That's Amore! Francisco Cervelli Becomes "Love Doctor" For Pirates' Fans
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli doesn't hit many homeruns, but he has become one with the fans.
And, this season, at PNC Park, he has hit it out of the park with a new Jumbotron segment that is all about love at the ball park.
Cervelli made headlines last week after signing a new three-year extension with the Pirates for $31 million. The new contract comes after a breakout season last year when he made people forget about the loss of Russell Martin.
Cervelli instantly became a fan favorite, especially with the ladies.
His heritage, part Venezuelan and part Italian, explains his choice for walkup music when he comes to bat. "That's Amore" by Dean Martin plays every time he walks up to the plate.
KDKA's Bob Pompeani: "Are you a romantic at heart?"
Cervelli: "Oh yeah, every day, every single day."
It was Cervelli's accent, his passion, and his love for life that gave Matt Zidik, the Pirates in-game entertainment producer, and his staff the idea for a relationship advice segment. They take questions on Twitter.
"I approached Francisco at PirateFest," said Zidik. "I said, 'Here's what we have in mind, do you want to do this?' He said, 'Absolutely, sounds like fun."
WEB EXTRA: Watch Bob Pompeani's full interview with Francisco Cervelli here:
And it has been just that, complete with smoking robe, a rose, and plenty of advice.
In one of the segments, a fan asks: "I was on date with a guy who wouldn't stop looking at his phone during dinner. How would you handle the situation?"
Cervelli says: "Well, in the middle of the dinner, you can just go home."
So, is the Pirates catcher a modern-day "Love Doctor?"
Pompeani: "Do you like being the 'Love Doctor?'"
Cervelli: "Oh no, no, just want to make people have a good time. If you don't think it's good, don't listen too much!"
But Cervelli has even more advice.
Pompeani: "If I had to breakup with a date, do I do it by text, email or in person?"
Cervelli: "I got that answer already. Got to be in person, can't be on text, email. It must be in person. Be a man."
Pompeani: "Some guys don't like to admit they are emotional. Do you think that's a good quality to cry and show emotion?"
Cervelli: "It's a good thing to just reset and go."
Pompeani: "You had to cry when you got that $31 million contract? I'd cry over that."
Cervelli: "Yes, yes, I did cry. I cried with my mom and my dad. That's the truth. It's a moment that I never see in my life."
He even has advice for dealing with the mother-in-law.
"My friend, you got to be good with your mother-in-law," he says. "That's the only way you can survive bro."
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
Finally, what about special ringtones for your other half?
Pompeani: "Some guy out there might want to have a special ringtone for his special girl. Some guys might laugh at that. Should you have a special ringtone for your girl?"
Cervelli: "Yeah, why not? Anything for her my friend. Because if your not gonna do it, somebody else is gonna do it."
Pompeani: "What would be your ringtone?"
Cervelli: "'That's Amore.' When she call, that's it. She make me go to the moon."
