Triumphant Return To Fenway
Ok, both former 2004 Red Sox players (Doug Mirabelli and Johnny Damon) returned to Fenway and were unable to get a hit. But, the Sox beat the Yankees for the first game of a 19-game season series with the bombers.
I’ve heard and read many things about Damon’s first at bat, and perhaps the rendition of what happened is furthest from the truth when recounted by Damon himself. There were so many boos coming through my TV set that you could barely hear applause. Personally, I didn’t think him tipping his hat was initially a gesture of gratitude as much as I thought it was the same old Johnny playing to the crowd. Did he really think tipping his helmut would quiet the Fenway Faithful?
I liked Johnny Damon when he was a Red Sox. I got more than fed-up with him this past offseason and listening to him talk about how good a Yankee he is, and how he fits what a Yankee is…
Johnny, you are a Yankee now. You played on the best Red Sox team ever assembled. That won’t be forgotten, and neither will your departure to the Evil Empire for $12mm more. Hopefully, and I expect he will, Coco Crisp becomes the player you were for your 4 years with the team — either way, I’ll still boo you 
May 2nd, 2006 at 8:09 pm
Mike, you hit this nail right on the head. I couldn’t agree more. Yes, if I were there I would have applauded his first at bat. But everyone after that I would have gave him the Bellhorn 3K boo.
I appreciate your 4 years Johnny, but you are as two faced as they come.
Here’s some good reading from SI:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/scorecard/05/01/boo.damon/index.html
And the best shirt I’ve seen so far reads:
“Looks Like Jesus; Throw Like Mary; Loyal Like Judas; Johnny B Gone”