Sox slugger David Ortiz sworn as U.S. citizen

BOSTON - A Red Sox [team stats] Nation slugger has found a new nation to call home.

David Ortiz [stats] and 220 other immigrants became U.S. citizens today at a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston.

The 32-year-old slugger from the Dominican Republic held an American flag in one hand as he recited the Pledge of Allegiance with the other new citizens. He was joined by many members of his family, including his father, Americo, who said in Spanish afterward he was proud of his son.

Nice. Congrats Papi!

And it's never a bad time to post this picture:

F'in A! Way to go Papi!

Christopher Baxter - David Ortiz becomes US citizen

Ortiz was one of 227 immigrants who raised their right hands and took the Oath of Citizenship at the John F. Kennedy Library in Dorchester. The cast he has worn since partially tearing a tendon in his left hand did not stop him from clutching a small American flag as he spoke to a crush of reporters after the ceremony.

"My whole family, kids, and everyone have been born here," Ortiz said. "It's a great country, proud to be here, now proud to be a part of it."

Ortiz's wife, Tiffany, added: "It's a big deal for him. It's really important and I'm really proud of him."

...

Judge Gorton followed that lead when he spoke about the significance of the national anthem without mentioning Ortiz by name.

"It happens before every Red Sox game at Fenway Park here in Boston," Gorton said. "Just before the game starts, all of us are asked to stop what we are doing -- and that means the hot dog vendors, the ushers, the fans in the bleachers, the people in the owner's box, the sportswriters, the players on the opposing team, and even our heroes on the Red Sox, including the one on the disabled list who has led us to two world championships in the past four years."

Ortiz then joined the 226 other new citizens as they recited the Pledge of Allegiance, putting his large right hand over his heart, a gold ring standing out against his dark suit.

I was thinking about this the other day. It's one of my favorite, if not the favorite, non-game-related Manny Moment.
The day before the talk radio clowns were griping because he missed a game to go to the citizenship ceremony. Manny didn't think it was a big deal until the reporters started asking him about it before the game. When he came out of the dugout and ran to his position carrying the flag, the place just roared. And then he handed the flag to some guy in the rail seat in the left field corner. It was just a nice, warm spontaneous thing.
The photo was used on the cover in the year-end edition of Life magazine if i recall.


Congratulations, Papi.