Johnny Damon, Drawn to the Dark Side

You know, I really enjoyed watching Johnny Damon play center field for the Red Sox these past four years. His defensive skills, except for his below-average throwing arm, were incredibly impressive. His bat was incredible some years, like 2005, and fair others, like 2003. But he was definitely a fan favorite.

I would have been upset if Johnny had jumped to another team, but I would understand. I would have been really upset if, several years down the road, he had ended up playing for the Yankees, but I would have gotten over it. But to be drawn to the Dark Side, months after playing four years with the Red Sox, fighting the Evil Empire in so many classic battles...

To be a true Red Sox player, one must have a true understanding of the rivalry. One must have a sense of right and wrong. A sense of good vs. evil.

Johnny Damon was a hero to many in Red Sox Nation. He had a cult following. He was an icon. But so was Anakin Skywalker, before he was lured to the Dark Side by greed. Mr. Damon sold his services to the highest bidder. I thought Johnny was beyond that. Apparently not.

I have never been more disappointed in a baseball player in my life. Johnny Damon, a Yankee. How can it be so? Who would have guessed? But some people are not strong enough to resist the Dark Side. Luke Skywalker resisted, but it wasn't easy. George Bailey almost accepted a job from Mr. Potter in It's A Wonderful Life, but good won out. In Stephen King's The Stand, the whole story was about those who would give in to the Dark Side of Randall Flagg, and those who chose a harder life and to follow Mother Abigail and the side of Good.

Johnny is siding with Emperor Palpatine, Mr. Potter and Randall Flagg. He is choosing the easy way out, the evil way. But evil does not always win out. It seems to me that Johnny will someday see the error of his ways, but, by then, it may be too late.

Christmas Movies and Specials

When I was a kid, I could not wait to see those Christmas specials. Charlie Brown, Rudolph, Santa Claus Is ComingTo Town, Twas the Night Before Christmas, Frosty. I absolutely loved them! I'd know exactly which ones would be on when and I'd plan my schedule (not that it was too busy at eight years old) around them.

Yet, here I am an adult, and I still can't wait. Only now, I have them all on DVD or video and I can watch them whenever I want. Thank God, I married a woman who loves them as much as I do. We spend from Thanksgiving to Christmas watching specials and Christmas movies every night we are home.

I'm not sure if watching them brings back memories of being a kid, or if it is something else. Watching them brings a sense of peace, a sense of goodwill toward mankind, a sense of family. It's hard to explain why I enjoy watching the Christmas specials so much. I like to sing along with the songs: "Put One Foot in Front of the Other", "I'm Mr. Heatmeiser", "Holly, Jolly Christmas", "Silver and Gold", "Christmastime Is Calling", "Thank You Very Much", and many others.

Here are some of our favorite Christmas Specials:
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
The Year Without a Santa Claus
Twas The Night Before Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Fat Albert Christmas
Frosty The Snowman
How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Here are our favorite Christmas movies:
Scrooge (the musical version of A Christmas Carol)
Christmas Vacation
A Muppet Christmas Carol
Ernest Saves Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (with Jim Carrey)
It's a Wonderful Life
White Christmas
If You Believe
A Christmas Carol (George C. Scott version)
Polar Express (a new favorite of our's)

And finally, here are a few of our less thought of Christmas "things" we like to watch:
Are You Being Served Christmas video
The Night They Saved Christmas
Little House On the Prairie: Christmas At Plum Creek
Little House On the Prairie: A Christmas They Never Forgot
Roots: The Gift
West WIng Christmas episodes
White House Christmas (an annual Christmas show on HGTV)
Harry Connick Jr. Christmas Special
The Homecoming (the pilot movie for The Waltons tv series)

In closing, I have no idea why I love these shows and movies so much. But I do.