The biggest question facing David Ortiz as he makes his debut on the Hall of Fame ballot isn’t whether he used performance-enhancing substances to jumpstart his remarkable career. Instead, it revolves around his longstanding friendship with Alex Rodriguez.
Why?
At the annual “Tradition” ceremony at the T.D. Garden’s Sports Museum this week, Ortiz was asked whether he actually enjoys spending time with the self-indulgent former Yankee. The answer is, yes.
“Look, he’s a good guy, man,” Ortiz said, via Boston.com. “I’m telling you. The thing is, he’s got his own personality. In my case, I love you the way you are. I don’t want you to be the way I want you to be.”
Ortiz and A-Rod have been pals for years, even galavanting around town during the height of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. A-Rod’s pariah status never swayed Ortiz to dump him.
“I don’t like to see people struggle,” Ortiz told the New York Post. “I don’t care who you’re playing for or what you do; I’m not used to seeing people struggle.”
With hundreds of millions in the bank, A-Rod is hardly struggling. In retirement, he enjoys a plush gig as ESPN’s lead MLB analyst, despite seldom saying anything of substance.
A-Rod also works on FOX’s pre- and post-game shows, where he actually displays a sense of humor — probably thanks to Ortiz. When a raucous crowd on Jersey Street pelted A-Rod with obscenities last October, he took it in stride.
Maybe that’s the true A-Rod after all.
“I am the way I am, you are the way you are, I’m going to love you the way you are, you’ve got to love me the way I am,” Ortiz said.
Big Papi can stick with the love. We’ll stick with the hate.
