Love Him or Hate Him, Pedro Still Loves to Com-Petey
Disclaimer: This was not written by Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe, it is a parody column for the BSMW “Be Dan Shaughnessy” contest.
Love Him or Hate Him, Pedro Still Loves to Com-Petey
By Dan Shaughnessy
I’ve had my share of run-ins with Red Sox players. Most famously, with a certain Neanderthal who deserves his own exhibit in Jurassic Park (yes, there ARE dinosaurs there, Carl). But what seems to get lost in those sometimes-rancorous moments is the humanity shown by other, often very high-profile members of the roster. In this particular case, your honor, I call to the stand Mr. Pedro Martinez.
The same day Carl Everett referred to me as a “Curly Haired Boyfriend” (at least I still have most of my hair, Carl), Petey made a real effort after the game to take me aside and whisper these words of wisdom: “Carl just wants to be loved.”
And that, my friends, is the reason Pedro Martinez is an all-time Red Sox great who deserves a prolonged standing ovation upon his return. He never really cared if he was loved.
He just wants to be respected.
Personally, I’m not going to pull a Bob Ryan here (sorry, Bob), and demand that you cheer for Pedro. But I will ask that you give him precisely what he earned during his years here. Respect. If you think he bolted for the Mets simply because of money, fine. If you think he played the Sox like an Irish fiddle for all they’re worth, so be it. But always remember and never forget what he gave to your Olde Town Team. An electric every-fifth day. A bravado that actually intimidated the Yankees. A passion for the game that took away the breath of everyone who had the luck and the connections and the tickets to score a date at Fenway with Petey.
Forget that he was One Of The 25 in 2004. Forget that he was the greatest Red Sox pitcher of our lifetime. Forget, if you must, that he still truly loves this town and adores you fans.
But never forget this:
Pedro Martinez was the biggest winner the Red Sox have known since Babe Ruth.
(Don’t get me started on that.)
