Idiot: Beating 'The Curse' And Enjoying The Game Of Life

The Story

Dear Baseball Fan: I know what youÆre thinking:CouldnÆt he have come up with a better title?My mother agrees with you, but unfortunatelyGeniusjust doesnÆt have the same ring. LetÆs get something straight right away. I may be an idiot, but IÆve tried to do more in this book than just revisit the Red SoxÆs Miracle Season. I want to give you a sense of what itÆs like to grow up with baseball dreams, to spend long years climbing the ladder, and then over the course of three years to see the building blocks of those dreams fall into place. In this book, youÆll be reading about the son of an Army staff sergeantùa thrill-seeking Orlando kid who at age thirteen was gifted with a manÆs body, including rare speed and reflexes. It was some straight talk from my brother that kept me from abandoning that talent, which led to my eventually catching on with the Kansas City Royals and later the Oakland AÆs. Starting in 2002 with the Red Sox, I got to see what can happen when a determined front office decides to roll the dice and acquire players who, like me, leave the thinking out of itùwho trust their instincts and play team baseball. Forget what youÆve read about the posse of long-haired rebels who eventually made up the 2004 Red Sox. IÆll give you the straight dope, including whoÆs got the biggest mouth (hint: his first name is Kevin); what Pedro Martinez was doing all those times when you couldnÆt find him on the bench; what game David Ortiz should never play; and why I sometimes question Curt SchillingÆs sanity. Memo to Curt: the statue of you is being erected. WhatÆs it like being responsible for the hopes of millions? In the fall of 2004 my teammates and I got to find out. What IÆve tried to do in these pages is bring you inside, show you the black humor that erupted when it seemed we could do nothing right, and the immense joy that followed when 25 guys took turns picking each other up, and by sheer force of will reached baseballÆs summit. Red Sox Nation (both natives and new arrivals), this oneÆs for you. FromIdiotby Johnny Damonà On what it takes to make the majorsàôItÆs never about your talent. Everybody in the minor leagues has talent. If youÆre planning on building a career in baseball on just talent alone, youÆve got no chance. Most important, you need will. YouÆve got to work harder than the next guy, and you have to want it more than the next guy. Guys who make it do so with their heart and mind.ö On NomaràôIt was virtually impossible for Nomar to go out in public. If he went, he needed a private room or he had to be shielded by the other players so the public wouldnÆt get to him. Nomar had to deal with his superstar status every day. If one fan wanted an autograph, thereÆd be a hundred behind him. Nomar spent much of his time in his room getting food delivered. It was the only way he could get to eat.ö On ôThe CurseöàôWhen you got down toward the end of the season, thatÆs all you heard aboutàæDo you believe in the curse?Æ æIs the curse overtaking the team?ÆàSince Dan Shaughnessy is the guy who invented this curse nonsense in the first place, I find it kind of odd that he keeps talking about it. HeÆs a bright guy. I canÆt believe he actually believes it. I guess the Curse of the Bambino has a better ring to it than the Curse of Dan Shaughnessy.ö On getting support from the fans during the ALCS slumpà?