Johnny Damon Supports Wounded Warrior Project

By Jake Fox
Love of Sports Correspondent

Johnny Damon may have a deteriorating bat, slowing speed and the worst arm in baseball, but he still has “it.”

It, in this case, is the ability every professional athlete has to give of themselves for the greater good. Damon’s taken the role of spokesman for the Wounded Warrior Project, a Jacksonville-based initiative that rehabilitates soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Johnny Damon gets it. He understands the impact of his celebrity status as a Major League Baseball player. He knows it means much more to give of his time than it does to cut a check and walk away. The son of an army staff sergeant, he’s made it his mission to visit wounded soldiers whenever he has the chance.

“A lot of ballplayers who make hospital visits, they do it at arm’s length. But Johnny, I’ve seen him talk to these vets like they’re real people,” said Steve Fortunato, a retired Air Force officer, in an article published in The Bergen Record of North Jersey.

Not every athlete realizes or chooses to acknowledge what they’re capable of away from the playing field. Their position in American society gives them a certain responsibility to go out and give back.

“I do feel a little guilty, playing baseball, having this nice life, when those guys are out there sacrificing everything,” Damon acknowledged. “I figure this is the very least I can do.”

Thus, Damon’s impact off the field can easily surpass what he’s done on it. He’s touching more lives now than any walk-off homer, or diving catch, ever could.

Damon’s also attempted to get his teammates and opponents involved.

“It’s not just about giving money, but giving your time, too,” he urged. “I want to spread this message to all parts of the country.”

Johnny Damon was blessed with blazing speed and an ability to hit a baseball. He was also blessed with a big heart. Fortunately, he’ll still have “it” when his playing days are over.

To learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project and how you can help out, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.