Johnny Damon's success feeds off his confidence; Red Sox center fielder has learned to deal with pressure during a career of high expectations.(American League Baseball)

JOHNNY DAMON ON THE HOT SEAT? What else is new? Imagine striding to the plate as a high school senior while the announcer bellows, "Now batting for the No. 1 team in the nation, the No. 1 player in the nation, Johnny Damon!"

Consider arriving for your rookie season with the Kansas City Royals and discovering that all of Missouri expects you to be the second coming of Hall of Famer George Brett.

Then picture landing in Oakland, where the A's pay you more than even Jason Giambi to be their missing link, a gifted leadoff hitter.

All three times Damon landed in the hot seat he got burned. As fiercely as he battled--and maybe because he fought too hard--he came up short.

Now, as Damon puts his past seasons behind him and battles the expectations stoked by Red Sox fans desperate for a championship--he has a chance to prove once and for all that he can conquer a mighty challenge.

The Red Sox are counting on the speedy center fielder to deliver, during the next four seasons, the spark at the top of the lineup Boston has sorely lacked in recent years.

Fear not, Damon said.