Ex-Red Sox center fielder slash idiot extraordinaire Johnny Damon (better known these days for having a hot, often-scantily-clad, some-sorta-Asian wife) recently made some comments to WEEI's Alex Speier regarding his former stomping grounds, the organization's treatment of its "star" players, and his future in the game, among other things. Hilarity ensued, as it often does with the neanderthal-esque Damon, mostly due to the fact that Johnny thought he could pass as being insightful about anything.

Here is just a snippet of his goofy comments along with my reactions to said gibberish, free of charge.

I’m definitely going to remember what the team accomplished here: winning, changing people’s perceptions of what they thought of Boston. Before, people didn’t think too much of coming here. Then they brought in characters like me and (Kevin) Millar, it kind of helped change what people around the U.S. thought. It seems like it’s still going. I feel strongly that it’s because of what the players were able to bring here. That part I’ll always remember.

Taking sole credit for the accomplishments of a 40-man roster, a coaching staff, an ownership group, a front office, and numerous others. Very nice, and yet, not surprising. Hey Johnny, you ever stop to think that perhaps the fact that you guys started, oh I don't know, WINNING BALL GAMES had anything to do with the explosion of popularity? I would wager my mother's basement on the likelihood that the Sox still would have gotten crazy popular had they won at the same rate and you hadn't been on the team.

I couldn’t believe that they were letting him (Jason Varitek) walk and try to find a team. That’s the difference between New York and Boston. … If you’re a part of New York, they’re going to keep you there: (Jorge) Posada, (Derek) Jeter, Mariano (Rivera), it’s the first time in history guys have been on the same team for 15 years.

Maybe that has something to do with the Yankees' inexhaustible resources. Good for them if they want to pay $15 mil per year to keep Mo around, but I'll guarantee you one thing: they don't do it out of nostalgia or some childish desire. They do it because there are no better, viable options at the position at the time, unlike this year, when they let Giambi (who prior to his being outed as a steroid user was easily one of the biggest fan favorites in pinstripes) walk for Mark Teixeira. Do you really think they would hesitate to kick Rivera to the proverbial curb if he was sporting a 5.00 ERA and had 8 or more blown saves at the end of last year and they could have gotten Francisco Rodriguez? I rest my case.

Plus, it's just dumb baseball to keep the majority of your lineup around for 15 years; A) A lot of guys can't produce over that long a period, and B) that's what God invented the farm system and free agency for. Did you ever think that's why the Sox have been so successful, because they address their weaknesses and do what they reasonably can to correct them? Also, all this "wanting to play for one team for your entire career" thing is bullshit; you'd still be in KC (who, by the way are two games better than NYY at the time of this posting) if you really bought into that.

It goes to show you something about how the Yankees think, and how many Yankees players have been exclusive with one team. They keep them forever. (The Red Sox) were ready to let (Varitek) go. He’s their starting catcher. That’s how the two teams work. You know his days are going to be numbered here. But hopefully not — he deserves to be here until his career is over.

Why is Damon acting like Tek is still capable of hitting .330 with 25 dingers and 100 RBIs? The dude can't get his batting average over his listed weight anymore and the only good thing we can usually say about his at-bats is "At least he made solid contact." This is the same guy who gave up eight stolen bases to one team, six of which were achieved by a single player, just a few days ago. Tek's reign is coming to a close, and while I do think the Sox owe it to him to let him play out his contract, I will not miss his lack of offensive production when he's gone. And again, I would wager that if Damon were hitting .240 with a subpar OBP, minimal power and no semblance of his signature speed, the Yanks would have shipped him off long ago. They can put up with the noodle arm in left, but if he wasn't producing at the plate and on the base-paths, it's bye-bye Big Apple.