FICK STEPS ONTO A BIG STAGE.Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer Cal State Northridge catcher Robert Fick Robert Charles Fick (born March 15, 1974 in Torrance, California) is a Major League Baseball player for the Washington Nationals. The left-handed batter, who throws right-handed, attended California State University at Northridge. said earlier this week that tonight's 7 o'clock game against Stanford in the first round of the NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association West Regional was personal for him. And now it's official. Fick entertained en·ter·tain v. en·ter·tained, en·ter·tain·ing, en·ter·tains v.tr. 1. To hold the attention of with something amusing or diverting. See Synonyms at amuse. 2. a group of Bay Area reporters for about 10 minutes after the Matadors' Wednesday-morning practice at Sunken Diamond Sunken Diamond is a baseball stadium in Stanford, California. It hosts the Stanford University Cardinal college baseball team. The stadium holds 4,000 people and was built in 1931. , talking about his quest to prove he is the best catcher in the nation. That distinction currently belongs to Stanford catcher A.J. Hinch, the only player guaranteed a spot on the 1996 Olympic team. ``I don't think I get as much respect because I don't play in the Pac-10,'' said Fick, a junior who is hitting .420 with 24 home runs and 88 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in . Asked who he thought was the best catcher in the nation, Fick shook his head and laughed before answering. ``I think I'm the best catcher in the nation,'' he said. ``If I thought I wasn't I'd get walked all over. I'd be a (wimp).'' When it was suggested that tonight's game was a chance to prove himself, Fick declared, ``You're damn right it is. . . . I feel like I've had a pretty damn good season.'' Fick's rantings were in stark and humorous contrast to Hinch's laid-back press briefing. Hinch does not have to rant. He is the king. ``I really try to avoid the comparisons,'' said the two-time All-American, who leads the Cardinal with a .397 average, 11 homers and 55 RBI. ``My career has been very publicized pub·li·cize tr.v. pub·li·cized, pub·li·ciz·ing, pub·li·ciz·es To give publicity to. Adj. 1. publicized - made known; especially made widely known publicised . They've built up this image of me, and it's very easy to attack that. ``It sounds like it's deeply personal for (Fick). I've heard some comments he's made. . . . All I want from him is mutual respect.'' He's got that. Fick figures he knows what his place will be when he tries out for the Olympic team later this month. ``He's a damn good catcher. I give him a lot of respect,'' Fick said. ``To be the backup catcher on the Olympic team would be an honor As a verb, to accept a bill of exchange, or to pay a note, check, or accepted bill, at maturity. To pay or to accept and pay, or, where a credit so engages, to purchase or discount a draft complying with the terms of the draft. . I already know Hinch has got the (starting) job. He deserves it.'' Hinch said he hopes Fick is as good as he's heard - just not tonight. ``Maybe we will be friends,'' Hinch said. ``Maybe we'll be teammates, and that will be great. But I hope he goes 0 for 4 (tonight).'' |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion