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Yanks' Giambi Puts Hope in Thong

Slumping hitter shares gold underwear with teammates

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted May 18, 2008 10:34 AM CDT

(Newser) – Slumping Yankees slugger Jason Giambi has a secret weapon: a gold thong. He wears it when he’s struggling for hits—as is the case now, with his average well below .200—and has passed it to teammates Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, and Johnny Damon when they needed it, Portfolio notes. “All of them wore it and got hits," says the 37-year-old Giambi, in the last year of a lucrative guaranteed contract.

Wtih a salary of $23.4 million, the second highest in the majors, Giambi is well aware of his low numbers. "I never hear the boos because I'm too busy booing myself,” he says. And he seems to prove the point that it never pays to give players older than 30 long contracts. Next year, the Yanks could pick up his option for $22 million or give him $5 million to go elsewhere. Presumably with his thong.

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, left, Jason Giambi and Kevin Long watch play during the ninth inning of a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in a baseball game on Thursday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, left, Jason Giambi and Kevin Long watch play during the ninth inning of a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in a baseball game on Thursday in St. Petersburg, Fla.   (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
New York Yankees' Jason Giambi watches his solo home run off Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd in the second inning in a baseball game Friday, April 25, 2008, in Cleveland.
New York Yankees' Jason Giambi watches his solo home run off Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd in the second inning in a baseball game Friday, April 25, 2008, in Cleveland.   (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
New York Yankees' Jason Giambi follows through on a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians Thursday, May 8, 2008 at Yankee Stadium in New York.
New York Yankees' Jason Giambi follows through on a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians Thursday, May 8, 2008 at Yankee Stadium in New York.   (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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