Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Grow Up Yankees
The reliever succumbed to pressure from New York Yankees fans who felt No. 21 still belonged to Paul O'Neill and switched to No. 22 when the team began a two-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.
"What can I say? The fans have always been unbelievable to me there," O'Neill said in a telephone interview from his home in Ohio. "I don't really know how to explain it. It makes you feel good that the fans still think of you as wearing that number."
Hawkins didn't want to discuss the change Thursday, saying the focus on the number was "unbelievable." On Tuesday, he told cbssports.com he made the decision after speaking with Yankees captain Derek Jeter and reliever Mariano Rivera, who played alongside O'Neill."
...This is crazy. Booing him because he wears a number worn by Paul O'Neill. O'Neill was a good player, but not an amazing player and should never have his number 21 retired. I don't see him up there with the Ruth's and Mantle's of the world so why should he have the same honor as them? The guy was trying to honor one of the all-time greats in Roberto Clemente just as Robinson Cano honors Jackie Robinson with his name, and Mo honors Jackie with #42. They shouldn't be booed and neither should Hawkins. I also think it is sad that Jeter and Marino said something to him about the number. If the number wasn't meant to be worn it would be retired, but that number does not deserve that right. And why didn't Paul O'Neill stick up for him instead of just saying that he feels good the Yankee fans booed him[Hawkins]. Real class act.
