 US - Before taking the left turn through the door into the Red Sox clubhouse, David Ortiz opened his eyes wider, smiled, let out an expletive and barged in, flipping his (Kaiman) goggles down.
Within seconds, he was in the center of a mob of mad-about-him teammates and drenched. The contents of tubs of ice water, cans of Bud Light and bottles of Brut Korbel champagne were sprayed and splashed on the team's MVP.
As hip-hop tunes blared, the team celebrated its third consecutive AL wild card title after yesterday's 10-1 walkover against the Yankees on the last day of the regular season.
In terms of mirth, merriment and overall volume, however, yesterday's postseason entry party was by far the most calm and cool of the past three years.
No cigars, no Nelson de la Rosas, no Red Sox players racing over to the Baseball Tavern to pour drinks, no one acting in a fashion that could be termed "over the top,'' a criticism heaped on some past celebrations. Still, the smiles were just as wide, the sense of accomplishment just as real. "This is just as sweet,'' said knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, the elder statesman of this team. "This never gets old, especially since it took us until our 162nd game to get here.''
Speaking with a can of beer stuck in the neck of his new blue and gray AL wild card T-shirt, Bronson Arroyo assessed the party.
"I think the celebration today is a little more subdued,'' he said. "That's not to take away from the excitement, but we ran away from the Yankees in the game and then Cleveland locked it up. I think that's why it's calmer, but these guys are as happy as ever getting into the playoffs.''
Holding a cup of cold and bubbly liquid, with a blue towel draped over his bare shoulders, Johnny Damon walked slowly through the clubhouse, looking pleased but serious.
"After playing 162 games and not knowing 'til the very last day, it's very special to know you're getting back into the playoffs,'' he said. "We have every opportunity to win more games. We have experience on our side. We're getting healthier. Eleven more wins, that's what we're shooting for.'
Curt Schilling, who is beginning his fifth postseason, celebrated like a kid. He interrupted at least one teammate's TV interview by pouring a cold beer over his head.
"You always like to look back on the past – they're always special but they don't happen a lot,'' Schilling said. "You cherish the ones you had before but you never anticipate the next one.''
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