MVN: Most Valuable Network

Dear Manny,

Thank you for all of the memories you brought me in your 7 and a half years in Boston. For that time, you represented the ups

and downs of the Red Sox probably better than any player of my lifetime. You brought humor from your adventures in left

field, to the crazy hair, to petting Julian Tavarez, to your "breaks" in the Monster. Your downs exemplified why it was so

frustrating to be a Red Sox fan. You stopped playing or complained about Boston and they put you on wavers or tried to trade you (what 3, 4, 5 times?) yet you somehow kept coming back to the team, just like the rest of us. The night you became an American citizen and ran out to left field with an American flag in hand will be seared into my memory forever.

You hit those tremendous scorching line drives and tremendous home runs arching through the October Fenway air earned you an MVP award and brought us World Series glory. Red Sox fans will never forget the tumultuous roller-coaster ride that was the

Manny Ramirez show.

My only regret is that this amazing ride had to come to such an abrupt and disappointing halt. I know you were never 100% comfortable in Boston, but I truly hoped you would be able to contribute for another two months. Sadly, that was not the case and you put the team in a difficult situation. Nonetheless, I will never forget the best and most feared right handed hitter I have seen hit at Fenway.

All the best in L.A. Manny,

Tom A.

P.S. If you're looking to get rid of that Ritz-Carlton penthouse with the Fenway Park bedroom, I'd be happy to take it off your hands.