Tag: David Ortiz

Ja Morant’s not-so-secret ties to Celtics, Boston revealed by father

Memphis Grizzlies point guard and Rookie of the Year candidate Ja Morant’s dad revealed his ties to a Celtic great.

Rookie of the Year candidate and Memphis Grizzlies point guard wunderkind Ja Morant has longstanding ties to the Boston Celtics, but before you start getting ideas in your head about getting the hyper-athletic floor general in green and white, let’s be completely clear — those ties are through his dad, Tee Morant.

Tee played professionally himself, and as a native of South Carolina, just so happened to come up with a particular flamethrower of a shooting guard who would later attend the University of Connecticut, and eventually be traded to the Celtics in 2007.

By now even casual fans likely have guessed who that sharpshooter was, none other than Banner 17 stalwart Ray Allen.

The two had played together in Dalzell, South Carolina at Allen’s alma mater, Hillcrest High.

“I was doin’ a little hoopin’ back in my days,” explained the elder Morant to Heavy.com’s Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson.

“Now don’t get it twisted, but at the same time me and the great Ray Allen; we won state championships in Sumter – Dalzell, Hillcrest you know, the greatest school ever…and my joint was pretty much sacrificing what I had and putting it into my son and making sure that he took it further than I did.”

Tee, a wing who modeled his game on his idol Dominique Wilkins, reportedly narrowly missed out on landing with an NBA roster himself, instead playing overseas until his son Ja was on the way.

Surprisingly, he didn’t see the NBA in Jesus Shuttlesworth’s future (as Ray was sometimes called), but credits that to his own sheltered background growing up in the Carolina woods.

Through Allen many years later, Morant also got to meet Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz.

“Actually, Ray was unveiling a computer lab,” explained Tee Morant. “So he invited us, and we went down there and he introduced Ja to the kids in the computer lab and we had a good time.”

“Then we went to Ray’s restaurant and ate and then after that, Ray took us to Big Papi house because Ray and Big Papi were cool. So Big Papi invited us with open arms talking with us and then Ray and Big Papi had a triangle session with Ray where they was telling him different stuff that he needs to look for, different things as far as being a leader, being a professional and all”

“That joint did me all the good,” added Morant.

While there’s little chance of the younger Morant suiting up for the Celtics any time in the near-term future, it’s still pretty cool to hear about such connections.

And while this season’s Red Sox are doing their best impression of last season’s Celtics (and then some), Morant’s story is a reminder of better times — and stronger ties — between the two New England juggernauts of yore.

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Watch: Drew Brees gets ‘a serious buzz cut’ for children’s hospital benefit

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees participated in the “Saving by Shaving” event benefiting Boston Children’s Hospital.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was a celebrity guest at the “Saving by Shaving” event benefiting Boston Children’s Hospital, where he chose to have his head shaved as part of a fundraiser that ultimately raised $7 million.

Other notable participants included Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz and Mass. Gov. Duane Baker Jr, as well as players from the New England Patriots and Boston Bruins. Brees also joined WEEI Radio for an interview before taking his spot in the barber’s chair, where he discussed his future with the Saints and shared his take on Tom Brady’s odds of re-signing with the Patriots.

Brees shared a video on Instagram of his first brush with the hair clippers, which you can see below. He’s the latest Saints player to cut his golden locks for a good cause — Thomas Morstead has regularly grown his hair out before donating it to charities working with pediatric cancer patients, while Sean Payton also shaved his head last summer to support a personal friend.

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David Ortiz weighs in on Tom Brady’s future, legacy with Patriots

If anyone understands Tom Brady’s situation, it’s Red Sox legend David Ortiz.

Tom Brady’s looming free agency decision has taken over the limelight this offseason.

After 20 years with the New England Patriots, he’s heading into the market with an open mind. He’s a legendary figure in the Boston area, bringing six Super Bowl championships and countless memories. Not many people can relate to the pressure Brady’s under in this situation, but Red Sox legend David Ortiz is one of those people.

Ortiz is a ten-time All-Star, three-time World Series champion, World Series MVP and so much more. Similar to Brady, he had a free agency decision in the later years of his career, where he ultimately decided to stay in Boson.

He weighed in on the situation while joining WEEI.com for an interview.

“I don’t want him to go anywhere. I want him to stay,” Ortiz said. “That’s my mind. But it’s up to whatever is best for him and his family. It’s not all about what people think. He has a choice what is good for him. It’s not just for people telling him what he has to do.”

Whether or not Brady’s decision will affect his legacy, Ortiz has a strong stance.

“His legacy has already been built. It’s always there,” he said. “That’s not the problem. His problem is not going to be legacy. He could go and play somewhere else for the next 10 years when he returns to New England his legacy is going to be there.

“It’s a good thing to do but you also have to look at your options. I hope he stays with the Patriots, but it’s not up to what I say. It’s his decision. Sometimes an offer at home might be a couple of million less than what you could get on the road. It’s up to you whether you think it’s worth it.”

