David Ortiz Won’t Get In Trouble From FCC For On-Air Curse
David Ortiz was overcome with emotion when speaking to the Boston crowd in the first home game since Monday’s bombing and frantic manhunt, so the FCC is going to give him a pass for his on-air curse.
Ortiz spoke as part of a ceremony at Fenway Park before the team’s game on Saturday. The team honored the governor, mayor, and the law enforcement officials who spent much of the week working 18-hour shifts to search for the Boston Marathon bombers.
The ceremony included a video tribute set to the Jeff Buckley song “Hallelujah,” with ceremonial first pitches and a national anthem that had the entire crowd singing along.
With the team wearing special white jerseys with “BOSTON” sewn across the chest, Ortiz addressed the crowd before the contest against the Kansas City Royals began.
David Ortiz delivered an emotional and unrestrained speech, saying:
“This jersey that we’re wearing today it doesn’t say ‘Red Sox.’ It says, ‘Boston.’ We want to thank you for you, Mayor Menino, Governor Patrick, the whole police department, for the great job that they did this past week. This is our f***ing city. And nobody is going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong.”
Though there was a sense of relief and celebration, security remained high for the game. Extra law enforcement officials were on hand, and men in military fatigues swept the locker rooms before the game.
“This is a city that will count on us, and I understand that,” Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino said before the game, via The Associated Press. “You might not see smiles on people’s faces, but you understand this is a trying time. This is a time for people in the city to embrace themselves and to go out there and be a part of that for this city.”
In past years, the FCC would have doled out punishment, as on-air curses have netted $1 million fines for networks. But for David Ortiz, the FCC let it slide.
“David Ortiz spoke from the heart at today’s Red Sox game. I stand with Big Papi and the people of Boston – Julius,” FCC chairman Julius Genachowski wrote on Twitter.
