Fanatics Fest is to esports what Comic Con is to pop culture – an electrifying celebration of all things sports. This idea came to Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin when he walked into Comic-Con and was overwhelmed by its sheer size and energy. He thought why not do the same for esports and wanted to create the best convention in the world. And he did it! Rubin literally called the guy who ran Comic Con in New York to organize Fanatics Festival for him!
This year, some of the biggest names are in attendance, but the spotlight was clearly on two icons: Deter Jeter and David Ortiz. The duo even managed to draw a crowd that was over the moon with excitement to see the stars on stage together. However, this is no big surprise for these baseball giants. What really stunned Jeter and Ortiz was the surprise that WWE had in store for them. The former New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox stars were each gifted a custom-made WWE Championship belt, a tradition started by none other than Triple H!
Derek Jeter and David Ortiz receive individual gifts from WWE
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At the first Fanatics Fest in New York City, WWE honored two of its most revered names with their iconic WWE title belts. This tradition has been going on for 11 years now and was first started by Triple H. He began sending special title belts to teams when they won a championship and it has continued to this day.
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Derek Jeter received a stunning custom belt from WWE with blue and silver accents and intricate Yankees detailing. They also gifted Jeter’s longtime rival and now friend David Ortiz a strikingly beautiful Red Sox belt with red and gold detailing. And no wonder. After all, there are few players as iconic as them! Jeter spent two decades of his playing career with the New York Yankees. He is the team’s all-time leader with 3,465 hits and won five World Series titles. It’s not hard to imagine why he is one of the most popular athletes in New York sports history.
The same goes for David Ortiz, who became a towering figure in Boston and played a crucial role in ending the team’s 86-year World Series drought in 2004! He was so popular that everyone “Big Daddy” and later even won championships in 2007 and 2013. While the belts were incredible, the onstage conversations between once bitter rivals David Ortiz and Jeter were even more interesting.
Jeter and Ortiz playfully exchange taunts
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Deter Jeter and David Ortiz may have once been bitter rivals, but it seems there is no bad blood anymore. At Fanatics Fest, the duo were seen sharing humorous banter with each other, with Jeter hinting that Ortiz wanted to play for his arch-nemesis! Ryan Clark, the ESPN analyst, kicked off the conversation about “character matters” by asking Ortiz what it was like to have found his place in Boston and become one of the city’s biggest icons. But before Ortiz could even answer, Derek Jeter made a more playful remark.
With a grin on his face, Derek Jeter said: “Before you go, tell them who you wanted to play for,” which suggests that Ortiz actually wanted to play for the Yankees and not the Red Sox! To which Ortiz replied: “They have completely twisted the story,” and the crowd that had previously booed Jeter for that comment was now all laughing! But David Ortiz certainly wanted to be with the Red Sox – after all, he spent 20 MLB seasons in Boston after joining them in 2003. The conversation was far from over, however, as Ortiz joked and talked about his conversation with Derek Jeter last year.
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David Ortiz said: “I remember saying to Derek last year, “Man, when I look at the Yankees, I don’t see the chemistry between the team that I had when you guys were there.” Ouch! That certainly hurt Jeter, but hey, he started it! Of course, Ortiz softened the blow by giving his old rival a little praise. The Red Sox star praised the Yankees team this year, saying: “This year I see a different Yankees team. I see the chemistry. That kid Soto, man… I’m telling you.”
The duo’s banter and lightheartedness made it clear that the respect runs deep and the rivalry is limited to the pitch. What’s your opinion? Share it in the comments below.
