Nanner
01-04-2005, 11:19 AM
Not having any computer access while I was away, I totally missed this on Orioles.com. So, here it is. Sparky and Christmas! :D
12/20/2004 4:56 PM ET
Orioles' Roberts in giving mood
Second baseman recalls holidays with family
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts comes from a baseball family. His father is a former coach at the University of North Carolina. Roberts was raised in Chapel Hill and attended the school for two years.
Roberts was a sandwich pick by the Orioles in 1999 and emerged as the starting second baseman with a standout season in 2004, hitting .273 with four homers and 53 RBIs, and breaking Cal Ripken's club record with 50 doubles in a season.
Roberts has played parts of four seasons with the Orioles, making his Major League debut in 2001, where he batted .253 in 75 games.
Roberts relieved an injured Jerry Hairston in 2003 and belted a game-winning grand slam off Anaheim's Troy Percival in just his second game. He has been a fixture in the Orioles' lineup ever since.
We asked Roberts about his Christmas memories as a child growing up in Chapel Hill. Roberts now makes his offseason home in Arizona, where the Christmases are slightly warmer.
MLB.com: What was the best Christmas gift you ever received?
Roberts: Probably my first real bike with training wheels. You get that and you spend the whole day freezing to death, leaning how to ride. It was a Huffy and I remember riding that thing all day until my legs got tired. I think everybody had a Huffy.
MLB.com: What was the best Christmas gift you ever gave?
Roberts: A couple of years ago, I gave my parents a new flat-screen TV and surround sound for the house. We never had surround sound in my house growing up. Of course, they told me that it was too much, but it was a good feeling to be able to do something for your family.
MLB.com: What was the funniest or strangest gift you ever received?
Roberts: When I was growing up, I can remember my granddad used to give us handkerchiefs. I was like six. You had to act like you were surprised and you would never use it. My dad ended up with 1,000 of those things. At that age, I wasn't sure what to do with a handkerchief.
MLB.com: What was the funniest or strangest gift you ever gave?
Roberts: My uncle is pretty crazy and we used to give each other the joke gifts. I gave him a Jerky Boys CD which had prank phone calls recorded, and he loved it. He liked crazy stuff like that.
MLB.com: What Christmas carol do you know all the words to?
Roberts: I guess "Jingle Bells." No one ever wanted to me to sing. I really never learned them.
MLB.com: What is your favorite Christmas moment?
Roberts: The thing that probably stands out the most, we always went to my grandparents for Christmas. Me and my sister would sleep in the same room, and we would stay up all night. I remember not being able to sleep but I don't think I ever snuck a look. I always wanted to go downstairs and see what was under the tree, but I never did. I am glad I didn't.
MLB.com: Do you still look forward to Christmas?
Roberts: Oh yeah, definitely. I think now it's for different reasons. You used to just want gifts, but now I have a pretty strong faith and I realize that it's pretty important in this stage of my life. I enjoy giving more than receiving. It's a great family time for me.
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
12/20/2004 4:56 PM ET
Orioles' Roberts in giving mood
Second baseman recalls holidays with family
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts comes from a baseball family. His father is a former coach at the University of North Carolina. Roberts was raised in Chapel Hill and attended the school for two years.
Roberts was a sandwich pick by the Orioles in 1999 and emerged as the starting second baseman with a standout season in 2004, hitting .273 with four homers and 53 RBIs, and breaking Cal Ripken's club record with 50 doubles in a season.
Roberts has played parts of four seasons with the Orioles, making his Major League debut in 2001, where he batted .253 in 75 games.
Roberts relieved an injured Jerry Hairston in 2003 and belted a game-winning grand slam off Anaheim's Troy Percival in just his second game. He has been a fixture in the Orioles' lineup ever since.
We asked Roberts about his Christmas memories as a child growing up in Chapel Hill. Roberts now makes his offseason home in Arizona, where the Christmases are slightly warmer.
MLB.com: What was the best Christmas gift you ever received?
Roberts: Probably my first real bike with training wheels. You get that and you spend the whole day freezing to death, leaning how to ride. It was a Huffy and I remember riding that thing all day until my legs got tired. I think everybody had a Huffy.
MLB.com: What was the best Christmas gift you ever gave?
Roberts: A couple of years ago, I gave my parents a new flat-screen TV and surround sound for the house. We never had surround sound in my house growing up. Of course, they told me that it was too much, but it was a good feeling to be able to do something for your family.
MLB.com: What was the funniest or strangest gift you ever received?
Roberts: When I was growing up, I can remember my granddad used to give us handkerchiefs. I was like six. You had to act like you were surprised and you would never use it. My dad ended up with 1,000 of those things. At that age, I wasn't sure what to do with a handkerchief.
MLB.com: What was the funniest or strangest gift you ever gave?
Roberts: My uncle is pretty crazy and we used to give each other the joke gifts. I gave him a Jerky Boys CD which had prank phone calls recorded, and he loved it. He liked crazy stuff like that.
MLB.com: What Christmas carol do you know all the words to?
Roberts: I guess "Jingle Bells." No one ever wanted to me to sing. I really never learned them.
MLB.com: What is your favorite Christmas moment?
Roberts: The thing that probably stands out the most, we always went to my grandparents for Christmas. Me and my sister would sleep in the same room, and we would stay up all night. I remember not being able to sleep but I don't think I ever snuck a look. I always wanted to go downstairs and see what was under the tree, but I never did. I am glad I didn't.
MLB.com: Do you still look forward to Christmas?
Roberts: Oh yeah, definitely. I think now it's for different reasons. You used to just want gifts, but now I have a pretty strong faith and I realize that it's pretty important in this stage of my life. I enjoy giving more than receiving. It's a great family time for me.
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.