Update: Ramirez Carbon Neutral Lifestyle Pays Dividends

Jul 11, 2007

UPDATE:

Long Bike Trips May Have Saved Red SoxSeason

Boston - In July when Manny Ramirez, Boston's all-star left fielder, announced he had committed to a carbon neutral lifestyle and informed the Red Sox that he would bike to the team's remaining games, many predicted a disastrous outcome. They were wrong.  

Bizarrely - is there any other way in Manny's world - all the pedaling led to injury, which led to Ramirez missing 21 consecutive games, which led to a very well-rested Manny crushing a walk-off home run in game 2 of the ALDS.

eTrueSports was one of many voices predicting Manny/Sox disaster. Alas, alack and ouch!

Original Story:

"I've been saving energy on my own for years, just ask the Sox," quipped Ramirez. "Biking's perfect for me, I don't like to run."

Sources with Boston said it was too early to determine how the decision will affect Ramirez's availability to the team for the rest of the season. The Red Sox begin an eleven-game home stand on Thursday, July 12, but then move on to Cleveland for three, games, then to Tampa. Cleveland is 552 miles from Boston and Tampa 993 miles from Cleveland.

"If anybody can do this, it's Manny," said Red Sox DH David Ortiz, in a statement that praised Ramirez's courage. "It's not easy being a true individual," added Ortiz.

Not all Ramirez's teammates were so supportive. "He's a fruitcake," said Red Sox captain Jason Varitek. "I bet the Yankees are sending him inner tubes and energy bars as we speak."

Ramirez appealed to the Red Sox Nation to embrace green principles. "I've been lobbying my teammates for years about the issues," Ramirez said. "Curt Schilling's computer now runs on biofuel and his blog is 100% recyclable. Coco Crisp recently installed solar panels over his locker. And I've asked John Henry (the club's owner) to change the team's name to the Green Sox. He said he'd seriously consider it. He drives a  Prius."

Ramirez pointed out that he's been personally close to Al Gore since they chaired a symposium at Harvard on renewable resources.

"I'm a little miffed at Al right now," Ramirez said smiling. "My cha-cha band was all set to play Live Earth at Giants Stadium but we got bumped at the last minute. I mean, who's Bon Jovi?" 

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