I have recently been confronted with a quandary like no other. It cannot fully be recognized without a little background information though. I really dislike Johnny Damon. I write this in no way to discount my dislike for Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz or Pedro Martinez, but I really cannot stand Johnny Damon. The reason for this dates back to one of the more humbling experiences of my 22-year existence.
As my beloved New York Yankees rolled to a 3-0 lead against the perennially and pathetically cursed Red Sox, I just could not hold my tongue. I have a few friends who love the Red Sox, and a few who I am pretty sure just root for the Red Sox to spite me, but I did not discriminate. I made sure all of them knew whose team was about to cruise into the World Series and lock up its 27th world series title. Oops.
By now everyone knows what happened and enough Red Sox fans have reminded me with brutal frequency that I really would rather not relive the exact details. Plain and simple, the Yankees became the first team to choke a 3-0 series lead in Major League history. The Red Sox finally broke their curse, swept a Cardinals team that forgot to actually show up for the World Series and won their first championship in 86 years. Congratulations, we’ll see you all again in 2090, Sorry, I just had to throw that in.
How does this all relate to Johnny Damon? There is the obvious reason that he was a part of the 2004 Red Sox, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Damon was not only on the team, he was the face of the team. Fully bearded and apparently having missed appointments with his barber for the two years prior, Damon stood for everything the Yankees were not and everything Boston needed to take down the “Evil Empire.” Add to that the fact that he absolutely killed the Yankees both at the plate and in center field in the deciding final games of the series, including two home runs in the clinching game, and you have a man tailor-made for my enemy list.
There were better players on that Boston team. Ortiz continues to be one of the best clutch hitters in baseball. Manny and Pedro are sure first-ballot Hall of Famers. But, it was the annoying little center fielder who was the spark plug that made the team work. He helped pass along the phrase echoed throughout the country for its apparent hilarity, “the idiots,” when describing himself and his teammates. Heck, he even wrote a book about himself and his role in finally bringing a title back to Beantown. The title of this momentous literary achievement? You guessed it. “Idiot.” Original, I know.
Clearly, I am not a big fan of this guy; he made me eat more crow than I ever thought humanly possible. Therein lies the dilemma. On Dec. 21, Johnny Damon signed to play center field for the New York Yankees. The beard is gone and the hair is trimmed in accordance with owner George Steinbrenner’s team rules. There is Johnny frickin’ Damon sitting next to Yankee manager Joe Torre and general manager Brian Cashman proclaiming his desire to bring a title back to New York. I had absolutely no idea what to do.
After a few weeks of deep thought, debate with my father, the man who bred me to be the fan I am today, and some careful reflection in front of my Derek Jeter bobble head, I have figured out my course of action. First and foremost, I will continue to dislike Johnny Damon. He was responsible for some of the worst ridicule I have ever received; thus, he will not be forgiven.
Second, when he is at bat, I will not cheer for Damon but instead for the Yankees as a whole. Therefore, if Damon is successful, I am not cheering for him but instead for the Yankee team concept. Finally, no matter what, I will always maintain that whatever the Yankees do in the upcoming season, they could have done without Johnny Damon, and they just signed him out of pure spite for the Red Sox. Oh, and Johnny? Go out and have the best year of your career because that would be just fantastic for the Yankees’ World Series chances.
Phil Mattingly is a senior in English. He believes Yankees and Red Sox fans should unite in their dislike for Johnny Damon because he is now a traitor and everyone should hate him. He can be reached at [email protected].
