Johnny Damon Profiled by Stephen Rodrick In New York Magazine

[SoCal Pinstriper]

Stephen Rodrick presents Damon in a very positive light (while taking plenty of shots at the Yankees) in this New York profile.


Although the Yankees expect their new center-fielder and leadoff hitter to chase down fly balls that the rapidly calcifying Bernie Williams can no longer reach; bat, say, a crisp .300; score 110 runs; and steal twenty bases, Damon is also charged with jazzing up a team that features six possible Hall of Famers but not one soul likely to threaten Yogi for Most Lovable Yankee. Last year, the Yankees got off to a disastrous start and were without four-fifths of their opening-day starting rotation at one point or another, but their fatal flaw was that they played—how to phrase this elegantly?—like they had sticks up their asses. A team that recently boasted a gouty, brawling David Wells, wearing the Babe’s cap, and an erudite but crabby Paul O’Neill, who might go mental after a strikeout and dismantle a Gatorade cooler, is now made up primarily of exquisitely talented drones who play without joy and buckle under the weight of great expectations.

http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Johnny+%28Idiot%29+Damon+Is+the+Yankees%27+Most+Likable+Savior+In+Years+--+New+York+Magazine&expire=&urlID=17696598&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newyorkmetro.com%2Fnews%2Fsports%2F16528%2F&partnerID=73272

[destelle]

Thanks for posting - that was pretty humorous. I do think Johnny will help 'loosen up' the Yanks a bit. Whether that's a good thing or bad thing remains to be seen. ;)
My fav part of the article was when he said his wife wants to put a swing in their apartment b/c they are married and they need to keep things interesting.:lol:

[stephsamps]

Stephen Rodrick presents Damon in a very positive light (while taking plenty of shots at the Yankees) in this New York profile.



http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Johnny+%28Idiot%29+Damon+Is+the+Yankees%27+Most+Likable+Savior+In+Years+--+New+York+Magazine&expire=&urlID=17696598&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newyorkmetro.com%2Fnews%2Fsports%2F16528%2F&partnerID=73272

Thats the thing I hate about when a new guy joins the team. Reporters feel the need to tell you that the other guys suck. I read the article last night (loved his dialogue with AROD about his chair!) but thought it was another instance of a non-sportswriter trying to be cool writing about a baseball player. Johnny definitely is a character though!

[silverdsl]

I thought it was a pretty interesting article. I'm interested to see how Damon is going to effect the dynamics in the clubhouse and also how the fans are going to react to him. He may make more off-the-field headlines than what fans are used to from recent Yankees.

[BTK51]

I... He may make more off-the-field headlines than what fans are used to from recent Yankees.
That might not be a bad thing though. I see it being much like the situation w/ Wells except Damon won't be as obnoxious and alienate teamates. Wells did his thing and noone made much of it till he got beat up onemorning in a diner.

[donniesrecordholdsup]

i actuaally agree with that criticism of the yankees though. they are way too business like and way too concerned with being "classy". they dont grind out wins anymore. they have to throughly outplay other teams to win. especially vs the red sox.

that dynasty team was not business like. im not saying they were the 04 sox or 01 oakland a's but they werent business like. and they also would fight back if a team tried to bully them. but there is a lot of revisionist history and people act like this team was this robot like during the dynasty.

[Rich]

Damon will likely be very good in year one and two. The question is how long he can produce at his current level.

[Sam18]

Clearly the Yankees have no fun at all. And guys like Mo and Bernie are really hard to root for. What bullsh*t article.