There’s still no love lost between two Hall of Fame rivals.
While appearing at the opening day of Fanatics Fest inside New York City’s Javits Center, Derek Jeter and David Ortiz joked with one another about the Red Sox legend seemingly wanting to play for his bitter nemesis.
ESPN analyst and conversation moderator Ryan Clark began the “Character Counts” conversation by asking Ortiz what it felt like to “find your place in Boston, and really become one of the icons of that city.”
“Before you go, tell them who you wanted to play for,” Jeter barbed as the crowd booed, inferring that Ortiz seemingly spurned the Yankees. “See, I’ve gotten to know him over the last couple years.”
“You’ve got the story all twisted,” Ortiz said, inducing laughs from Jeter and Clark.
After playing the first six years of his pro career in Minnesota, Ortiz signed with the Red Sox in 2003, where he spent the remainder of his 20 MLB seasons.
The two Fox Sports personalities have regularly teased one another over the years about their long-standing divisional battles, with Jeter playing his entire 20-year career in pinstripes and Ortiz enjoying 14 years in Beantown.
Ortiz even chimed in on the current state of the Yankees, adding some Fenway flavor.
“I remember telling Derek last year… ‘Man, when I watch the Yankees, I don’t see the chemistry with the team that I used to when you guys were there,” Ortiz said. “This year, I see a different Yankees team. I see the chemistry. That boy [Juan] Soto, man…I’m telling you.”
Other on-stage discussions at opening day of the inaugural Fanatics Fest included a live taping of “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith, as well as a recording of “The Pivot” podcast featuring Clark, Roger Goodell, Rob Gronkowski, Robert Kraft and Dana White.
On the diamond, Jeter’s Yankees currently sit at 72-50, tied for first place in the AL East, while the Red Sox are 2 ½ games back of the final AL wild card at 63-57.
