2K Sports signs Lincecum to be face of new baseball game
Dressed in the finest ping pong ball covered wet suit available, Tim Lincecum is realizing while fame may not always be stylish it will, from now on, always be present.
Giants fans and ownership had long feared the day; no Barry Bonds, no electric talent to warm the chilled fog laden air that sweeps in from over McCovey Cove. Well, that day came, and it brought a friend. Tim Lincecum is a full blown star.
In what has become today’s version of a bubblegum card, 2K Sports outfitted the Giants Cy Young award winner for a "motion capture session." The wiry 24 year-old, clad with motion sensors, used for tracking and capturing computer images of his all-star windup and delivery, was preparing for a forthcoming video game which will display
Lincecum on the cover.
On the second day of December, in Novato, California, the right hander was throwing pitches for no other purpose than his burgeoning fame. The video game maker, 2K Sports, would have been foolish to release its next baseball game without the likeness of a virtual Tim Lincecum pitching on a digitally created mound in a two dimensional AT&T Park.
They also know that sales will be aided with a charismatic young star on the cover. Lincecum will join the likes of Jose Reyes, Derek Jeter and NBA stars like Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O’Neil who have all graced the cover of past 2K Sports games in recent years.
Beyond the cover shot, Lincecum will be honored by his alma mater during half time of an upcoming University of Washington’s men’s basketball game. And, last month he was invited to play in a celebrity poker tournament, at the Palms in Las Vegas, along side plausible Giant CC Sabathia, former NL MVP Ryan Howard, and retired all-star Mike Piazza to name a few.
Be it a poker game, being the main attraction for a half time show, facing major league hitters or taking on new found fame, young Timmy seems to be approaching everything in the same way; like a
gamer.