By Jessica Camerato
CSNNE.comFollow @JCameratoNBA
BOSTON -- In a clubhouse lined with red folding chairs in front of the lockers, a single black seat stood out. It was, appropriately enough, placed under a replica championship belt and an ornate Ric Flair Nature Boy robe hanging from the ceiling.
Josh Reddick had been waiting weeks for this, a gift from a friend who works for the WWE. It was a Triple H-themed folding chair, memorabilia of Reddick's favorite wrestler, with the wrestler's face on the seat cushion.
Hes always been a guy -- I know they say its all fake -- but hes always someone Ive enjoyed watching because it looks like a passion more than just a job and an entertainment, Reddick said. He takes it really seriously even though the situations, they say, are fake.
The WWE became a topic of conversation in the Red Sox clubhouse this season when Reddick purchased Flairs autographed robe on eBay for his lockermate, Dustin Pedroia, a fellow WWE fan. The flashy extra-large garb, with the nickname Nature Boy bedazzled on the back, has become a mainstay in their quarters above Pedroias locker.
Reddick took his love for the WWE on to the field last month when he switched his at-bat music from Dropkick Murphys Cadence to Arms to Also Sprach Zarathustra, best known as the theme song from 2001: A Space Odyssey. It is also Flairs entrance music.
I never go out there trying to be too amped up, so I try not to pick something thats going to be too intense. Everything I pick Ive enjoyed hearing, he said. It clears my head more than anything.
Boston Red Sox
After a few games with the dramatic song, Reddick changed his at-bat music again. It was a song he had used in the minors leagues and had wanted to play in the majors, but was waiting for the right time -- I dont think Im ready for that yet. Its hard, its hard rock, he said earlier. With the regular season winding down, Reddick went for it and chose his wrestling idols entrance song, The Game, by Motrhead.
I like most of the wrestlers music, he said. Most of the guys that walk out in wrestling have the hard-core, head-banging kind of thing. Thats not really my taste in music, so I dont really want that to be associated with me. But thats always one that Ive enjoyed. Triple H is old fashioned and obviously hes a legend and everybody likes him, and the fans seem to get into it a little bit too.
Reddick tries to catch WWE shows whenever they come to a town nearby (he spends his offseason in Georgia) and has met a few wrestlers as well. Ive actually been like four feet away from the Undertaker, whos a big guy, he noted. While he points out differences between them and baseball players, he says they have a common objective.
They obviously can get away with being a lot bigger than the average person and apparently baby oil is a huge objective for them to come out on TV (laughs). And theyre not afraid to come out in their sliders and spandex alone, he said. But theyve got the awesome entrances with the fireworks and the videos and the music. Theyre huge entertainers and we kind of share that in common.
So if Reddick had the chance to spend a day in a wrestlers shoes, what would his persona be?
Obviously Id have to put on about 30 more pounds, he joked. I feel like Id be one of those high-flying guys that just jumps up off the ropes all the time doing all kinds of crazy flips, that kind of thing. Id be loud -- Id have to be loud. The quiet guys dont really make it a whole lot. I would probably wear the standard Speedo with kneepads and boots. Itd have to be red. Reds been my color since I dont know how long.
"But I dont think theres much room for country music in that kind of lifestyle, I havent heard anyone walk out to country music. I dont know what entrance song I would pick because usually bands make up music for wrestlers like that. I think Nickelback would be a good one.
While Reddick is focused on contributing to the Red Sox quest for a championship, he may have an opportunity to look like a pro wrestler, if only for a few hours. There is a tradition of rookies wearing costumes on their last road trip of the regular season, and the Ric Flair Nature Boy coat hanging from the ceiling in the clubhouse could be the perfect get-up.
I dont know if Im going to do it yet, but weve talked about it being my costume dress up for the last road trip, he said. I threw it out there that if I bleached my hair white, would I get to wear the robe and the belt and all that stuff? They (my teammates) said that wouldnt be a problem, so well see how that goes. At least itd be something I can have fun with and enjoy.
And its not like my first year when I wore my blue fairy outfit.
Jessica Camerato is on Twitter at http:twitter.com!JCameratoNBA