Giambi fans show support for slugger

Yankees DH scheduled to play against Miracle

By Chris Umpierre
Fort Myers News Press

Many fans came just for him. Some of them wore his No. 25 jersey and brought bats, balls and cards for him to sign. They waited patiently until the 6-foot-3, 235-pound slugger finally entered his team's dugout in the seventh inning.

Then the fans took action. With the game ongoing, fans left their seats and gathered near the Tampa Yankees dugout. The gathering only got larger when the slugger started an impromptu signing session.

It was an unusual sight: a professional athlete signing autographs during a game, but that's the type of following Jason Giambi has.

The New York Yankees designated hitter still remains popular with fans even though he's been suspected of using steroids.

Giambi, on the disabled list since May 30 with a left foot injury, was supposed to play in the nightcap of the Tampa Yankees' doubleheader on Friday at the Lee County Sports Complex but the contest was rescheduled for today because of rain.

Tampa and the Fort Myers Miracle will play two, seven-inning games starting at 5 p.m. today and Giambi, who has 357 homers and 1,167 RBI in 13 big-league seasons, said he hopes to play in both contests.

"That's a special thing," Giambi said about the support he received in Fort Myers. "You find as a human being, you're going to have your ups and downs but it's the people who stand beside you that make all the difference in the world.

"I guess you can credit my mom and dad for bringing me up right. I've always been one of those guys that actually cares about somebody else. Through everything that I've been through, I've had a lot of people stand beside me which means a lot."

Giambi, 36, has been through a lot on and off the field. He reportedly testified that he used steroids and human growth-hormone before a U.S. grand jury in December 2003. Without using the word steroids, he apologized in February 2005.

Giambi made national headlines in May when he essentially admitted to using steroids to a USA Today reporter. Giambi said that he was wrong for doing "that stuff" and that Major League Baseball should have stood up and apologized for that era.

Two weeks ago, Giambi met with former Sen. George J. Mitchell and his investigators, who are looking into steroid use in baseball. Giambi is believed to be the only active player who has spoken with Mitchell.

Tampa Yankees manager Luis Sojo was asked why Giambi continues to have a strong following while another alleged steroid user, San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds, is surrounded with negativity.

"Everybody knows (Bonds) isn't good to the media and Jason is the opposite," Sojo said. "I root for both of them. I want Barry to break the (all-time home run) record. But I think it has a lot to do with his personality. Jason's a great guy. He knows he made a mistake. He admitted it and let's move on."

Fort Myers Miracle pitcher Zach Ward said Giambi's accomplishments shouldn't be knocked because of his alleged steroid use.

"It's something a lot of guys apparently were doing in that era," Ward said. "It's not something I would do... but it's still baseball. All (steroids) do is make you stronger. You still got to hit the ball. You still got to have eye-hand coordination."

Giambi didn't speak about steroids Friday. He spent most of his seven-minute press conference talking about his injury and his return to the Yankees.

"There's nothing worse on the planet," Giambi said about his foot injury. "I was in a boot for four and half weeks, day and night. So I had to sleep in it, which was miserable because I couldn't really do that much. The doctor said the fastest way to heal this thing is you're not going to have to use it at all. He was right.

Giambi's leg healed faster than he thought. After his two games today, Giambi will be re-evaluated by doctors on Sunday. He could return to the Yankees next week.

"I know they're clicking right now," he said about New York.

"Hopefully, I can play a big part. Hopefully, I can get my power swing going quick and make a difference."