In an idol moment

Some camped out all night, sacrificing a good hair day. Others came before the sun was up. By the time the doors opened at Macy's in Downtown Crossing yesterday, hundreds of fans, mostly women, had lined up for chance to be photographed with a Red Sox dreamboat.

But a few brave souls had a more ambitious goal in mind: to lay a wet one on Johnny Damon.

As the slugging outfielder sat on a high stool in Macy's menswear department, wearing slacks and loafers, fans snaked by for a brief encounter, having a photo snapped and getting in a quick word.

Store personnel discouraged requests for autographs, as well as touching.

But several young women sneaked pecks on Damon's cheek. Doreen Burliss, a 30-ish woman from Boxford, enthusiastically grabbed a shocked Damon by the shoulders and planted a long smooch.

"It was soft and warm, with his little whiskers," Burliss gushed later. "He's just awesome. He's made baseball so fun. He really got the team spirit going. Johnny rocks!"

A group of three Northeastern University students who had been waiting outside since 5:30 a.m. all decided to kiss the ballplayer.

"We videotaped it. We planned for about two hours," said Abbe Miller, 18, a freshman. "Oh, my God. Who else can say they kissed Johnny Damon?"

Damon, whose eyes bulged at the number of people packed into the department store, appeared to take it in stride.

"I love them," he said. "That's Boston fans."

With recent appearances on "Saturday Night Live" and the "Late Show with David Letterman," he said he feels like a rock star.

As for the ladies, Damon said: "I'm not complaining about that."

HEATHER ALLEN