Latest news with #JohnnyDamon
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB legend Johnny Damon gives advice to Shrewsbury Legion stars, is a hit at Futures League All-Star Game
WORCESTER — Johnny Damon threw out the first pitch prior to the Futures League All-Star Game on a perfect July 22 summer evening at Polar Park. Prior to that the former Red Sox fan favorite and two-time World Series champion met with Shrewsbury Post 397 following its 10-6 win over Lowell in an American Legion regional championship at the home of the Worcester Red Sox. And what a passionate pitch he made. 'He was just telling us to stay with baseball and see where it takes us,' said pitcher Joey Guidotti, who graduated from Shrewsbury High in May and will continue his academic and athletic careers at Assumption University. 'It's a hard game,' Damon said. 'Enjoy every single aspect of your life. And it goes quick. I've been retired for almost 13 years now and it goes quick.' Damon, who is 51 and resides in his home state of Central Florida, played for seven teams over the course of 18 seasons in the big leagues, the last being in 2012. The speedy outfielder was a two-time All-Star who finished his career with a .284 average, 2,769 hits and 408 steals. He ranks 55th in hits and 66th in steals, respectively, all-time in Major League Baseball. But seeing the Post 397 players ‒ and the Lowell contingent he met with afterward ‒ brought Damon back to when he was their age. And younger. 'Man, these guys look like babies to me,' a tan-and-fit Damon said. 'I have kids older than them now. But, yeah, the memories of strapping it on every single day was unreal. And the camaraderie you learn with your teammates. 'I'm still friends with all my childhood Little League friends. We hang out all the time still and those are the guys who are true to me because they have been there from the beginning. It's special.' Damon is best known for his time with the Boston Red Sox (2002-05) and New York Yankees (2006-09), having helped both of the ancient rivals win world championships. It was 2004 for the Red Sox, of course, breaking the Curse of the Bambino. 'Well, 86 years of heartache for Red Sox fans,' Damon said. 'I'm glad we got to bring joy to so many people.' The Yankees hoisted the Commissioner's Trophy in 2009. That turned out to be Damon's final season in New York after he and the team couldn't agree on the financial parameters of a new contract. It's also the last time the Yankees were world champs. 'The Yankees one is actually special because it was 14 years (ago),' Damon said. 'They think it's easy replacing really good players (like me). So, hopefully, the Yankees don't have the Johnny Damon curse just like we broke the Babe Ruth curse.' Damon was sporting both his World Series rings, the Sox on his left hand and the Yanks on his right. Care to fathom a guess as to which one is closer to his heart? 'He said unfortunately he preferred the ring with the Yankees over the one with the Red Sox,' Guidotti said. 'It was 86 years with the Sox, but he said he found more success individually as a player as a Yankee.' Damon had previously visited Polar Park, although he noted, 'It wasn't for a game, so it's going to be a special night.' And he has a special business relationship with Central Mass. via Worcester-based Polar Beverages. 'My A-Game company, we work with the Crowley family,' Damon said. 'They're partners with us. We have the cleanest (sports) hydration drink out there, we just need to let people know about it. 'Clean hydration, tastes great and you always have to bring your A-Game.' —Contact Rich Garven at rgarven@ Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @RichGarven. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: MLB legend Johnny Damon a hit at Futures League All-Star Game
New York Post
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Johnny Damon's daughter flips off TNA wrestlers during Slammiversary on Long Island
Someone must not have told Johnny Damon's daughter that professional wrestling isn't real, because the pugnacious youngster was quick to stand on business when she thought TNA wrestler Ryan Nemeth was going after her dad during a moment over the weekend at Slammiversary. The baseball legend was ringside for TNA Slammiversary, which was being held at UBS Arena out on Long Island, when part of the action came face-to-face with Damon. Nemeth was competing in a tag team match with his brother, Nic, when Damon shoved him after the two exchanged words, clearly as part of a bit for the show. Advertisement 4 Johnny Damon shoves TNA wrestler Ryan Nemeth. X @SeanRossSapp Nemeth tried to go back at Damon before his brother jumped in to grab him from getting to the ex-Red Sox great. Damon continued to yell at the wrestlers as they got back in the ring, and next to him, his daughter could be seen yelling at them and quickly flipping the bird at Nemeth before the camera cut back to the action inside the ring. Advertisement 4 Johnny Damon's daughter gives TNA wrestler Ryan Nemeth the finger during the weekend at Slammiversary. X @SeanRossSapp It wasn't clear if the younger Damon was aware that it was all part of the showmanship of professional wrestling, but it made for a hilarious moment all the same. Damon had a pretty packed weekend, not only showing up for the show on Sunday, but he also took part in the TNA SLAMMing Softball Classic, which was played on Saturday out on Long Island. Advertisement 4 Johnny Damon's daughter points angrily at Nemeth wrestling brothers. X @SeanRossSapp 4 Former professional baseball player Johnny Damon was seen walking along Madison Avenue in New York City. Rick Davis / The involvement of Damon shouldn't be too much of a surprise after A-GAME Beverages, which was founded by Damon, became the official hydration partner of TNA wrestling in an agreement announced last week. 'TNA executives are finalizing Damon's additional involvement at Slammiversary as he is a longtime pro wrestling fan who has appeared at and participated in past pro wrestling shows,' TNA said in a press release last week announcing the deal.
