PEACE! Randy Johnson is all smiles yesterday at Yankee Stadium.
Randy Johnson kicked off what should've been a joyous day in Yankees history on a somber, depressing note, apologizing for physically confronting a local CBS cameraman on Monday morning.
The Madison Avenue Meltdown was the type of episode you would've expected from Sean Penn - but that Yankees fans have come to expect from the likes of Kevin Brown.
"The situation yesterday, it was unprofessional," Johnson said. "And obviously I feel very foolish today at a great moment of my career that I would have to stand before you and apologize
"I hope to do bigger and better things on the field and off the field."
The black cloud hanging over the 6-foot-10 lefty's head dissipated after that, and Johnson intermittently smiled and joked with reporters the rest of the way.
"I don't hate anybody, except on the day I step across that white line and pitch," Johnson said. "It's not hard to hate somebody on the day that I pitch.
"On the other days, I'm all about peace," he added as he made the peace sign with both hands at the conclusion of a gathering with print reporters.
Not all the time, though. After Channel 2 anchor Duke Castiglione revisited the subject during the middle of the press conference with the glib opening, "We met yesterday," a simmering Johnson and unrepentant Castiglione engaged in a he said/he said exchange about what went down.
Johnson then said he'd like to bury the hatchet with the station.
After much wrangling, the Yanks acquired the five-time Cy Young Award winner from Arizona for Javier Vazquez, Dioner Navarro and Brad Halsey. The 41-year-old legend owns 246 victories and 4,161 strikeouts.
The Yanks approached Arizona at least three separate times since last June, and even had a three-team trade torpedoed by the Dodgers this offseason.
"It was one of the hardest player acquisitions that we've had to work through," said GM Brian Cashman, who credited president Randy Levine as the lead negotiator. "[Johnson]'s a guy who single-handedly ... we might have two more rings on our finger if it wasn't for his efforts in '95 (with Seattle) and 2001 (with Arizona)."
How quickly can Johnson adapt to the Big Apple? Cashman frequently says it took Roger Clemens many months to truly adjust to life in pinstripes. The Yankees, in the previously unimaginable position of chasing Boston, don't have that time.
"If I had that secret, I would've utilized it in the past already," Cashman said.
After stops in the sleepy towns of Montreal, Seattle, Houston and Phoenix, Johnson is in the city that never sleeps - and he's already experienced his first waking nightmare.
"I'm not used to having photographers pop out from behind the bushes and taking my picture or things like that," Johnson said. "Do I have to get used to that?
"Without a doubt."
It's curious that superstars like Johnson constantly seek every edge - legal and otherwise - to rise above their peers and dispatch their competition yet often can't humor or even comprehend media members who do the same.
He said that he'd try to accommodate the media but warned he has a strict workout regimen on the days he doesn't pitch. Translation: Don't expect another David Cone, who was often in front of his locker for journalists.
The Yankees and their fans won't care as long as Johnson produces at least 20 wins, a World Series trophy and no more meltdowns.
"I'll tell you right now: I'll probably lose at least one game, two games this year," Johnson said.
Nevertheless, the expectations of Johnson and his new employer are nearly that high.
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