Nymet31
12-27-2004, 08:05 PM
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Joe McEwing has earned the nickname of "Super Joe" because of the versatility and toughness he has shown during his Major League career.
But McEwing, who has his own show on MLB.com Radio during the regular season, is a big softy when it comes to the holidays. He and his wife, Julia, along with their 16-month-old son, Dominic, will celebrate Christmas this year thankful that McEwing has recovered from the broken leg that cost him most of the final two months of the 2004 season.
McEwing, who says that he still believes in Santa because he makes everyone's dreams come true, sat down with MLB.com recently to share some of his holiday memories.
What's your favorite holiday song?
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town." That's really the first one I remember. Always around Thanksgiving, I start thinking about that song, and I can't wait to hear it. It always gets me in the Christmas mood.
What's your best Christmas memory?
It was probably two years ago, right before Christmas, when my wife told me she was pregnant. That was awesome.
Has being a dad changed how you view the holidays?
It changes it totally, because now it's all about [my son]. And I'm happy it's that way. In some respect I'm still a big kid. And every day is like Christmas for the simple fact that he puts a smile on my face every day. That gives me as much joy as seeing him open a present or opening a present myself. Just to see him smile every day and have a good time is like opening a gift every day.
What was Christmas like in the McEwing home?
Christmas was always a lot of fun in my house. We were always very impatient, and our parents would always let us open some gifts after midnight. We always had to save a couple for the morning, though. Every year, though, it seemed that we just couldn't wait. The best gift I ever got was my first bicycle. I was probably 5 or 6.
What's the best gift you've ever given?
It was probably the gift I gave my wife last. I'm the kind of person who, as soon as I get [someone] something, I want to tell them right away what it is. But last year was a total surprise, and when she went downstairs, she saw her new bike. It was a funny gift, because it was a low-rider bike with the mirrors and the tassels and the horns and everything. She was kind of surprised. She loved it. It was nice to see her face. She took it outside and rode it. It was great.
I love doing Christmas shopping for my son, too. He still doesn't quite understand what's going on, but I still enjoy going out and buying things for him.
What's your favorite holiday show?
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." That was something that as a child I had to watch every year. I loved Rudolph when he got stuck out in the snow all alone.
NEW YORK -- Joe McEwing has earned the nickname of "Super Joe" because of the versatility and toughness he has shown during his Major League career.
But McEwing, who has his own show on MLB.com Radio during the regular season, is a big softy when it comes to the holidays. He and his wife, Julia, along with their 16-month-old son, Dominic, will celebrate Christmas this year thankful that McEwing has recovered from the broken leg that cost him most of the final two months of the 2004 season.
McEwing, who says that he still believes in Santa because he makes everyone's dreams come true, sat down with MLB.com recently to share some of his holiday memories.
What's your favorite holiday song?
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town." That's really the first one I remember. Always around Thanksgiving, I start thinking about that song, and I can't wait to hear it. It always gets me in the Christmas mood.
What's your best Christmas memory?
It was probably two years ago, right before Christmas, when my wife told me she was pregnant. That was awesome.
Has being a dad changed how you view the holidays?
It changes it totally, because now it's all about [my son]. And I'm happy it's that way. In some respect I'm still a big kid. And every day is like Christmas for the simple fact that he puts a smile on my face every day. That gives me as much joy as seeing him open a present or opening a present myself. Just to see him smile every day and have a good time is like opening a gift every day.
What was Christmas like in the McEwing home?
Christmas was always a lot of fun in my house. We were always very impatient, and our parents would always let us open some gifts after midnight. We always had to save a couple for the morning, though. Every year, though, it seemed that we just couldn't wait. The best gift I ever got was my first bicycle. I was probably 5 or 6.
What's the best gift you've ever given?
It was probably the gift I gave my wife last. I'm the kind of person who, as soon as I get [someone] something, I want to tell them right away what it is. But last year was a total surprise, and when she went downstairs, she saw her new bike. It was a funny gift, because it was a low-rider bike with the mirrors and the tassels and the horns and everything. She was kind of surprised. She loved it. It was nice to see her face. She took it outside and rode it. It was great.
I love doing Christmas shopping for my son, too. He still doesn't quite understand what's going on, but I still enjoy going out and buying things for him.
What's your favorite holiday show?
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." That was something that as a child I had to watch every year. I loved Rudolph when he got stuck out in the snow all alone.