 By Gari Meacham Joe and Kim Girardi It's tempting to assume that the lifestyle, fame, and paycheck of a high-profile career will cover any fleeting moments of pain an athlete may experience. The truth is, an athlete's pain usually shows up in a headline or a nasty jeer from an angry fan, and no amount of money or fame can suppress the pressure to perform. "When I was traded to New York, I knew it was going to be hard," says Joe. "The fans and media loved the catcher from the year before, Mike Stanley [now with the Boston Red Sox]. I was booed before I even put on a uniform. Once the season started, I felt even worse. I didn't know anyone, and I was playing poorly. Kim met me on a road trip and really handed me the truth. She reminded me that God had put me in New York for a reason, and I needed to seek Him. The next day Don Zimmer, one of my coaches, gave me the same speech. I couldn't believe it! I started to feel more comfortable being myself, and I asked God to give me some kind of sign to show me why He had me in New York." Joe got his sign on a chilly, partly cloudy day in May when Doc Gooden, pitcher and teammate, threw a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners. "As important as that day was to Doc, it was just as important to me," says Joe, who was behind the plate for Gooden's historic outing. "It was a faith-builder," says Kim. "We began to see God's plan unfold." The signs kept coming. But they began to take shape outside the ballpark and within Joe and Kim's character. "I started to develop some friendships that were key to my growth as a man and as a Christian," says Joe. "John Wetteland challenged me to grow in my faith. Andy Pettitte was also a close friend. I grew more this season than all my other seasons combined." Whether it was playing a game together on a long flight home or praying with his teammates before a game, the friendships deepened in commitment and grew in strength. By the time the Yankees entered the playoffs in October, the attitude on the team had intensified to a feverish drama with a powerful script. "We were in our zone," says Joe, "God's zone. We prayed for each other. I prayed every day that, whatever happened, God would give me the strength to handle it. We prayed for the team and everyone on it. It took away the pressure and let us focus on the reality of what was happening." Reality. What is reality in a whirlwind of World Series activity? For Kim, reality was planning and organizing travel for people coming from all over the country to be a part of the playoffs. It meant answering the 20 to 30 phone messages they received per day. Reality also entailed keeping Joe's nerves, as well as her own, intact so they could face each new hurdle in the playoffs. "We were overwhelmed," remembers Joe. "But Kim had the foresight to know that family and friends should be with us. She was seeing beyond what I was seeing." Kim's patience paid off as the World Series unfolded and friends and family enjoyed the experience with them. "There were so many exciting times, and we got to share them with people we are close to. It felt like we were all a part of it." Storybook endings don't come any better. Underdog beats long-standing champion in a series that just won't die. And Joe Girardi pounded a clutch triple in the title-winning Game 6-a hit that was crucial to the Yankees' victory. When the Yankees won the World Series, the nation watched Joe run from behind the plate into the arms of relief pitcher John Wetteland. Their embrace held more than a championship. More than a ring or a trophy. Their embrace held their hearts. For the Girardis, weeks of parades, reporters, and television appearances followed. Although the attention was expected, the demands of being a champion began to take its toll on Kim and Joe. "I was very disappointed with myself," says Joe. "The month of November is a blur. I said 'Yes' to so many engagements that I probably shouldn't have. I'm a softy, and Kim sees through it. She helps me keep my priorities straight." Kim viewed the months after the World Series with a cautious eye. "Joe wanted to be accessible and felt responsible to share the time with the fans, but you have to set limits. Otherwise, our marriage suffers. I believe we need to love God first, love each other and our families, and love others. It has to be in the right order, or we get messed up." "Love means never having to say you're sorry" may have been the theme to a popular movie, but it isn't a theme to live by in marriage, the Girardis are finding. "Every week we apologize to each other," laughs Kim. "We are learning so much. We're understanding what it means to be forgiving, accepting, and being accountable to each another. All these events have led us to see God's mercy in our lives. It continues to amaze me." © 1997 RBC Ministries--Grand Rapids, MI 49555 - Continue article - |
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