Why I Love David Ortiz

Big Papi. I don't think one blog post can fully explain how much this guy means to the city of Boston. He is inspiring, dedicated and a fearless leader. He is the heart and soul of the Boston Red Sox. He is so influential, and he cares just as much for the fans as we do for him. You won't make it to the third reason before you start loving David Ortiz, too. And these five don't even scratch the surface.

1. He's Foreign

Ladies, who doesn't love a little Dominican spice in their life? His accent is sort of endearing, and I love hearing his post-game interviews because of it. He's officially a U.S. citizen now, but he still holds the Dominican close to his heart and has done a lot to give back to the community that raised him. Did you know he opened his own night club in the DR? Add that to places I want to go before I die. Though he's one of the heavier Sox players, he still has an edge of sex appeal in holding on to his international roots. His beard style is officially called 'the tease,' after all.

2. He's a Boston Veteran

That's right, he is the only player left on the team from the 2004 season that broke their 86-year streak of no world series championships. He's even outlasted most, if not all of, the management of the team, and there's a reason for that. He epitomizes the Boston Red Sox. Spending 11 years with a team can do that to you. He's brought the city into his heart and you can bet that he'll go into the hall of fame and leave Fenway with a retired number at the end of his career.

3. He's Humble

You'll never see him brag about any of his success. He doesn't do it for himself, he does it for the fans and for the team. Seeing everyone going fan crazy for him is what motivates him to succeed, not the fame. He is never involved in scandals, he isn't in your face about his sponsorships, he keeps his focus on what matters. He's a publicist's dream, actually, which may be part of why I love him so much. Not to mention, he has his own charity, The David Ortiz Children's Fund. Sure, he may smash a telephone booth with a bat every once in a while, but that just goes to show his passion for the game. He's so real and down to earth. The kind of guy who just has a genuine passion for what he does and doesn't expect anything from others.

4. He's Inspirational

My dad made an excellent point when he told me that the turning point for the Red Sox as a team this year came shortly after the tragic Boston Marathon Bombing in April. It was the first game at Fenway after the event, and Ortiz's first game back after an achilles injury last August. His speech was nothing short of memorable, and it still hypes me up to this day. Before that event, the Sox were just 40 men. They were coming off one of their worst seasons in years, adjusting to new management, and dropping players from their roster like flies. That event was such an eye-opener for Papi and he inspired his team to rally together for the city. The Boston bullpen heard him loud and clear, and they became a true team after that. Sharing his mentality and passion and using it to stay focused all the way to the playoffs. It even led to Boston's newest unofficial motto "This is our fucking city." Short, sweet, but deep on so many levels. It's basically the R-rated version of #BostonStrong. But it's more fun to put on a t-shirt. I love the looks I get when I wear mine around campus. If anyone wants to mess with Boston, you might have to go through Big Papi first, and that's a fight not many are willing to face.  

5. He's Clutch

Bottom line, he gets it done. If the game tying grand slam from game 2 of the ALCS isn't enough proof of that, I don't know what is. If you ask me, he deserves to be the ALCS MVP for the second time. He earned it in 2004 when he hit .409 with 5 home runs and 23 RBIs. It was the first time a DH had ever been named MVP, and if he keeps up his post season magic, it won't be the last. 

There is so much more than can be said about David Ortiz. He is Mr. Clutch, Big Papi, and has even been called the second coming of Jesus in the Dominican Republic. He's more than a ball player. He's a legend.