Who

Damon has gone from being loathed to loved by New York fans: A member of the World Series-winning 2004 Boston Red Sox, he's now the Yankees' starting center fielder.

Backstory

The son of an American father and Thai mother, Damon grew up in Orlando and was drafted by the Kansas City Royals out of high school. After six seasons with the Royals and one with the Oakland Athletics, in 2001 he signed with the Red Sox and became one of the most popular members of the team, helping guide them to a World Series victory in 2004, a run that included a victory over the Yankees in the League Championship Series—he hit two home runs, including a grand slam in Game 7 of the ALCS to clinch the victory over New York. In 2005, the Yankees signed him to a four-year, $52 million contract, prompting Beantown fans to view him as a traitor.

Of note

The 2007 season was not kind to Damon, as calf and back injuries forced him to move to designated hitter for long stretches of the season and he suffered through one of the worst hitting seasons of his career. Never a stellar centerfielder (his throwing arm is notoriously weak), he found up-and-coming Melky Cabrera stealing his playing time in center, and only a series of injuries to the luckless Jason Giambi kept Damon from getting benched entirely. Now approaching his mid-thirties, Damon's career appears to be in decline. And though he has quieted his demands to be traded, there is still a good chance that he'll start the 2009 season in some other team's uniform.

The look

Damon grew out his hair and beard before the 2004 season; the shaggy look proved a hit with fans, and he was compared to both Jesus and a caveman. (Quoth Damon: "Even being mentioned in the same sentence as Jesus or God—I mean, those guys are awesome.") He was forced to shave when he joined the Yankees in order to comply with the team's rules governing the appearance of players.

On the side

It's unlikely that any team in history was as overexposed as the 2004 Boston Red Sox, and it's unlikely that any player on that team was as overexposed as Damon. His zany persona and caveman looks quickly went from cute to irritating, and after the World Series win he cashed in with a slew of off-field ventures. He's the author, with Peter Golenbock, of the autobiography Idiot: Beating "The Curse" and Enjoying the Game of Life. And his onscreen appearances have included the movie Fever Pitch, Saturday Night Live, and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. (As for the latter, the Fab Five were forbidden to mess with Damon's hair and beard due to the publicity tour for his book.)

Personal

He was married to Angela Vannice from 1992 to 2002; the couple had twins in 1999. Damon has admitted to philandering and having a drinking problem during the marriage. He married Michelle Mangan in 2004, and the couple had a daughter named Devon in January 2007. His second marriage has been dogged by rumors that Michelle is a former stripper, a charge the couple angrily denies.

Habitat

Previously an occupant of One Beacon Court on East 58th Street, Damon sold his apartment in the building (in which he hung a version of Leonardo's The Last Supper with the heads of Red Sox players replacing those of the apostles) in 2007. He's apparently since been house-hunting in Westchester. He also keeps a place in Orlando, Florida.

No joke

Damon was friends with Joey Fatone in high school.

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