Crossing enemy lines
Here are some notable athletes who, like Jason Taylor, left, have left rival teams to work in New York, and one who left New York and contributed to the pennant-winning Red Sox.
Roger Clemens
Hated by Yankees fans and numerous Yankees during his Red Sox career, he arrived in the Bronx in 1999 and won the Cy Young Award in 2001, going 20-3. He played five seasons with the Yankees before joining the Astros, then returned for one more season with the Yankees in 2007.
Earl Monroe
There were plenty of questions when the Baltimore Bullets superstar was traded to the Knicks in 1971, but Monroe found a way to mesh with flamboyant star Walt Frazier. The two became one of the most famous backcourts of all time, leading the Knicks to the 1973 NBA championship.
Wade Boggs
After 11 seasons with the Red Sox, he signed a free-agent deal to play with the Yankees after a dismal 1992 season. He hit more than .300 in his first four seasons here and won his only world championship in 1996.
Isiah Thomas
OK, he wasn't Reggie Miller. But Thomas wasn't exactly a favorite of Knicks fans or players when he was leading the Bad Boy Pistons to two championships in the '80s. Thomas also failed to win over Knicks fans after he was hired in 2003 to run and then coach the team, and many still blame him for the team's current struggles.
Johnny Damon
Left the Red Sox for the Yankees as a free agent in December 2005 and became public enemy No. 1 in Boston. In his four seasons with the Yankees, however, he was one of the most popular athletes in the city and remains a fan favorite, even now as a Detroit Tiger.
Had a Hall of Fame career with the Yankees and was the AL MVP in 1963. He was dealt to the Red Sox during the 1967 season but batted only .147 for them that season as the Sox went to the World Series. He hit .241 in 71 games for the Red Sox the following season and was released.
The five-time NHL scoring champion with the Bruins did not endear himself to Rangers fans, who nevertheless had to cheer for him when he was dealt to New York in a stunning multiple-player deal between the teams in November 1975. Had some solid seasons with the Rangers but never approached his numbers with Boston.
Loathed by New Yorkers for his 2000 comments about what it's like to ride the No. 7 train in the city, when his slurs targeted gays and immigrants, among others, the controversial Braves reliever was signed by the Long Island Ducks for the 2005 season. He went 0-2 with a 6.50 ERA and lasted only three months before being released.
