In 2008, I attended my first Red Sox game.  Up until that point, I had seen one baseball game at Shea Stadium as a kid and I wouldn’t say it was a life changing experience.  Well, it was actually.  I left my pet stuffed dog at the stadium and I cried hysterically over that.

But something happened in 2008.  I went to the Red Sox game and all of these people were cheering and laughing and having a good time at the game.  I went to a couple of more games.  Yeah, people were drunk and yeah, one guy yelled things out at Dustin Pedroia about his dress and alluding to him having female sexual organs, that kind of thing.

I did like Pedroia right from the get go.  He’s very involved with the city and his wife goes to a lot of charity events.  I met her once judging a bad bride’s maid’s dress contest.

But my love for the Red Sox wasn’t complete until I became a fan of this man:

It is the one and only big Papi.  Here’s a better view of him:

He always seemed like a kind, lovable character, but what he said after the marathon bombing was so Boston.  So unscripted, off the cuff, unserious and kind of true of what this place is about.  Yeah.  Its our *&*&ing city and everyone should know that.

I stuck around late at the game last night to watch him.  My friend I went to the game with said “you like him, don’t you.”  Well, yes, big Papi.  Perhaps there is a bit of a crush forming over here…

Here’s to you big Papi, beating heart of Boston and soon to be newest member of bobble head collection: