FLUSHING, NY – Back on June 9, 2019 a poor excuse of a human being pulled the trigger of a gun that landed through the back of David Ortiz’s torso. The Boston Red Sox Legend survived and bounced back to be elected into the Hall of Fame and become a FOX analyst on their playoff and World Series games. Both the pre and post game shows turned into the “Big Papi” Hour. Ortiz would offer his predictions and much more. His quote of, “After tomorrow, there’s no tomorrow,” had his co-panelists, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter drowning in laughter.
During the World Series he couldn’t understand why the Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers would even pitch to the red-hot Texas Rangers Corey Seager. His theory of, “You don’t throw a cookie to the cookie monster!,” was the theme of the 2023 World Series.
Last weekend Santo Domingo winter league baseball found its way into Shea Stadium, (aka CitiField). The Aguilas Cibaenas played three games against the Tigres Del Licey in 40 degree weather. The games attracted 90,000 fans for the weekend matchups and the only thing it accomplished was a whole new meaning to the title of “Winter Ball.”
David Ortiz appeared at Friday night’s game to catch the opening pitch thrown by Raquel Arbaje, the wife of Santo Domingo’s president, Luis Abinader. As the game went on Big Papi proceeded to leave a smile on everyone he encountered. He took selfies and shook hands with whoever was in his presence, including yours truly.
I thanked him for giving me more late night laughs than Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert combined. I told him that what he did on the FOX post game show can easily lead to a talk show for him to host. Ortiz repeatedly thanked me before I turned the tables on him. I gifted him a Cookie Monster doll, and he bowled over in laughter. He was so grateful for the Sesame Street present, and held it throughout the rest of the game.
The Big Papi that you see on television is who he is when the cameras aren’t rolling. Mr.Ortiz is a pleasure to be around, and the players of today need to start engaging in fan interaction quickly before they totally lose the fan base.
To the triggerman who tried to eliminate Ortiz, may you rot in prison, to the organizer of the Ortiz hit, may you rot in hell since you’ve been fatally shot in 2021.