Free agency begins on March 18 and there is a slew of teams reportedly willing to pursue Brady. His future has caused an unreal amount of speculation, and the talks around it will continue until he makes a decision.

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David Ortiz called Mike Fiers a ‘snitch’ in a misguided take on the Astros cheating scandal

Missing the point, Papi.

The Houston Astros cheated for the past three seasons, and the only reason we’re talking about it right now is because former Astros and current A’s pitcher Mike Fiers went on the record to blow the whistle about the situation.

While there were plenty of players who thanked Fiers for bringing the Astros’ cheating into light, former Red Sox great David Ortiz wasn’t as mad about the Astros’ cheating as he was about Fiers going public about the scheme when he did.

Ortiz spoke to reporters Thursday at the Red Sox spring training facility in Fort Myers, Fla., and he called Fiers a “snitch” for waiting years to speak up on Houston’s cheating.

Ortiz said:

“I’m mad at this guy, the pitcher that came out talking about it. And let me tell you why. Oh, after you make your money, after you get your ring, you decide to talk about it. Why don’t you talk about it during the season when it was going on? Why didn’t you say, ‘I don’t want to be no part of this?’ Now you look like a snitch. You know what I mean?”

Sure, Fiers could have spoken up sooner, but Ortiz absolutely knows what would have happened had Friers gone to the media about the cheating operation while a member of the Astros in 2017. He would have been shunned by the clubhouse, and he would have put his own career in jeopardy.

Fiers isn’t the villain in this story. He’s the one who forced MLB to take action. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred even admitted that Fiers’ quotes were what sparked the league’s investigation.

So, don’t be mad at Fiers for calling out cheaters — be mad at the cheaters.

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Super Bowl commercial rush with YouTube’s AdBlitz: Two spots top 30 million views

Super Bowl Sunday is here, and already a lot of eyes are on the big commercials we’ll see during tonight’s game. Two spots, in particular, are really climbing up the view count, totaling over 30 Million! As Ad Meter counts down to kickoff time, …

Super Bowl Sunday is here, and already a lot of eyes are on the big commercials we’ll see during tonight’s game. Two spots, in particular, are really climbing up the view count, totaling over 30 Million!

As Ad Meter counts down to kickoff time, let’s check in with AdBlitz, a YouTube exclusive, and see what two are rushing to the top.

Amazon: “Before Alexa”

Amazon’s “Before Alexa” ad has already been on people’s radar this week thanks to a quirky teaser that shows Ellen and Portia battling over the room temperature. Now, the full spot is out and people are heading over to YouTube to watch it—a lot of people.

AdBlitz Tally: 39,886,492 views (and counting…)

Hyundai: “Smaht Pahk”

Who doesn’t love a comical nod to the Boston accent? (Apparently, not many.) The Hyundai spot featuring Chris Evans, John Krasinski, Rachel Dratch, and David “Big Papi” Ortiz is picking up momentum and right behind Amazon’s view count.

AdBlitz Tally: 30,603,445 views (so FAH…)

Will it catch up? Make sure to check back in as we continue to cover All Things Super Bowl LIV Commercials!

Kobe Bryant tragedy ‘hit home really hard’ for David Ortiz

SportsPulse: Mackenzie Salmon sat down with David Ortiz to discuss Alex Cora being fired by the Red Sox and how the Kobe Bryant tragedy caused him to reflect on his own brush with death.

SportsPulse: Mackenzie Salmon sat down with David Ortiz to discuss Alex Cora being fired by the Red Sox and how the Kobe Bryant tragedy caused him to reflect on his own brush with death.

WATCH Hyundai unveils star-studded Super Bowl LIV ad for ‘Smaht Pahk’

Hyundai will spend 60 seconds Sunday night introducing the country to “smaht pahk.” In a star-studded, Boston-themed ad that will air during the first quarter of Super Bowl LIV and was released Monday morning, actor John Krasinski introduces the …

Hyundai will spend 60 seconds Sunday night introducing the country to “smaht pahk.”

In a star-studded, Boston-themed ad that will air during the first quarter of Super Bowl LIV and was released Monday morning, actor John Krasinski introduces the 2020 Hyundai Sonata’s “remote smart parking assist” feature as fellow celebrities Rachel Dratch, Chris Evans and David Ortiz look on.

Naturally, there’s also plenty of Boston banter along the way.

Barney Goldberg of INNOCEAN USA, the advertising agency that produced the spot, told USA TODAY Sports that the agency and Hyundai went through 344 scripts for the ad before landing on this one.

“We had a writer who has Boston roots, and he started saying ‘smart park’ in a Boston way, which would be more like ‘smaht pahk,'” said Goldberg, who is INNOCEAN’s executive creative director. “That became the beginning of the idea.”

Here’s Hyundai’s full Super Bowl LIV commercial: