Pitcher Barry Zito has been mediocre since coming to the San Francisco Giants two years ago via free agency (a 21-30 record with an ERA of around 5), but he can supplement his $126 million contract with a new gig as a jeans model.
According to clothing company True Religion, the city needs a huge billboard with their new model. Soon, we will see the pitcher grace a billboard on Bush Street and Van Ness Avenue.
A True Religion exec found Zito while reading a California tourism magazine and seeing him posing with a guitar; he said Zito had “the look.” Of course, the exec thought Zito was a musician, which is what Giants fans must have thought the past two years. I do agree he does have “the look.”
“What’s great is that they don’t want my name,” Zito said. “I’m just strictly a model. Who knows? Maybe it’ll open up other doors. It’s always fun to be involved in different things.”
Related: Cartoon, “Is Barry Zito gay?”
on Oct 25th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
There are plenty of athletes advertising clothes, from Brett Favre for Wrangler to Sean Avery for The Gap. Given Zito’s pitching decline, and that he’s only played for Bay area teams (and thus won’t have as much recognition nationally), and that he’s got a generic model look (at 30!), it’s not surprising they “don’t want (his) name,” as he’s so pleased to admit. Face it Barry, they just want your bod. They don’t even want you on the company softball team.