From buxom blondes to Pedro's long-ago daddy

As the World Series gets rolling – and five hours ago I wouldn’t have given you a nickel’s chances that the game would start on time – the biggest story is not Pedro Martinez getting the second game start for the Phillies against the Yankees, but that “buxom blonde’’ who got busted in Philadelphia for offering sex for World Series tickets.

    The latest today is that her older, less attractive sister tried the same thing and only ended up with Maple Leaf tickets.

    Oh, wait. Is that Maple Leaf joke thing still going on?

    It isn’t? Then never mind.

    We were talking about Pedro Martinez, who was thoughtful and insightful at his press conference earlier this evening, talking about coming back to Yankee Stadium (or at least the new one) with his famous “Who’s your daddy?’’ reference from the 2003 playoffs never to be forgotten.

    “I might be at times the most influential player that ever stepped into Yankee Stadium. I can honestly say that,’’ he said. “For some reason, with all the hype and different players that have passed by, maybe because I played for the Red Sox, you guys make it such a big deal every time I come in. But I have a good bond with the people. After playing in New York, I realize something: New York fans are very passionate and very aggressive.

    “I have all the respect in the world for the way they enjoy being fans,’’ he went on. “Sometimes they might be giving you the middle finger, just like they will be cursing you and telling you what colour underwear you’re wearing. All those things you can hear. But at the end of the day, they’re just great fans who want to see the team win. I don’t have any problem with that.’’

    What about that quote, he one he referenced himself when he signed with Philadelphia?

    “It reminds me that God is my daddy. It gives me strength. It keeps me strong and healthy,’’ he said. “When you have 60,000 people chanting your name, waiting for you to throw the ball, you have to consider yourself someone special, someone that really has a purpose out there.

    “Maybe when I said that quote, out of frustration, I had the purpose of maybe hearing it now, hearing it the following few years that I played,’’ Martinez said. “Every time I hear it, it reminds me not to make the same mistake.’’

    He has come to terms with his past in this building, or at least the one across the street. But he’ll hear the chant again Thursday night, no doubt about it.