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Thirtysomething Johnny Damon breaks out April 22, 2004 ~ 7:28 p.m. I find myself fascinated by Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon. His defensive work and ability to steal many bases is a factor, of course, but not the main one. Check these out and you�ll see why he�s so fascinating: Johnny Damon in 2002, age 28 Johnny Damon in 2004, age 30 Need I say more? My father opined that he�s going through a �second childhood.� Well, I don�t know about that, but it�s certainly a phase. I would know. I�m in the throes of a similar phase myself. From about the age of 26, I wore my hair short. And I kept it short right up to the age of 32. Then I grew it long again. I tendered a beard. I discovered Amsterdam and rediscovered the joys of dope. At 34, my hair is a bit shorter now, I�m clean-shaven again and the dope is an occasional thing only. But there�s no doubt in my mind�nor, I suppose, anyone else�s�that I�m trying to revive the me of ten years ago. I didn�t always like that version of me, but he was young, the future still seemed like a long, open road and the possibilities, as the saying goes, endless. Once I entered my thirties, I had settled down. I became so ingrained to it�to the skulduggery of work, finances, domestic responsibilities�that I felt stuck in a rut. So I broke out, Johnny Damon-style. Second childhood? More like second collegehood. You may sniff haughtily and say, �Oh, ND, that�s just the life of a ballplayer,� but you wouldn�t find Damon sporting that look with the New York Yankees. Steinbrenner long ago passed an edict declaring that his players would, with the sole exception of a trim moustache, grow no facial hair. And certainly nobody playing for the Yankees feels any less of a superstar than those playing for the Red Sox. But the Sox know when to pull together�they all willingly shaved their heads during their post-season run last October in a show of solidarity (the nuptials-bound Nomar Garciaparra was the exception), and it�s certainly better to have the choice. Dennis Eckersley had hair streaming out from behind his cap; why shouldn�t Damon? And I never heard anyone accuse the Eck of going through a second childhood. The dude pitched until the age of 43, so if a little long hair is what it takes for longevity in the majors, I say go for it. Frankly, as long as Damon keeps robbing the opposition of extra-base hits or even homers, he can become the Wolfman for all I care. And I more than certainly understand. He�s in his thirties now�he�s entitled. � M.E.M.
Copyright � 2001-2007 by M.E. Manning. All material is written by me, unless explicitly stated otherwise by use of footnotes or bylines. Do not copy or redistribute without my permission.
AMERICA FOR TRUE AMERICANS!
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