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Fearless

(18,421 posts)
Tue Feb 25, 2014, 03:15 AM Feb 2014

Red Sox: David Ortiz is OK with gay

FORT MYERS — If an openly gay player emerges on the Red Sox this season, it’s possible that the late mother of David Ortiz will have played a role in creating a welcoming environment.

Ortiz, speaking yesterday about having an openly gay teammate, said that his mother, Angela, taught him a valuable lesson about acceptance. He talked of having a childhood friend, who, he said, “we all knew, when he was 13, that he was gay. And he was always talking to my mother, telling her everything. They were close. And it was my mother who taught me to love people for who they are. That’s what she told me.”

These words from Ortiz, perhaps the most popular player in Major League Baseball, were delivered just one morning after Jason Collins of the Brooklyn Nets broke the “gay barrier” by becoming the first out athlete to play in any of the four North American major sports leagues..

“I have gay friends and we have great relationships when it comes down to respecting each other,” he said. “It’s not something you choose to be. It’s not like, ‘I want to be a baseball player,’ or, ‘I want to be a basketball player.’ It’s something you’re born with and everybody needs to accept that. Hey, look, the way I see things, I love people the way they are. Especially if you are honest with yourself. You know what I’m saying? It’s the (expletive) 21st century man. Get over it.”

http://bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox_mlb/boston_red_sox/2014/02/david_ortiz_is_ok_with_gay

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Support from perhaps the highest profile MLB player to date!

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Red Sox: David Ortiz is OK with gay (Original Post) Fearless Feb 2014 OP
Just Brilliant! Cha Feb 2014 #1
That's why we love Big Papi!! edbermac Feb 2014 #2
Kick, kick, kick!!! Heidi Feb 2014 #3
PAPIIII chollybocker Feb 2014 #4
David Ortiz! sheshe2 Feb 2014 #5
And he hits it out of the ballpark. merrily Feb 2014 #6
HE HITS, HE SCORES Skittles Feb 2014 #7
K&R Borchkins Feb 2014 #8
I love big Papi <3 Marrah_G Feb 2014 #9
Love that he said this. As far as "loving Red Sox players..." stevenleser Feb 2014 #10
"Get over it" Agschmid Feb 2014 #11
This Cubs fan loves Big Papi! GoCubsGo Feb 2014 #12
Love me some Big Papi mindfulNJ Feb 2014 #13
class act! (n/t) MissMillie Feb 2014 #14

GoCubsGo

(32,084 posts)
12. This Cubs fan loves Big Papi!
Tue Feb 25, 2014, 09:28 AM
Feb 2014

Well said, and I think that coming from him, it will go a long a long way to change at least a few attitudes.

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