I love this stadium, I am the director of Florida Operations
here for the Red Sox so this has been a labor of love for me
for the last two and a half years and we are so happy to be here in our second year
and everything is working out and we're so excited to have Ablevision here
and Sullivan Tire for our biggest game of the year on St. Patrick's Day.
The Bo Sox Club is one of the oldest and largest fan clubs of all sports
and it's been around since 1967 and it was started by Don DiMaggio
and a group of older people who were actually
trying to help the Red Sox sell tickets back in 1967,
and it's been around since then, we raise money for charity
we have fifteen events every year in around Boston,
we have two events down here, and we have luncheons for the players,
it's a group of very, very, dedicated fans
that like to get together and talk about the Red Sox.
We're accepting members now we'd love to have more members
we have got about 800 members and we'll probably add at least two to 300 this year.
What is your favorite food?
Hot dogs. And sausage.
Both! Those sausages you guys have are fantastic!
Fenway Franks, always got to have Fenway Franks.
I know there's some typical foods, but last year when I was here,
I actually got to eat some crab cakes, I'm looking forward
to getting some of those Maryland crab cakes again this year.
Pizza.
A Fenway Frank of course.
Oh, with mustard and relish, definitely with mustard and relish.
You know, I like their Fenway Franks.
Yeah.
And you know, I like a veggie burger, so I'm like I got both ends of the scale
you know from a hot dog to a veggie burger.
I think there's nothing better than a Fenway Frank and a beer, what do you think?
Yeah.
I like the hot dogs, what do you like?
Definitely, a hot dog.
My favorite food?
Yeah.
A Fenway Frank, what else?
I love hot dogs!
My favorite food?
Probably hot dogs, Fenway Franks.
And you?
Gotta be the hot dog.
I just had three of them, so I guess I do.
I think it's, I have to go with the pitcher's grouper sandwich.
My favorite food?
How can you not like a Fenway Frank?
Everybody loves Fenway Franks!
Come on, everybody loves them!
My favorite food is probably sushi, you like sushi?
No.
I love sushi.
Hot dog.
How long you've been coming to the ball park?
Well, actually we were at this ball park for Opening Day when the ribbon was cut.
The inauguration.
So, we've been coming ever since and we came
to the old ball park before than so we're avid fans.
About to four to five years now, yeah.
Well, I've only been to the Red Sox Spring Training twice,
but I've been to a couple of Red Sox games in Boston.
We've been coming here but this is our fifth or six time down here to Fort Myers.
I like your outfits.
Well, we love St. Patty's Day too
so we always try to dress in the spirit.
Thank you very much and have a nice day.
It took me years to groom this.
Do you love these new players and the Red Sox?
Yeah I do, I think it's an exciting group of new players,
a lot of people with a lot to prove you know a lot of talent
but not always been on the best teams or have been always starters
right through their careers but a lot of talent and people like Mike Napoli
who have got a big bat and is an exciting player so I'm very excited
about the new group and they seem to get along really well.
What do you think about the new manager?
I'm excited, I'm excited for the season, I can't wait to see the team.
Well, you know, we seen him before and he's been pretty consistent guest
for us at the Bo Sox Club, he comes to quite a few of our luncheons
in fact he came to our first luncheon last year and he's a great guy
so I think you know, with his pitching experience in particular,
he'll help the pitchers come along which they lost a little bit of that last year
so I think it's good for the team.
Well, I'm hoping that they surprise a lot of people and come out
and start off strong and continue it through the rest of the year
so I have my fingers crossed but I'm not really sure.
Oh boy, well I liked him when he was with the pitching coach
so I think Mr. Farrell is going to do a really, really terrific job, don't you?
Well, we'll see what happens during the season, that's what we say about that.
It's going to be a good clean slate for the Red Sox,
I think we need a familiar face back here with the team,
he's going to take the Red Sox all the way this year.
I love the manager.
Yeah?
He has the same name as me, I'm John Farrell.
Oh, I think John Farrell is going to be
a great addition to the Red Sox staff this year,
he's very direct but very approachable
and I think the guys really appreciate that from their manager
and I think that we're going to have a great season.
What do you think about the stadium?
I love it!
I think it's great, it's a great new stadium, I like the old ball park,
but this is really nice too.
I like how they made it look like the original Fenway Park.
I like that if looks like a miniature Fenway,
I enjoy being here because it feels like we're actually in Boston.
I know I've never been there,
but meeting people from up there they say,
"This is almost just like it," so I enjoy it.
I love it, this is beautiful, I'm actually from New England.
Oh.
And I've been to Fenway, and I think this is very similar to what's up there.
Well, I'm really excited about the new Red Sox, Craig, because
we got a good year coming and we're really positive about this team.
I love it, it reminds me of home, at Fenway.
I never been to Fenway Park so this gives me a taste of Fenway.
This is beautiful, so happy to be here, what a treat!
Well, it's our...
It's our first time here.
Yeah, first day so we'll let you know after the game
but it looks beautiful from the outside, good food, good atmosphere.
We're excited to see it.
Yes.
What do you think about the new stadium?
The Red Sox did a beautiful job, JetBlue Park, JetBlue,
the Red Sox, everybody did a wonderful job, looking forward to sitting here,
and having a great time today.
I love this stadium, it's nice, and easy parking,
and it's a great turn out here for a game, isn't it?
The fans are really loving JetBlue Park, some of them miss City of Palms
because it was smaller and cozier and it was downtown
but I think everybody has truly embraced JetBlue Park
and everybody sees it as a much more fan friendly
in terms of the number of concession stands,
we have this great Yawkey Way-like atmosphere
with a band and entertainment
and it's like a little mini Fenway so everybody loves it.
It's beautiful, it's our second year here and you know,
it's really nice, it's a beautiful stadium.
Who's your favorite player?
I really have two, I have my heart throb which is Jacoby Ellsbury,
but I also have my hero which is Dustin Pedroia.
Oh, it's going to be Dustin Pedroia.
I don't have one, I love the whole team.
Well, I always like David Ortiz, but currently Will Middlebrooks is our favorite player.
And I love them all, all of them.
Oh, I don't know if I have a favorite one, I'll see after today how they do.
Who's yours?
Ortiz.
I like Lester.
"Big Papi" David Ortiz, I have a World Series jersey signed by him in my house.
Is that right?
I also have actual bleacher seats from Fenway Park in my house,
that was a very special World Series
my father had passed away and many years before that
his brother called me, he lived in Arizona when they won the World Series,
but my uncle was years since passed away too, he was about 83
and he called and said, "I'm calling on behalf of your father, my brother
and congratulate you," I cried like a baby.
Can I say hi to my granddaughter, Bella?
Yes.
It was just her birthday, Bella is a March Of Dimes baby
and she was born two pounds, nine ounces, seven years ago
and Bella is just learning to walk, and they're all really, really hopeful for Bella
so I just want to give a shout out to Bella.
All right.
Do you like my socks and my green headband?
Yeah. Yeah.
Do you want to ring the bell?
It used to be a Rays bell but I made a Red Sox bell.
Go for it Kunal!
Ring it, ring it hard!
(bell ring)
(cheering)
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