Who Is Enza Sambataro, and Why Should We Care?

Enza Sambataro may not be a household name, but she inspires a passionate response from baseball fans. She's about to marry the beloved Red Sox player Kevin Youkilis.

The Globe recently ran a light lifestyle piece about how Sambataro won't be the ordinary baseball wife. She dated Ben Affleck, she jokes about Yooooouk drinking too many margaritas, and she has a shoplifting record, around which the article danced delicately.

Adam Reilly at the Phoenix detected some details--particularly the margaritas--that imply the article was a "masterpiece of underrated snark." It raises the question--why a puff piece on Sambataro now? Why the need for a PR push?

Well, a baseball player's first love is the fans--at least the fans feel that way, and it goes double if you're talking about the Red Sox. And Sambataro has left a few fans underwhelmed. SportsbyBrooks tossed a pop quiz Youkilis' way that bolsters Reilly's argument.

Surviving Grady was more neutral and worked in a joke about Youkilis' facial hair: "Great piece in yesterday's Globe on Enza Sambataro, AKA the future Mrs. Youk, who explains in painful detail how she went from Ben Affleck to some car dealership trust fund dude to He Whose Beard Scares Children. Aim high, I always say. Aim high."

Whatever. Sambataro is going to be fun to watch. Instead of a baseball wife who doesn't talk much or plays arm candy, we have someone who might be a little entertaining.

Image from the Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids website. He and Sambataro founded the charity together.