Five fun parts of the Hanley/Big Papi Ortiz Home Run Derby

Yahoo! Sports

Mon Jul 12 11:55pm EDT

Five fun parts of the Hanley/Big Papi Ortiz Home Run Derby

Rather than repeat the dreadfully boring aspects of the All-Star Home Run Derby — you're familiar with them already — I want to point out what was likable, or at least amusing, about David Ortiz's (notes) victory against Hanley Ramirez (notes).

1) The camaraderie between finalists Hanley Ramirez and David Ortiz seemed authentic. I'm not even talking about the Gatorade and towel Ortiz brought for Ramirez to help settle the younger man down. We've seen that before. But Ortiz was a mentor when HanRam came up through the Boston Red Sox's system. They were both pulling for each other to win — at least a little.

"David was like my dad when I was down in the minors with the Red Sox," Ramirez said. "And I love him; he's a great guy."

Ortiz responded: "Hanley's like a son to me. He grew up with us in Boston and I was all over him because I knew he had a superstar's talent. He's showing everyone that he's capable of doing what he's doing."

2) Ortiz dedicated his victory to countryman and friend Jose Lima, who died earlier this season. "Rest in peace," Ortiz said. "For you, my boy." It was sweet and from the heart.

3) ESPN's Bobby Valentine at first referred to Ortiz as "Jose Ortiz" and nobody corrected him.

4) Bo Jackson put some heat on the ceremonial first pitch.

5) Hanley Ramirez's shoes. It was like Dorothy's slippers from the "Wizard of Oz" mated with one of Craig Sager's suits. The ESPN announcers kept ranting about Ortiz's shoes — they had shock absorbers in them, or some such nonsense — but it was Hanley's shoes that stole the footwear show.

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