Two years ago, it was ace righthander Pedro Martinez. He signed with the New York Mets.

Now, it’s Johnny Damon, who has signed with the despised Yankees for $3 million more per season than the Red Sox had offered him.

Former Red Sox stars Martinez and Damon are living proof that there is very little loyalty in pro sports.

One exception appears to be the World Champion Chicago White Sox. They have kept the nucleus of their team intact while adding players (i.e., Jim Thome, Rob Mackowiak, Javier Vazquez) who should improve their club.

Damon’s departure is a difficult pill to swallow for Red Sox fans.

Leaving is one thing. Going to the Yankees is another.

The Yankees are the rich kid with the arrogant attitude living in the mansion surrounded by the beautiful pool and landscaped yard at the end of the street.

If something isn’t working, they go out and by another one. No problem.

Nobody likes the rich, arrogant kid, but everyone wants desperately to be invited to his house.

The Red Sox are the upper-middle class kid in the nice two-story house with a spacious two-car garage. No pool. The kid works to help pay for his education, but he is certainly better off than most.

However, if something isn’t working, he may have to have it fixed or buy an inferior item to act as a stopgap until enough money is saved up to buy a new one.

Johnny Damon has chosen the mansion.

Damon, David Ortiz, and Curt Schilling became the frontmen for the Red Sox and their 2004 World Series championship run that ended an 86-year-old drought.

Manny Ramirez isn’t seen in the same light because Boston is a passionate, blue-collar town and they expect all of their players to play hard every game.

“Manny being Manny” has worn thin even with his tremendous numbers.

“Manny runs out ground ball” would be a much preferred moniker.

Damon was the tablesetter and the fearless center fielder who ranged far and wide to track fly balls. He was also the ringleader of the “Idiots” with his long hair and Jesus-like appearance. He is a class act.

I do have to quickly pass along an e-mail colleague Ernie Clark received the other day. It stated, “Johnny Damon: he looks like Jesus and throws like Mary.”

Ortiz has been Mr. Clutch. He has been nothing short of sensational in pressure situations. He should have been the AL Most Valuable Player.

Schilling and his courageous playoff outings, bloody sock, throbbing ankle, and all, earned a place in the hearts of all Red Sox fans forever and they hung with him while he struggled through the 2005 season with the ailing ankle.

The Red Sox will have to improvise. They didn’t feel Damon was worth $13 million a year for four years and they’re right.

We know the new center fielder will have a better arm than Damon and he will probably be comparable when it comes to corralling fly balls.

He won’t hit as well as Damon and score as many runs, but he may hit for more power or may steal more bases.

He will probably be younger, also.

It’s a shame that Damon has left, but it was his decision.

He chose to join close friend and former Oakland A’s teammate Jason Giambi.

It’s over, time to move on.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews. net.