I thought you all would enjoy this great article about Manny that was in
yesterday's Boston Herald. All I can say is, I wish I was on that flight!!


He's a charmer: Away from game, Manny connects
By Karen Guregian

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS -- These days, not many people get up-close-and-personal time with
Manny Ramirez, outside of his family, friends and teammates. That’s simply how
the Red Sox slugger prefers it.


A small glimpse inside his life yesterday morning, however, revealed a
playful, kind, humorous, and charming Manny who was more than willing to engage
in conversation and sign a few autographs for fans at Logan Airport, as well as
those who happened to be on his 8 a.m. Northwest flight to Minneapolis.


Imagine the shock and delight of those milling around Terminal E at the
airport, along with those seated in the plane, when Ramirez ambled in, dressed
in jeans and a tangerine-colored T-shirt, his famous do-rag covering his black
and copper dread locks, a moss-green leather bag strapped over his shoulder.


Many Sox fans seated throughout the plane couldn’t get on their cell phones
fast enough, calling friends to exhort: "You’ll never guess who’s on this
flight!"

While he has sworn off talking to the media this year, a solo Ramirez was
willing to chat it up with fans, including the man sitting next to him in first
class on the three-hour flight.


In between taking a nap, reading the car magazine he bought for the trip and
signing autographs -- the stewardess nabbed one for her son -- Ramirez took the
time to swap stories with the passenger next door.


"He was a normal guy, just hanging out," said Bill Barton of Harvard, a Sox
fan traveling to the Twin Cities on business. "No, I wasn’t expecting to see him
on this flight, especially sitting next to me. But he told me he wanted to spend
time with his family last night instead of coming with the team."


Barton didn’t have any problem with that, and neither do the Sox, who allow
their players, especially the stars, to travel when they want particularly if
there’s an off day involved.


Come at him with a notebook and tape recorder and Ramirez takes a hike or
politely declines, as he did yesterday when asked for an interview.


He went the talking route one year, opening up to the media after being
spurred on by Kevin Millar and David Ortiz, but he says he is much more
comfortable without having to deal with the daily onslaught of scribes.


And, yes, he’s having a better time without the hassle. On the field, he may
have started slowly at the plate, but his power numbers are certainly coming
around.

As Barton found out, if you sit down for a casual chat with Ramirez, he’s warm
and friendly, and contrary to speculation, seems happy and content to still be
in Boston. He’ll proudly talk about his kids, especially how much his eldest son
Manny enjoys baseball.


While he shuns the media, he certainly wasn’t shirking his duty as a public
figure and one of the Red Sox’ most popular players yesterday.


"He’s a real nice guy," Barton said. "We talked about travel, different
places, food. Every time someone asked for an autograph, he gave it to them."

Barton has two young daughters who both play baseball. The Barton family was
at the Sox game Friday night against Texas.


Did he talk shop with Manny?


"No, I figure he gets that all the time," Barton answered. "I tried to be
respectful of his time."


Other fans casually asked questions at the airport while getting signatures on
anything they could scrounge up. One fan hoped Manny would get a home run
against Twins lefty Johan Santana last night.


"One? Why not two?" Ramirez playfully shot back at the fan.


He offered the same response for another fan who hoped he would hit a homer
against former teammate Pedro Martinez later this month when the Mets visit
Fenway.


Ramirez was smiling as he walked off the plane, saying goodbye to people as he
left. He then promptly stopped at a fast-food Chinese takeout, still in the
airport.

When asked by one passerby why he would go there, Ramirez, who was signed to a
whopping $160 million contract by Dan Duquette in 2001, cracked: "It’s all I can
afford on my budget."

Guess you can file that one under, Manny being Manny.

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