Johnny Ballgame: Red Sox can't replace Johnny Damon

Red Sox fans, say what you like about Johnny Damon, but he was the key to winning our first championship in 86 years. He may look like Jesus, but he's no Judas.

I love the guy, what's not to like. He runs hard, plays good defense, he's on base all the time, scores a ton of runs, steals bases, swats his fair share of homeruns, and is a great teammate. He's quite a character. He and the idiots are doing shots before playoff games! You have to respect that Florence Street crowd.

The first time I met Johnny Damon, spring training 2003, he was riding a hog, leather, dark glasses, black helmet, the works... He looked like a bad ass, but in reality, he was mild mannered and quiet. There were only a handful of people there to see him, but he was happy to talk baseball with us, and I respect him for it. He wouldn't make any promises about winning a title, but he was confident.

Grady Little did the unthinkable late that fall, but by the spring 2004, right around the same time he showed up at Lee County Sports complex to sign this baseball for my wife, I felt like the curse would finally come to an end. My wife says that when he signed the ball, he did a double take, smiled at her, and moved on to sign more autographs. Kim is a hot ticket, so why wouldn't he? I still look her up and down, and back up again. Isn't love grand =)

Anyway, after my first marriage, JD1995 was my screenname on match.com, chosen in honor of Damon's first season in major league baseball. It was our first vacation together, Kim and I, and fittingly enough, Johnny Damon was there to give Kim a souvenir. Goooaaaaaal!

Say all you want about Johnny taking the big sweet dollars from the deep pocketed Yankees, but the guy loves the game, and you can't beat that kind of player.