Vote: Which Boston Athlete Would Look Best in a Santa Suit?

by NESN Staff on Mon, Dec 24, 2012 at 6:34PM

In the spirit of the holiday season, Monday’s NESN Daily poll goes a little off from the world of strictly sports.

Being that it’s Christmas Eve and Santa Claus is preparing to make his yearly journey to deliver toys to boys and girls, we thought it’d be appropriate to ponder which Boston-area athlete might make the best imitator. You’re not soon to see any of these four shopping for a job as a mall Santa, but who knows, maybe someday they’ll get a chance to don the red suit.

Is it Kevin Garnett? With his lanky frame, Garnett might not be the first aesthetic choice for Santa, but if it actually came down to delivering gifts on a schedule, we might count on him to manage the clock. The same goes for Zdeno Chara, whose physical reputation might not make him the obvious choice, but, like Garnett, he knows how to win a world championship.

Among Boston athletes who may have a more traditional Santa Claus build, Vince Wilfork and David Ortiz immediately come to mind. Ortiz may not have quite the girth he did in 2004 and 2007, but he’s still a big guy, and his outgoing personality makes him an easy choice. Double that for Wilfork, whose big belly and cheery demeanor (off the field, anyway) would make him an excellent choice to sit in the sleigh.

So, who do you think has what it takes?