mikeymussina35
12-26-2007, 05:34 AM
If you guys didn't read the Shelly Duncan Q & A then here it is::
So funny and interesting!:D :nod: :waving
Shelley Duncan's upbeat, enthusiastic attitude hasn't changed just because the Yankees are in the offseason. In fact, getting a taste of life in the Major Leagues this year and seeing what New York is all about has only made him more impatient for spring.
But, you can't hurry the calendar, so back home in Tucson, Ariz., Duncan is looking forward to spending Christmas with his baseball-rich family. Present among those at the table for a Dec. 25 feast will be his father, Dave, the St. Louis Cardinals' pitching coach, and brother, Chris, the Cardinals outfielder.
Even a brief blood clot scare that sent Duncan to a hospital last month hasn't diminished his zeal for the holidays. Expecting to be ready for Spring Training and preparing to kick his workouts into high gear, Duncan first spent some time with MLB.com discussing the Christmas season.
What do Christmas and the holiday season mean to you?
For me, it's a great thing. Everybody's in the same place, so you get to see old buddies, you get to relax and have a good time. It's always something that's pretty fun. This year's, everybody's coming to Tucson and we're all going to just wake up Christmas morning and be real low-key -- open presents, and who knows what we're going to do during the day? We'll go to my grandpa's place and my mom and dad will cook a big old Christmas dinner.
Growing up, what was Christmastime around the Duncan house like?
We were always in Tucson, so it wasn't real cold or real snowy. I guess some people would think it was hard to get that Christmas feeling, but it was a lot of fun. Our dad did a good job being Santa and getting us loaded up with presents under the tree. He tried real hard to keep the surprises up, but Chris and I were two real mischievous kids. We'd always find where he'd stash the presents, breaking into the little storage room. We did a good job acting like we were surprised on Christmas morning.
What were some of your favorite gifts that you remember as a kid?
I remember when we had two mountain bikes under the tree. I think some of the best gifts were the ones Chris and I bought. We'd go out and buy paintball guns and give them to each other, kind of being funny and acting like we were surprised. I think that stuff is the most fun, just doing little stuff like that. Getting older, our mom would take us to the mall and have us pick out our own Christmas gifts. She'd tell us to go walk around so we wouldn't see her buying the presents, and then we'd have to act like we were surprised on Christmas.
The Duncans are considered a baseball family. Was baseball around a lot during the holidays?
It always seemed like whenever we were together, we were talking about baseball, always. It's how our family works. Growing up, we'd always do different things, but with the weather here in Arizona, it allows you to still play baseball and keep it nice. This winter's going to be the same -- my dad and brother are going to be here in town and we'll probably talk about it a lot.
We saw you hit people in the dugout with those high-fives so many times during the season. I'm wondering if you and Chris ever did that under the Christmas tree after an exceptionally good gift?
Chris and I still do high-fives all the time (Duncan laughs). But, to tell you the truth, I think Chris is a little jealous of all the attention that I got for doing those high-fives. He wants to know why everyone made such a big deal about it.
Are you hoping to find anything special under the tree this year?
I never ask for anything, but I think the best things about Christmas are the little pointless gifts that you never expect. Somehow you get something you'll never ask for and never think about, but when you get it, you love it. My family and my brother are good about that. I gave my brother a five-liter bottle of beer last year. He loved it (Duncan laughs).
Any advice for Brian Cashman and the Yankees as they finish their holiday shopping?
I wouldn't really want to suggest anything. I would just tell them how happy I am with what they've done already. They've done a great job bringing so many important people back this year. I think if you look at our team the way it's set up right now, we're going to have a really great chance to win this season. It's great to have everyone back, and I can't wait to get down to Spring Training and get it all going.
So funny and interesting!:D :nod: :waving
Shelley Duncan's upbeat, enthusiastic attitude hasn't changed just because the Yankees are in the offseason. In fact, getting a taste of life in the Major Leagues this year and seeing what New York is all about has only made him more impatient for spring.
But, you can't hurry the calendar, so back home in Tucson, Ariz., Duncan is looking forward to spending Christmas with his baseball-rich family. Present among those at the table for a Dec. 25 feast will be his father, Dave, the St. Louis Cardinals' pitching coach, and brother, Chris, the Cardinals outfielder.
Even a brief blood clot scare that sent Duncan to a hospital last month hasn't diminished his zeal for the holidays. Expecting to be ready for Spring Training and preparing to kick his workouts into high gear, Duncan first spent some time with MLB.com discussing the Christmas season.
What do Christmas and the holiday season mean to you?
For me, it's a great thing. Everybody's in the same place, so you get to see old buddies, you get to relax and have a good time. It's always something that's pretty fun. This year's, everybody's coming to Tucson and we're all going to just wake up Christmas morning and be real low-key -- open presents, and who knows what we're going to do during the day? We'll go to my grandpa's place and my mom and dad will cook a big old Christmas dinner.
Growing up, what was Christmastime around the Duncan house like?
We were always in Tucson, so it wasn't real cold or real snowy. I guess some people would think it was hard to get that Christmas feeling, but it was a lot of fun. Our dad did a good job being Santa and getting us loaded up with presents under the tree. He tried real hard to keep the surprises up, but Chris and I were two real mischievous kids. We'd always find where he'd stash the presents, breaking into the little storage room. We did a good job acting like we were surprised on Christmas morning.
What were some of your favorite gifts that you remember as a kid?
I remember when we had two mountain bikes under the tree. I think some of the best gifts were the ones Chris and I bought. We'd go out and buy paintball guns and give them to each other, kind of being funny and acting like we were surprised. I think that stuff is the most fun, just doing little stuff like that. Getting older, our mom would take us to the mall and have us pick out our own Christmas gifts. She'd tell us to go walk around so we wouldn't see her buying the presents, and then we'd have to act like we were surprised on Christmas.
The Duncans are considered a baseball family. Was baseball around a lot during the holidays?
It always seemed like whenever we were together, we were talking about baseball, always. It's how our family works. Growing up, we'd always do different things, but with the weather here in Arizona, it allows you to still play baseball and keep it nice. This winter's going to be the same -- my dad and brother are going to be here in town and we'll probably talk about it a lot.
We saw you hit people in the dugout with those high-fives so many times during the season. I'm wondering if you and Chris ever did that under the Christmas tree after an exceptionally good gift?
Chris and I still do high-fives all the time (Duncan laughs). But, to tell you the truth, I think Chris is a little jealous of all the attention that I got for doing those high-fives. He wants to know why everyone made such a big deal about it.
Are you hoping to find anything special under the tree this year?
I never ask for anything, but I think the best things about Christmas are the little pointless gifts that you never expect. Somehow you get something you'll never ask for and never think about, but when you get it, you love it. My family and my brother are good about that. I gave my brother a five-liter bottle of beer last year. He loved it (Duncan laughs).
Any advice for Brian Cashman and the Yankees as they finish their holiday shopping?
I wouldn't really want to suggest anything. I would just tell them how happy I am with what they've done already. They've done a great job bringing so many important people back this year. I think if you look at our team the way it's set up right now, we're going to have a really great chance to win this season. It's great to have everyone back, and I can't wait to get down to Spring Training and get it all going.