Warning: More Johnny Damon Stuff (Don't Read if You're Sick of It)

I've been reading a lot in the papers and hearing a lot on the radio about the great debate over booing and cheering. Even this morning, the day after Johnny's chilly reception. I never really thought that this necessitated so much planning. To me, it's a no-brainer. You're a Yankee now, you get a boo. Since when did we start making all sorts of exceptions?

I would have preferred the silent treatment, or maybe the 180 stance, where everyone just gets up and turns backwards. But, it was totally impractical, I know.

Johnny, if baseball is such a "business," why are you expecting adoration? You want us to turn off the "business" aspect of it when it comes to loving you, but turn it back on again when we think of your motivation to leave us? You chose money over love. You chose the enemy. We made none of these choices for you. Some of us sat back and mentally pleaded with the fates during your short-lived free agency, hoping and praying that an agreement would be reached with our club. But, then the unthinkable happened. And for me, it felt like a huge fucking smack upside my head. You drew blood, and then, in the off season, you insulted me with your crocodile tears and poured salt on the wound with all of your smack talk in New York. And now you want me to come to the park with a bouquet of flowers in one hand and Godiva fucking chocolates in the other?

You want us to believe that the Sox weren't showing you any respect because they weren't wooing you and rolling out the red carpet while digging deep into their pockets and begging you with fistfuls of dollars and lint. Do you honestly think that Steinbrenner was that obsessed with you and ordered his cronies to pull out all the stops to sign you? Truth be told, Steinbrenner can throw more money your way because he has more money to throw. He's got waste money in his reserve so that he's protected if your shoulder gives or you don't deliver as expected. The Sox don't have this luxury. And they gave you a handsome deal anyway. On top of it, your jackass agent didn't give the Sox an opportunity to counteroffer. So, basically, all the doors were slammed shut and you went ahead and took the Yankee deal (1) for the cash and (2) for spite. Because big important Johnny Damon was not fussed over by a front office that was trying to keep its head above water in the absence of a general manager.

I know why you're so hurt over this. It's a classic case of being sore when things don't go your way. Sort of like the way I reacted to your signing with them. One of the main differences, though, is I am not rich and therefore, I am used to not getting my way a lot. You live in a fantasy land of muscles and boobs and expensive cars and puppies and kittens and little birdies. I guess you'll have to be a man now, Johnny, and deal with the scorn of the people who once loved you.