ANALYSIS/OPINION:
The outpouring of emotion for David Ortiz following the shooting of the former major league baseball star in the Dominican Republic was a reminder, or a lesson, in case we needed one, about how much a sports star can come to mean to a city.
Ortiz may be the most beloved sports figure in Boston history — remarkable considering some of the icons who have played there.
Ted Williams? The Red Sox outfielder was revered and admired as perhaps the greatest hitter in baseball history, and a war hero to boot. But Williams had a contentious relationship with Boston fans when he played and didn’t connect emotionally until long after his career was over.