THAILAND: BASEBALL - Major league baseball star Johnny Damon returns to roots with Thai visit

Record ID: 794853

  • Title: THAILAND: BASEBALL - Major league baseball star Johnny Damon returns to roots with Thai visit
  • Date: 28th November 2007
  • Summary: KIDS PLAYING BASEBALL DAMON JOKING WITH ONLOOKERS DAMON WATCHING WHILE PLAYING WITH BALL PEOPLE WATCHING AND CLAPPING FROM STANDS DAMON'S WIFE AND MOTHER WATCHING DAMON WALKING ACROSS PITCH WITH COACH BASEBALL PLAYER BATTING DAMON PITCHING FIRST BALL
  • Embargoed: 13th December 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAD6HCUQ71I47R3HHDO7RUSGO5U
  • Story Text: Major league baseball star Johnny Damon returns to his mother's native Thailand for the first time in 32 years and says the New York Yankees World Series drought could soon be over.
    New York Yankees star Johnny Damon visited Bangkok on Tuesday (November 27) as part of a two-day trip to Thailand, returning to his mother's homeland for the first time since he was two years old.
    Damon's U.S. serviceman father met his mother while stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War but he was born and mostly brought up in the United States.
    A special thanksgiving lunch was laid on for him at a girls' orphanage in the Thai capital, where he, his mother and his wife mingled with the girls and posed for photographs.
    One girl asked what he did for a living, to roars of laughter from every else, while another boldly asked why he had left the 2004 World Series winners the Boston Red Sox to join arch rivals the New York Yankees at the end of 2005.
    In an interview with Reuters, Damon, who is considered one of the best leadoff hitters in Major League Baseball, the 34-year-old said he was not ready to retire and wanted another World Series win with the Yankees.
    "Oh yeah, yeah -- there are definitely a few more years in me, hopefully a few very good years and hopefully we'll try to mix in another championship," he said.
    The Red Sox are the current holders of the World Series, while the Yankees last hit their way to victory in 2000.
    After lunch, Damon, who has played major league baseball for 13 years, was given the keys to the city by Bangkok's governor. He then gave a few baseball tips to around 100 eager fans at a Bangkok school before tossing out the first pitch at a little league game.
    Asked whether he felt threatened by the host of young new talent in the Yankee team, Damon alluded to his Thai roots.

    "You know fortunately I have the Thai blood in me, the strong, strong like a horse mentality."
    He added that his move from centre to left field was good, and that he believed he could become one of the best left fielders ever.
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