Washington Nationals first baseman Matt LeCroy can’t help it — sometimes you just have to sing the blues. Or a country ballad. Or hip-hop. Maybe even some Prince.
If you think facing a fireballer on the mound is nerve-wracking, try listening to LeCroy belt out a love song in the locker room. Up close and personal.
First baseman Nick Johnson can be forgiven if wincing when LeCroy serenades him with “Endless Love.” It may be in good fun and teammates get a chuckle out of the crooner some say should try out for American Idol if not having surpassed the age limit, but love songs?
“I get on people’s nerves,” said LeCroy with a devilish grin. “Nick Johnson doesn’t like a man singing him love songs.”
I’m with you there, Nick, but LeCroy’s act is appreciated because every locker room needs someone to break the tension. The long travel schedule is lightened when LeCroy sings “Purple Rain” or adapts a song with some Spanish for his Latin teammates. He tends to use the same Spanish word over and over trying to drive them loco.
LeCroy has more of a southern rocker image at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds with plenty of chin hair and mustache. After all, LeCroy grew up playing high school baseball, tennis and football in South Carolina before heading to Clemson.
Think Hank Williams, Jr. or Lynyrd Skynyrd. He might even sub for Trace Adkins in “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” Then again, all those love songs might make LeCroy one of the Dixie Chicks.
LeCroy doesn’t sing in the dugout or shower — even he has boundaries. However, there’s plenty of time on busses and planes and before games for LeCroy to suddenly break into song.
“When you’re playing 162 games and not playing well, people get kind of moodish,” he said. “I just serve as the guy who keeps everyone going. It’s a long season. It’s important to have fun and stay level headed.”
Anything and everything is on LeCroy’s iPod. Even some Sesame Street, Elmo and Barney for his two-year-old daughter, Isabella. LeCroy’s wife, Holly, teases him about the endless singing, which sounds a little like Luther Vandross.
The radio is his inspiration. LeCroy hasn’t learned the local stations yet, staying mostly to his satellite radio on the 20-minute commute from Alexandria to RFK Stadium. With Glenn Hollis now off local airwaves, maybe his nightly love songs show could get a guest host that can also go beyond third base now and then.
Or how about the 9:30 Club where plenty of local talent shares stages with passing big-name acts. Oh, LeCroy liked that idea. Maybe bring some teammates. Have some group karaoke.
“I’ll do anything,” he said. “I might bring the guys and make it a team function.”
Well, LeCroy won’t do quite anything. The thought of singing the national anthem quickly brings a no. A man has to know his limits.
“I know I’d mess the words up,” he said. “I could do it in the shower, but before everybody I’d clam up.”
This from someone who has no problem singing his favorite version of “Endless Love” by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross. LeCroy especially loves singing Steve Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely”, which only conjures images of what passing inspiration prompts LeCroy’s rendition.
Gee, whatever happened to “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports for28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
