Now he makes his return to Boston on Thursday, May 27. Only this time, he’ll be wearing a suit instead of a uniform and wield a microphone instead of a glove as the newest Red Sox analyst for NESN.
In order to get ready for the next great quote Millar will at some point spout, here’s a list of some of his previous best:
“Cowboy up.”
When Millar arrived in Boston in 2003, he was nothing more than a country boy transplant that actually grew up in L.A. His now famous “Cowboy Up” rally cry originated from his four years at Lamar University outside of Beaumont, Texas. The rodeo term galvanized the Sox and helped them to Game 7 of the ALCS against the Yankees in 2003. A year later, Millar called the team “idiots” en route to a World Series victory. He’s never short on the pep talks.
“Don’t let us win tonight. This is a big game. They’ve got to win because if we win, we’ve got Pedro [Martinez] coming back today, and then [Curt] Schilling will pitch Game 6, and then you can take that fraud stuff and put it to bed. Don’t let the Sox win this game.”
Millar revealed his inner sage before Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees. After the Red Sox lost the first three games, they faced an assumed sweep at the hands of their hated rivals. But Millar, ever the optimist, simply noted that the Yanks could not afford to lose that game. Later that night, with victory almost assured for the Yankees, Millar drew a walk off the great Mariano Rivera and was replaced by pinch runner Dave Roberts. The rest is history.
“I wasn’t told I was on the bench today. I didn’t know that was the situation. I didn’t know they traded for [Doug Mientkiewicz] to be the everyday first baseman. I wasn’t told that. Once we got him, it was like, maybe I’ll play some right field against righties and first base against lefties, and here we are. El bencho today.”
Millar was not quite thrilled at the idea of having to share playing time at first base in 2004, but at least he managed to get a laugh out of it, and for what it’s worth, “El Bencho” didn’t end up riding the pine off into the sunset that year.
“Rally Karaoke Guy”
So this is not exactly a quote, but when a man is readily up for embarrassing himself in front of 36,000- plus people a night, it needs a mention. The video, which made an occasional appearance on the Fenway Jumbotron, ended up being nice spoof of Anaheim’s “Rally Monkey.” Also, laughing at bad karaoke is never a bad thing.
“I’m going to break him in a little bit, and we’re going to bring The Edge to this club — that edge this team needs.”
After three seasons with the Red Sox, Millar moved his class clown attitude south to Baltimore. First order of business? Convincing 60-year-old pitching coach Leo Mazzone to get his first tattoo. According to Millar, it did not take much convincing. Next thing they knew, Mazzone was sporting a new tattoo on his left shoulder commemorating his 14 consecutive playoff appearances with his former team, the Atlanta Braves.
What are your favorite Millar quotes? Share them below.
