Visitor’s pass for Damon

Johnny Damon stood in front of his locker inside the visitor’s clubhouse at Fenway Park searching for the right words. He knew what it meant to be a visitor who was hated by most Red Sox fans, but he also knew the circumstances this time were different.Damon was not wearing a Yankees uniform anymore. Now with the Tigers, Damon wondered if there could be a different reaction from fans than the one he received four years ago when he came back to Fenway as a Yankee.“I love playing here and in New York, which was against a lot of people wishes, but I fell in love with New York also,’’ Damon said. “I’m one of those players who can go anywhere and make the best of it.’’An hour after Damon said those words, he was scratched from the Tigers’ lineup due to back spasms, meaning Damon will have to wait one more day to find out how he is received.Although Damon didn’t play last night, his return as a Tiger was a discussion topic for his former Sox teammates. Kevin Youkilis said he understood Damon’s decision to sign with the Yankees in 2006. Youkilis thinks that should not get in the way of fans giving Damon a standing ovation.“The one thing in life you can’t do is please everyone, and there probably are people who still love Johnny here,’’ Youkilis said. “He loved it here. It’s part of the business. Sometimes it looks like it’s the player’s fault. Sometimes it looks like it’s the ownership’s fault. Sometimes it’s the agent’s fault.’’Jason Varitek agrees with Youkilis.“I still think that people here know and valued what he [did]when he was here,’’ Varitek said. “He was such a great teammate and a big part of a championship here.’’More than just not being a Yankee, another reason Damon thought fans might give him a better greeting was because of how he played when he was in Boston. Damon helped lead the Sox to their 2004 title hitting two home runs and driving in six in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Yankees. Damon said that was one of his fondest memories as a player, and if fans cheer for him today, he knows it comes out of respect for what he did to bring the Sox a championship and break the curse.“The players who can survive playing in Boston and New York, you tip your hat to them because there is a lot more than just playing baseball,’’ Damon said. “You become a part of not just a community you’re around, but everybody follows the team. You’re a part of Red Sox Nation everywhere, whether it’s Southern California or Japan.’’This year Damon is hitting .281 with seven homers and 32 RBIs. When asked if being in a Tigers uniform brought less anxiety coming into Fenway than in a Yankees uniform, Damon smiled as he answered with a loud, “Yeah.’’But Damon knows he has to be honest with himself, which means if a lot boos do come his way, it’s a part of being on the opposing team.“I’ve been booed so many times in my career,’’ he said. “I got booed yesterday. I get booed everywhere. Like Reggie Jackson once said, ‘They don’t boo nobodies.’ ’’Nate Taylor can be reached at ntaylor@globe.com.