Warren Cromartie¡¯s energy can be infectious. When the former Montreal Expos and Yomiuri Giants star gets going on a topic, his voice rises, his words drip with conviction and even over the phone, you can imagine him flashing that familiar, toothy, megawatt smile.

The subject on Cromartie¡¯s mind today is the Montreal Expos. More specifically, how he hopes to bring the team, which relocated and became the Washington Nationals after the 2004 season, back to the city.

¡°It¡¯s been quite a journey, and something I¡¯m supposed to do,¡± Cromartie told The Japan Times in a telephone interview. ¡°It¡¯s not something where I¡¯m trying to be a hero or anything.¡±