Boston Globe
03-06-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
You should absolutely be rooting for Brad Marchand to win another Stanley Cup, even in a Panthers sweater
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Do the right thing. Hold your nose, swallow your pride, holster your hate, and pull for the Panthers. It's the magnanimous and mature route. For all he did here, our Lil' Ball of Hate deserves to cart the Cup around the ice one more time. Advertisement Renounce laundry logic and cheer on the guy who remains a Bruin to the core, no matter what sweater he's donning. That's what yours truly plans to do. Boston fans aren't always the best at resisting provincial interests and instincts. I covered the games when Adam Vinatieri, whose foot delivered two Super Bowls for the Patriots, and Johnny Damon, who slugged two home runs in the Red Sox cathartic Game 7 victory over the Yankees in 2004, got booed upon returning with rivals. Advertisement Johnny Damon homered twice in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS, but was likened to Judas when he returned to Fenway Park as a member of the Yankees two years later. Jim Davis/Globe Staff Marchand looks like he's having the time of his hockey life. It's like breaking up with your ex and then seeing on Instagram that they're dating a billionaire. You wish them well, but not that well. It's hard to watch the last link to the Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup chasing hockey's Holy Grail with a rival. But it means so much to him at this stage of his career, an on-ice oeuvre that should land his No. 63 in the TD Garden rafters. 'I may never get back this late in the playoffs ever again in my career,' the 37-year-old said. 'To be one of the last teams standing and being part of a great group of guys, these are memories that I want to remember and enjoy.' The rascally Marchand has endeared himself to the players he spent the previous two postseasons battling. The Panthers are 8-2 this postseason when Marchand records a point. Instantly, Marchand fit in with the NHL's Rat Pack. Plastic rats are to the Panthers and their fans as octopi are to the Red Wings. It's a tradition that dates back 30 years to the 1995-96 Panthers, who reached the Stanley Cup Final. Now, The tradition moves on to the SCF... Panthers FIRING rats at Brad Marchand 😅🐀 — B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) We're a long way from Advertisement Pursuing Lord Stanley's cherished chalice makes for strange bedfellows. The recipe for sports rooting interests is loyalty, emotion, geography, and common objectives. But there are reasons to root for Marchand, the little guy who came up big for the Black and Gold; Marchand's five-goal heroics in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final endeared him to Hub hockey fans for a lifetime. Everybody's favorite agitator left his mark — with his wit, his hockey hijinks, and his production. Marchand ranks in the Bruins top five all-time in regular-season games (fourth, 1,090), goals (fourth, 422), and points (fifth, 976). The inimitable winger couldn't have been classier about his departure. Even in absentia , he helped the Bruins score, Undoubtedly, some will associate cheering for Marchand with echoes of one of the low points in 21st-century Boston sports — the celebration at City Hall Plaza for Bruins legend Ray Bourque after he won the Cup with the Avalanche in 2001. It was a desperate ploy by a city starved to attach itself to any sort of sports success, mere months before Tom Brady ushered in the titletown ethos. Advertisement Having not celebrated a title-winning team since the Celtics in 1986, more than 10,000 people showed up at City Hall Plaza on June 13, 2001, to congratulate Ray Bourque for winning the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche. JIM BOURG/REUTERS There also could be those withholding support because they hold it against Marchand that he couldn't deliver a second Cup here. Mad Brad was a big part of the Bruins falling apart on home ice in a gut-punch Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. They never recovered — both in that game and as a franchise. This will be Marchand's fourth kick at the Cup. He has played in 20 Stanley Cup Final contests entering Game 1 Wednesday, notching seven goals and five assists. With a career 60-92—152 postseason line, Marchand is fourth among active players in playoff points, trailing Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Nikita Kucherov — heady company for an undersized pest from Nova Scotia. All of them have won multiple Cups. Here's hoping Marchand joins them on that list too, even if watching him do it with Florida hurts like a slapshot off the elbow. Christopher L. Gasper is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Johnny Damon Brings Championship-Level Hydration to Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket with A-GAME
