Sportsmen of the Year
David Ortiz
This really shouldn't come as any surprise (although there was some quality competition for the title), but Sports Illustrated named the 2004 Boston Red Sox the Sportsmen of the Year2. Various writers also wrote articles about their individual picks, from the Red Sox Nation to Theo Epstein to Manny Ramirez ... but my favorite of the bunch is one about David Ortiz3. It's easy to like the outspoken guys like Kevin Millar, Johnny Damon, and Curt Schilling, but I've always been a fan of players that walk onto the field when they're needed and play their heart out, regardless of whether they play every day. I'm talking about guys like Dave Roberts and Gabe Kapler. (Kapler will play in Japan next year so that he can see day-to-day action, but I hope that he'll come back as an even better baseball player.) Anyway, Ortiz is one of those guys. On the field he follows the "speak softly and carry a big stick" philosophy, but off the field he seems like a big goofball who helps foster a healthy attitude in the clubhouse. For example:
Ortiz came, he laughed, he bellowed at reporters: "Nobody look at my nipples!" One time, he interrupted a press conference in Terry Francona's office before a game with Baltimore by poking his bucket-head in and declaring, "Don't worry. We're going to drink their beer and kick their ass!" Then he went out and did it almost by himself.
Now that's the type of guy I'd like to see more of on the Olde Town team.
Tuesday, November 30, 2004 @ 13:55 » 
Comments
Of Mice and Men
I sincerely hope that someone sells a Red Sox cap with mouse ears next year.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004 @ 17:53 » Comments
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