PENA KEEPS IT REAL FOR MAN IN GLASS
Published on April 19, 2002
© 2002- The Press Democrat
COLUMN: Bob Padecky
When you get what you want in your struggle for self,
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourselfAnd see what that man has to say.
The poem is entitled ``The Man In The Glass.'' It is taped to the inside of his A's locker. Its writer is anonymous, but the message contained is anything but faceless to Carlos Pena.
``It's who I am,'' said Pena, Oakland's first baseman.
He does not glitter when he walks. He has no sparkling jewelry that could blind in a noonday sun.
``I don't have a car,'' Pena said. ``I don't care that much about it. I drive Frank's (Menechino) truck when I need to get around. I think it is a Ford.''
You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plumb,
And think you are a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum,
If you cannot stare him straight in the eye.
Pena rose from his locker chair to shake the hand of a reporter. After 10 minutes, he volunteers two sentences that may never have been uttered in a Major League clubhouse.
``You can tell a lot about a person by looking into their eyes,'' Pena said. ``I can tell you are sincere.''
He is told baseball players don't talk like that. ``The way I see it,'' Pena said, ``you are giving me your time.''
Why not, Pena was told. He hit his fifth homer of the season Thursday, two more than the superstar he replaced, Jason Giambi, now with the Yankees.
``That doesn't make me better than you,'' Pena said.
Been a long time since that was heard in any professional sports clubhouse, Pena was told.
``I will never be too successful, too rich, too conceited,'' Pena said.
He is the fellow to please, never mind all the rest,
For he is with you clear up to the end,
And you have passed your most dangerous, difficult test,
If the man in your glass is your friend.
Keeping it real, Pena says that to his brother, whom he speaks to every day on the phone.
``I make it a point to be around people who would be considered ordinary, not exciting, common people,'' Pena said. ``That's how I like to keep it real. Like when I want to go to dinner. Do I want to go to a fancy steakhouse or go to McDonald's? Went to McDonald's yesterday for lunch. Sat inside with everyone. Had a No. 6 Supersize with a strawberry shake. Nothing like a good burger. It was great.''
Real? What's real, Pena was asked.
``Not this locker. Not this uniform. Not this game. What's real is family, friends, treating people the way you would want to be treated. Live in the moment. Appreciate what you have right now. Everything else?''
He snapped his fingers. ``Could be gone like that,'' Pena said.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears,
If you cheated the man in the glass.
Pena was thanked for his time, his honesty, his directness. His visitor turned to leave. Pena grabbed him by the arm.
``I don't know how you are going to write this,'' he said, ``but I want to make sure you let the people know that I'm not up here, above them.'' Pena raised his right hand above his head.
``I'm right here with them,'' Pena said. He lowered his right hand to his waist.
``Could you make sure you let them know that?''
I said I would. I also will let the people know that Carlos Pena is but 23 years old.
