When someone in a seat behind you pulls out a trumpet and begins loudly playing merengue, prompting dozens of passengers to rise from their seats and dance as your plane sits on a runway at J.F.K. Airport, it’s a clue that this reporting trip may not be like the others.
It was December 2004 and I thought I was headed for a quick, easy trip to the Dominican Republic to interview Pedro Martinez, the dazzling pitcher who had just signed with the Mets. After helping the Boston Red Sox win their first World Series title in 86 years, he agreed to inflict his unique style of torture on batters by often outsmarting them instead of overpowering them and to share his uncommon wit and insight in yet another big city.