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Rudy Snags Nod From Jesus

Rudy Giuliani's faltering campaign needs nothing short of a miracle worker. Yesterday, he may have gotten one. New York Yankees outfielder and Florida resident Johnny Damon endorsed Rudy at an Orlando rally, calling him "a nice and genuine guy" and even tossing out the obligatory Sept. 11 reference: "I've played on many different teams. I was with Oakland when 9/11 happened."

Back before Johnny Damon betrayed Red Sox Nation by signing with the Yankees, there was a popular saying in Boston: "How can we lose? We've got Jesus of Nazareth in center field." Indeed, "Johnny Jesus," as he was known, was a key contributor to the Sox' s unlikely World Series title run in 2004, breaking their 86-year losing streak. On arriving at spring training that year, Damon's first words reportedly were, "Bless you. Bless you all."

But it's an open question how much Damon can help Giuliani's tanking campaign in New York. The Yankees haven't won a title since Damon joined. Plus, he's lost much of that divine sheen since his locks and facial hair were shorn, per order of George Steinbrenner.

—Justin Elliott

Posted by Mother Jones on 01/22/08 at 11:54 AM | Comments (0) | Email | Print

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