In an offseason of controversy and disappointment, the Orioles took time Monday to brighten the lives of 90 local elementary school students.
With the embarrassments of Aubrey Huff?s radio comments and Jay Gibbons? human growth hormone admissions behind them, the Orioles held their Annual Children?s Holiday Christmas party at ESPN Zone at the Inner Harbor. Students from George Washington Elementary School, located a long foul ball behind Camden Yards, were given gifts and complimentary use of the restaurant?s arcade games.
Making his first public appearance since Major League Baseball levied a 15-game suspension against him, Gibbons was among four Orioles at the event, which was coupled with a shopping spree sponsored by Brian Roberts.
Gibbons, who has been helping with the Christmas party for five years, would not answer questions pertaining to his hGH admission or his suspension, saying: “There really isn?t a whole lot more to say about it than what I said the other day.”
In making his first trip to Baltimore since undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in August, Gibbons wasn?t concerned about fanreaction to him using performance-enhancing drugs.
“They?re going to react how they?re going to react,” Gibbons said. “I can?t control that. All I can do is go out there and play good baseball and try to win them back again. That?s my goal, and they have the right to react however they want.”
Orioles staff, under the directive from Commissioner Bud Selig?s office, would not comment on Gibbons? situation beyond the team?s statement Thursday. The players at ESPN Zone Monday ? Gibbons, Roberts and pitchers Jeremy Guthrie and Jamie Walker ? didn?t want to talk about the Gibbons situation, as they focused on interacting with the children.
“It?s important for them to experience something good during the holidays,” Roberts said. “It?s fun for us to see them smile, play games and have a good time. It kind of puts everything in perspective.”
Said Guthrie: “We have the opportunity, not necessarily the responsibility but the opportunity, as professional athletes to touch a lot of kids and inspire them to give their best effort, whether that be in life in general, in the classroom or sports. If I had the chance to meet a professional athlete when I was growing up, it would have been something I remembered for a long time.”
