Glenn Davis a Big Hitter for Charity

Glenn Davis is a Good Samaritan armed with a heavy club.

He uses it to hit home runs for the Houston Astros and earn money for the Glenn Davis Home for Boys in Columbus, Ga.

“After you’ve been in the league for a while, things can become routine,” Davis said.

But not this year. There is power and passion in every Davis swing.

“Now I have these kids to provide for, and there’s nothing routine when I go to the plate,” he said. “I’m not only trying to get a hit to help us win, I’m trying to do something for those kids.”

Playing well keeps his salary up -- he has a $1.9 million contract for this year -- and allows him to donate more for his boys’ home. So far he has contributed more than $250,000.

It’s no novelty for an athlete who spent a troubled youth to make charitable contributions. Such charity often receives yawns from a cynical public that sees it as just another tax write-off.

But it’s not always easy being a Good Samaritan, and few do it with as much gusto as Davis.

“The more I do as a player, the more help the kids can get,” Davis said. “I’m saying that from the bottom of my heart. I’m not saying that out of being selfish or seeking exposure. It’s the truth.”

The truth is, Davis is telling the truth.

He grew up the product of a broken home, verged on juvenile delinquency and even thought of suicide.

He admits spending his early baseball career drinking and carousing.

“I went until I didn’t think I could go any more,” Davis said. “I was ready to check it in. I finally asked the Lord to do something with my life.”

Davis received a helping hand and now he’s trying to give one back.

He helped break ground in Columbus, Ga. last week on the Glenn Davis Home for Boys with the aim of helping youngsters overcome some of the same obstacles he faced.

His home will be run in conjunction with Georgia’s Kings Ranch, founded 12 years ago by Tom Owens. Land has been donated, and Kings Ranch administrators will help design and supervise the Davis home.

It initially will provide housing for 10-12 youths, and there are plans for a home for girls.

“It’s been a seed planted in me for a long time, as long ago as there was someone who helped me out,” Davis said. “Now I want to return the favor.”

This project casts a different light on Davis. Though he’s unquestionably among the league’s elite power hitters with 30 or more homers in three of the last four years, his actions off the field have raised eyebrows.

Davis has fought his own moods and emotions throughout his big league career. His brooding can leave a distorted picture of his true nature.

He smashed a mirror in the Astros’ clubhouse last season in frustration.

He is often absent for interviews after games whether he has hit two homers or struck out three times.

“I know a lot of people don’t understand me,” Davis said. “But there’s more behind what I do than people see.”

The same man spends part of the off-season each year in Korea with his Korean-born wife Teresa, visiting children’s hospitals and conducting baseball clinics.

Davis asked that a major beer sponsor not use his name in connection with its promotions last season. Davis escaped injury in an alcohol-related auto accident at a teen-ager.

“I almost denied myself the opportunity to become a major leaguer,” he said. “Kids don’t need to hear that everybody drinks or that if you want to be with the ‘in’ crowd, you have to drink.”

It’s a message Davis surely will deliver in person to the youths who fill his home.

“I’m not into warehousing kids,” Davis said. “You get a lot of kids in these dormitory homes and they are nothing but numbers.”

Davis has greater plans for his charges: “Ultimately, we want to provide them with college educations,” he said.

“I’ve been able to provide for my family,” he said, “and now I can help others, too.”