ORLANDO, Fla., March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A-GAME Beverages Inc. ('A-GAME') has reached a deal with Southeastern Grocers, LLC (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie, to carry A-GAME sports drinks in its grocery stores across Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Founded by former MLB champion Johnny Damon and backed by legends like Bo Jackson, A-GAME is a better-for-you sports drink that keeps athletes performing their best. 'We're thrilled to be expanding our presence throughout the Southeast and providing more opportunities to help athletes bring their 'A-game' every day,' said Damon, A-GAME founder and CEO. 'Florida has always been home to me and was a huge inspiration for starting A-GAME. Winn-Dixie is well-loved in my home state, as well as across the Southeast, and I'm proud our drink will be on their shelves.' Damon was originally inspired to get into the beverage industry after hearing news of multiple high school athletes in Florida passing away from dehydration and overexertion while practicing in high temperatures. Damon worked for years consulting with experts to develop the A-GAME formula to help athletes stay hydrated naturally. A-GAME boasts natural ingredients like honey and sea salt, contains no artificial colorants, and is equipped with eight vital vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. 'We are delighted to expand our hydration beverage options to include A-GAME and give our customers even more variety as they shop with us," said Dewayne Rabon, Southeastern Grocers chief merchandising officer. 'A-GAME's dedication to excellence aligns perfectly with our commitment to offer innovative, high-quality products. We eagerly anticipate the arrival of A-GAME's vibrant lineup on our shelves and are confident it will be a refreshing new favorite." A-GAME comes in six bold flavors: Dragon Fruit Plum, Concord Grape, Strawberry Lemonade, Tropical, Citrus and Black Cherry Pomegranate. Each flavor also comes in a zero-sugar option. Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie will stock a minimum of two flavors in every store, with most locations offering up to four. For media inquiries, please reach out to: PR Contact: Adam Romeroadam@ About A-GAME Beverages, by All-Star athletes and partners Johnny Damon, Major League Baseball Champion, Chairman and Co-Founder of A-GAME Beverages, Inc.; Bo Jackson, Major League Baseball All-Star and NFL All-Pro, A-GAME Board of Directors member and arguably one of the greatest athletes of all time; Scott Conant, American celebrity chef, restaurateur, TV personality and cookbook author, American country music singer, songwriter and record producer; Tracy Lawrence; and Tim Hardaway Sr., a former American professional basketball player, among others. A-GAME is on a mission to equip athletes of all levels with the highest quality hydration beverages so you can always #BringYourAGAME. To learn more about A-GAME, visit About Southeastern GrocersSoutheastern Grocers, LLC (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is an omnichannel retailer serving customers in brick-and-mortar grocery stores and liquor stores, as well as online with convenient grocery delivery and curbside pickup throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie are well-known and well-respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and caring associates and a strong commitment to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, visit and SAFE HARBOR ACT: Forward-looking statements are included within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding the Company's expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations or listing on an exchange — including words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will" and other similar expressions — are forward-looking statements and involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company's control and may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance or achievements. The Company is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No information in this press release should be construed in any manner whatsoever as an indication of the future performance of the Company's revenues or results of operation or stock value.
USA Today
03-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Fantasy baseball relief pitcher rankings: Yankees' Devin Williams adds to AL stability
Fantasy baseball relief pitcher rankings: Yankees' Devin Williams adds to AL stability Show Caption Hide Caption Johnny Damon talks all things Yankees and Red Sox Johnny Damon stops by to break down the upcoming MLB season and discusses his new partnership with A-Game sports drink. Sports Seriously Bullpens can be extremely volatile, so having a locked-in closer is a huge advantage in fantasy baseball. That's particularly true in the National League, where Edwin Diaz, Ryan Helsley and Raisel Iglesias are the only certainties among the 15 teams. Elsewhere, you may have to do what managers often do: rely on your gut. Ryan Walker was great last season, but only closed for the final two months. Meanwhile, new NL arrivals Jordan Romano, Ryan Pressly and Kirby Yates don't outweigh the losses. The biggest closer move of this offseason was the Yankees' acquisition of Devin Williams. He would be this season's top target if not for the consistent excellence of Emmanuel Clase, who posted an incredible 0.61 ERA and led the league with 47 saves. The American League has some impressive depth compared to the NL. With the signings of free agents Jeff Hoffman (Blue Jays), Kenley Jansen (Angels) and Carlos Estevez (Royals), all but a couple teams' closer jobs appear set. 2025 fantasy baseball relief pitcher rankings Rank Player Team League 1 Emmanuel Clase Cle AL1 2 Devin Williams NYY AL2 3 Edwin Diaz NYM NL1 4 Josh Hader Hou AL3 5 Ryan Helsley StL NL2 6 Mason Miller Oak AL4 7 Felix Bautista Bal AL5 8 Raisel Iglesias Atl NL3 9 Robert Suarez SD NL4 10 Andres Muñoz Sea AL6 11 Ryan Walker SF NL5 12 Jhoan Duran Min AL7 13 Trevor Megill Mil NL6 14 Tanner Scott LAD NL7 15 Jeff Hoffman Tor AL8 16 Ryan Pressly ChC NL8 17 Kirby Yates LAD NL9 18 Kenley Jansen LAA AL9 19 Justin Martinez Ari NL10 20 Liam Hendriks Bos AL10 21 Alexis Diaz Cin NL11 22 Pete Fairbanks TB AL11 23 Jordan Romano Phi NL12 24 Kyle Finnegan Was NL13 25 David Bednar Pit NL14 26 Carlos Estevez KC AL12 27 Lucas Erceg KC AL13 28 Ben Joyce LAA AL14 29 Jason Foley Det AL15 30 Aroldis Chapman Bos AL16 The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
