Forty-two year old Omar Vizquel has already compiled three All-Star appearances, 11 Gold Gloves, is the all-time leader in double-plays while playing shortstop and this past summer, he recently held an 11-foot anaconda by its head.
But apparently that’s not enough because Omar also wants to play at least one more season and also become a bullfighter, you know, for fun.
“Just go and learn the basics and stuff,” Vizquel said. “It’s one of my things on the to-do list. There’s a lot of things still to do.”
There are few players who can match Vizquel’s offseason pursuits. Among the other adventures he hopes for: parachuting, flying in an F-16 jet and attending all three Triple Crown horse races.Last winter, Vizquel and some buddies went to a wildlife refuge in Venezuela in the search for anaconda and to view other wildlife as well. About four hours into their trip, they found their snake.
In a video that Vizquel shared in the Rangers clubhouse during spring training, the group’s guide stepped into shallow water to grab an 11-foot anaconda by the tail and pulled it onto dry land.
The 5-foot-9 Vizquel was all smiles when he got his chance to take the agitated nonvenomous snake by the tail, and he eventually held the head of the snake, its mouth opened wide and its body coiling. The anaconda was released unharmed.
“Anacondas already done, that’s a dream I’ve already conquered,” Vizquel said.
Now, it’s time for the toros.
“Bullfighting? You are the most interesting man in the world,” Chris Davis, his 23-year-old teammate, said after overhearing the latest plans.
As Chris Davis some amply points out, they’re going to have to replace the Dos Equis guy with Vizquel, because Omar is clearly the most interesting man in the world.
Stay thirsty, Omar…stay thirsty.
