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6 things we learned from David Ortiz's Intentional Talk interview with Kevin Millar

Ortiz visits with old pal Millar on Intentional Talk

By Dakota Gardner

When you see a friend for the first time in a while, it's easy to fall right back into the same patterns and rhythms you've had in the past. It just feels effortless. And, for David Ortiz and his former Red Sox teammate Kevin Millar, that seems to be the case, too.

Ortiz went on Millar's TV show, Intentional Talk, to catch up with his fellow 2004 World Series champion and, in the process, we all learned a little bit more about this guy we call Big Papi. Here are just a few of the more enlightening revelations.

1. Millar helped turn "David Ortiz" back into "Big Papi"

In 2009, when Millar was with the Blue Jays, his club was facing the Red Sox in June. Millar had noticed Ortiz started the month slowly, and he had a theory as to why:

"He was dressed in this little -- he looked like a golfer. He had a little collared shirt. His shorts were all above his belly button. He had these -- he got out of a Toyota Corolla, he had his belt buckle really high. He had these white tube socks. I go, 'Papi, why do you dress like this!? You look just like a little guy working on a golf course! So, you need to get back to Big Papi.'"

Sure enough...

"The next day, he gets to the field in his Ferrari. He had his leather jacket and he had all the stuff on. And he went deep -- dead center -- and [Blue Jays manager] Cito Gaston looked at me and he said, because he knew the story, 'Why'd you do that, man?'"

 

2. Taking presidential selfies is just how he rolls

We know all about his selfie with President Barack Obama:

Obama

And he took another one with Dominican President Danilo Medina:

According to Big Papi, that's no surprise:

"That's how I roll!"

 

3. 50 Cent is his pregame pump-up music

Millar asked Ortiz what he listens to in order to get fired up before a game, to which Ortiz replied with a few bars of Curtis Jackson's magnum opus, "In Da Club."

While Mr. Cent's song is certainly a classic, Ortiz may want to consider switching to a hip hop star who has a bit more baseball acumen:

50Cent

 

4. While he still hits homers, there are other things that age has slowed down

Like, his metabolism.

Millar asked which Red Sox player was more dangerous at the dinner table -- Ortiz or Pablo Sandoval -- and Ortiz went with Panda. He was downright impressed, adding:

"Man, it's good to be young! Hey, look, whatever it takes to go deep, you know?"

 

5. Ortiz is flabbergasted by Rusney Castillo's hair

We are definitely big fans of Castillo's hair around here:

And, when we first saw it, our reaction was quite similar to Ortiz's: Amazement. However, Big Papi managed to offer the perfect description for Castillo's new 'do:

"It's like when you're traveling to Japan, you know, and you are like right on the middle where you can see the sun and the dark. That's what it feels like when you look at his hair."

Wow, yes, that is exactly what it looks like. Apparently Big Papi has a future as a brilliant novelist, known the world over for his evocative imagery.

 

6. Given the choice between Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, Papi would choose...

Believe it or not, Ortiz is a fan of the Green Bay Packers. His wife, Tiffany, is from the area and Papi has since adopted the team as his own. 

And so, when Millar asked him to pick which Packers legend he'd take in a must-win game, Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers, Ortiz dug deep to make his decision:

"Tom Brady!"

When you can't decide, you may as well go with your fellow Boston sports icon, I suppose.

Read More: Boston Red SoxDavid Ortiz