The 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver may not be about the sport of baseball, but that hasn't kept the Boston Red Sox from becoming a theme of the competition. No, snow baseball isn't the latest Olympic sport. Instead, some of the athletes on Team U.S.A. are such die-hard Red Sox fans that they have decided to make their fandom a part of their Olympic experience.
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard team features two such fans, both competing in the Freestyle Skiing Moguls competition: Hannah Kearney and Michael Morse. Both are part of the Red Sox Nation and have displayed their love for the team during the Olympics.
Hannah Kearney went further than just participating in the Olympics, as she walked away with the gold medal in the Women's Freestyle Skiing Moguls. Her win marked the first U.S. gold medal of this Olympic Games. She was joined on the podium by Canadian Jennifer Heil (silver) and fellow American Shannon Bahrke (Bronze). The win was especially sweet for Kearney in light of her performance at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. She was a favorite heading into that competition, but had a rough go and didn't even qualify for the finals, finishing 22nd. Her Red Sox Nation moment came during the opening ceremonies, as Kearney revealed she wore a Jacoby Ellsbury shirt during the opening ceremonies under her Team U.S.A. gear.
Although he didn't medal, Michael Morse's appearance at the Olympics was a type of redemption as well. He narrowly failed to qualify for the 2006 Olympics, and suffered a debilitating back injury not long after. He fought back from the injury to qualify for the Olympics and finished 15th in the Men's Freestyle Skiing Moguls. The Duxbury, Mass. native has been a top competitor at events in the past, including the 2009 World Cup. His Red Sox passion was unmistakable at the Olympic Games, as he sported a Red Sox belt buckle on his Team U.S.A. ski pants. According to The Bostonist, Morse also had the unforgettable experience of throwing out the first pitch of a Red Sox game in May of 2008.
The Rex Sox are making headlines themselves, thanks to a certain catcher and pitcher. Catcher Victor Martinez has been in the news lately as he has been voicing his desire to sign a contract extension. He has one year left on his contract and would like to remain in Boston. According to ESPN, he is set to make $7.7 million next season and could be due for a raise in his next contract. He also showed his value as a team player by stating he wouldn't be talking about the contract during the season if the details aren't hammered out before then. Prior to his time with the Red Sox, the All-Star had a long run with the Cleveland Indians.
Also making the news is right-handed pitcher Gaby Hernandez. The Red Sox claimed Hernandez off of waivers from Seattle, and the 23-year-old has been rising in the minor league ranks over the years. Boston Red Sox tickets are sure to sell fast this season, and they can be found online.
by Brent Warnken
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