be a champion than a starlet dating your fifth starter.

 

''I don't know how we can top all of this, but how about we just prolong it?'' Lowell said.

 

Lowell isn't given to bold pronouncements -- he's as smooth, classy and professional as anyone in South Florida sports -- but he has earned a champion's confidence, and you can hear it now in his voice.

 

''I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be in the playoffs again,'' he said. ``And we've proved what we can do when we get there. We're talented. Our chemistry is second to none. And we aren't intimidated by anyone. We know we can beat anyone, any time, any place, and with anyone against us on the mound.''

 

It'll be difficult to replace the bats of Derrek Lee and Pudge Rodriguez, but maybe the inevitable improvements of youngsters like Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, Beckett and A.J. Burnett will offset that. Of all the amazing things we witnessed from a team that may have been the most amazing in South Florida's sports history, this one echoes with the most promise as pitchers and catcher prepare to report for spring training this week: The Marlins were the best baseball team in the world last year even though Lowell, their best hitter, missed the season's last month, and Burnett, their best pitcher at the time, missed most of the year. Even Beckett missed a couple of months. Mark Redman missed more than a month, too. You have those kinds of injuries, losing three-fifths of your starting staff, and still beat the most expensive team in the history of pro sports? Imagine what you can do when healthy.

 

''We're not a flash in the pan,'' Lowell said. ``We're young, and we're still hungry.''

 

STILL READY

 

Complacency? The chances of the Marlins being hungover after an offseason of partying? That's always a possibility, but not if you've been watching center fielder Juan Pierre add big muscle and make himself much faster this offseason with daily, scientific, insane workouts. Pierre is so lazy that he often is waiting outside at 6 a.m. when the guy who opens his gym arrives.

 

And you know how Luis Castillo, who played last season overweight, immediately celebrated his success? By not even attending the championship parade because he wanted to hurry up and get back to the Dominican to start playing winter ball.

 

''We want to keep riding the wave,'' Lowell said. ``I just sat down and watched the DVD of our season, and I got goose-bumps all over again. I was all jittery even though I knew the outcome to everything because I lived it. The Giants, I've never seen two games of that magnitude finish like that. We're done, six outs away against the Cubs, not even coming close to scoring one run, and then we explode in their face.''

 

And then, ho hum, beating the Yankees in New York.

 

''It still sounds surreal coming out of my mouth,'' Lowell said. ``Jesus, we won the World Series. We're the world champs.''

 

He laughed.

 

''I can't wait to see our banner put up,'' he said. ``And getting the rings will be the big exclamation point.''

 

He had to go, on his way to another party, preparing to take flight again even though he still hasn't really come back to the ground.

There have been a few of those this offseason for the Marlins. Standing ovations all over the city, in gas stations and grocery stores and coffee shops. A relentless avalanche of free gifts, from meals and drinks to cruises and vacations. All-access to all the best parties, concerts and fun South Florida has to offer.The Marlins lead the league in offseason love.

 

:blink:

LoL Great article. That Marino part is hilarious.

Good article, puts it all in perspective.

 

I wonder how many season tix have been sold so far?

Good article, puts it all in perspective.

 

I wonder how many season tix have been sold so far?

And I wonder how this slipped by editor Richie Bush...?

Good article, puts it all in perspective.

 

I wonder how many season tix have been sold so far?

And I wonder how this slipped by editor Richie Bush...? I think he was on vacation.

Great article from LeBatard for a change.

 

Looks like Danny boy is getting a bit schizophrenic with the Marlins and their fans. A month ago we were bush league fans who didn't deserve the Marlins, now we lead the league in offseason love.

 

That's what I get for reading the paper!

LeBatard is just full of love today.

 

Did you see the piece on giving Willie Williams another chance?