David Ortiz Wants Standing Ovation From Yankee Stadium Fans
By Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Ever since tearing the hearts out of Yankees fans' chests in October 2004, David Ortiz has been booed every single time his name has been announced in the Bronx. That's more than a decade's worth of boos, and from people who know how to boo.
And while Ortiz has always accepted his role in the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, he's hoping that in his final year in the big leagues, Yankees fans can show a temporary change of heart.
"You know what I want most of all?' I would love it if the fans at Yankee Stadium gave me a standing ovation," Ortiz told the New York Post.
With Ortiz announcing his retirement in the offseason, the Red Sox' trip to Yankee Stadium in late September is scheduled to be the penultimate series of Ortiz's career -- at least, in the regular season.
In that respect, it's not dissimilar to Derek Jeter's farewell tour, as the Yankees captain's final stop was in Boston at Fenway Park. All throughout that 2014 season, Jeter received cheers from Red Sox fans, many of whom were seeing the future Hall of Famer for the final time.
While Jeter's reception at Fenway shows it's not unprecedented for the respect factor to transcend the rivalry, it would still no doubt be an odd change of pace for the man who did this ...
and this ...
and this:
An ovation for that guy? That would be something.
But the Red Sox and their fans have been cordial when Yankees legends have said goodbye. The Sox gave the No. 42 tile from the Green Monster to Mariano Rivera. They also gave him a painting ... and a chair (No. 42) ... and a video highlighting one of the lowest moments of his career.
That was kind of rude.
And when Jeter came through, he was not only greeted with ovations, but the Red Sox also gave him a scoreboard sign that said "RE2PECT," a parade of legends from the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and Patriots (for some reason?), a pair of freaking boots, and a selfie with Joe Kelly.
Ortiz has been a witness for these ceremonies and, understandably, doesn't want a "RE34PECT" sign or a video showing him striking out in a big moment against the Yankees. Likewise, he doesn't want to shake hands with Mark Messier and Walt Frazier or Eli Manning. And he really doesn't want a selfie with Nathan Eovaldi.
He just wants some applause. And, more than likely, he'll get it.
The rest of us can just hope that when that game takes place in the final days of September, there's a lot at stake than Ortiz's last days in the bigs. Life is better when the rivalry is alive and kicking.
You can email Michael Hurley or find him on Twitter @michaelFhurley.
