The harsh reality of booing Johnny Damon
Red Sox Nation booed Johnny Damon at every opportunity last night. Yes, Damon took the extra 12 million, but professional athletics is a business and that includes the teams as well. Sox Nation forfeited the right to boo Damon when the Red Sox traded away Bronson Arroyo. Arroyo played the sucker, signed for a hometown discount because he wanted to stay in Boston, and the Sox immediately traded him. I guess loyalty is a one-way street because I missed the booing for Henry, Warner, Epstein, etc. for taking advantage of Arroyo. As much as we may not like it, in reality, we cheer for the laundry and not necessarily the players.
No tags for this post.May 2, 2006 at 9:25 am | Trackback
4 comments
I think the distinction here is Domon left Boston, a town that embraced him and his antics as their own. He sold out to not just any team, but to the dreaded Yankees.
Arroyo on the other hand took a bullet to stay, and in an incredible display if low class, the team sent him packing. I think if Arroyo ever pitches here again, either for the Reds, another team, or as a Red Sock, he will be welcome back with warm and open arms.
As one who was there, I’d have to say that he received as much applause as boos — especially when he doffed his helmet. Boos sound louder on t.v.
I live a few blocks away and we heard the boos loud and clear all night. As a Yankees fan , I’d rather you kept the bum!
So, by signing for less Arroyo should have bought himself a permanent spot on the Red Sox roster? That’s idiotic (and not in a Johnny Damon “idiot” kind of way). You’ve got to realize that if you’re on a team where you are 6th or 7th on the depth chart when a team only needs 5 starting pitchers that there’s a good chance that you’re going to be traded. Arroyo tried to buy a spot on the roster and it didn’t work. It’s not anyone else’s fault that he took less money to do that. Arroyo would have been traded whether or not he signed for less because the Sox had way too much starting pitching at that point.
Arroyo made out greatly. He’s pitching extremely well in the weak hitting National League and everyone was talking about his early home runs. That would never happen to him in Boston. He was known more for his singing than his pitching ability here and most people were hoping to see him pitch long relief because he always seemed to faulter after 5 innings last season.
If we cheer for the laundry then why did Orlando Cabrera get both a standing ovation and video highlight package when he returned to Fenway? Fenway would go nuts if the Padres and Dave Roberts were going to return to Boston in interleague play.
Damon was booed because he lied about never signing with the Yankees. He was booed because he started selling himself one minute after the final out was recorded against the White Sox. He was booed because he based the front office after he left. He was booed because he is now a Yankee.
It’s one thing to pay tribute to a guy who left the season after the Sox won the World Series, but Damon was here for a full year and the fans paid him plenty of tribute. There’s no reason to do it again just because he decided to go to another team.