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April 16, 2008
Hawkins Would Rather Switch Than Fight
Via the Yankees site -
Tired of receiving flak for wearing a number last used by Paul O'Neill, the Yankees' LaTroy Hawkins has decided to surrender his No. 21 before the club opens a two-game series against the Red Sox on Wednesday.
The right-hander declined comment after the Yankees' 5-3 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, but Yankees director of media relations Jason Zillo confirmed the change. Hawkins' decision was first reported by CBSSports.com.
According to CBSSports.com, Hawkins made the decision after discussions with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and other Yankees veterans, who told Hawkins that the number is not worth the headache it's causing.
"I figure if it's important enough for Jeter and Mariano and some other veterans to ask me about it, it's not worth it to keep wearing the number," Hawkins told the Web site.
Hawkins will wear No. 22, last worn by Roger Clemens, when the Yankees take the field on Wednesday.
As many married men will tell you..."You can be happy, or, you can be right." Whether or not Hawkins was within his rights to wear #21, based on the reaction from the fans, it seems like his life will be happier with the switch to #22.
There's enough pressure playing in New York. No need to look to add to it if you can avoid it. Smart move La Troy.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at April 16, 2008 09:53 AM
Comments
There's enough pressure playing in New York. No need to look to add to it if you can avoid it. Smart move LaTroy.
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That being said, it's still disgraceful that his hometown fans would boo him over something like this. I'll be the first to admit that I was upset that the Yankees gave out #21 to Morgan Ensberg and then Hawkins but I refused to boo someone for wearing O'Neill's uniform. If the Yankees chose to make that number available (which I wish they had not done) I couldn't fault a player for making the choice to wear it.
Yankee fans shouldn't be proud of themselves for this. It's really somewhat ridiculous to boo one of our own for wearing #21, especially if Hawkins did it to honor the great Roberto Clemente.
Posted by: MJ ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at April 16, 2008 10:09 AM
Total jackassery by "Yankee fans" here, who I don't even consider worthy of that moniker. You are a fan of the team first. Period. If O'Neill has his # retired, it would totally devalue the entire act and what it stands for, at which point you HAVE to retire Bernie, Posada, Jeter, A-Rod, Pettitte, and God knows who else. O'Neill was simply not a good enough player who didn't spend enough of his career as a Yankee.
Now this # has a stigma on it, so player's aren't going to wear it, yet it won't be retired, all because a bunch of "fans" valued a # of winning. Shameful.
Posted by: Zack at April 16, 2008 10:18 AM
Yankee fans shouldn't be proud of themselves for this. It's really somewhat ridiculous to boo one of our own for wearing #21, especially if Hawkins did it to honor the great Roberto Clemente.
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I suspect that these people probably don't even know who Clemente was...
Interesting note, I remember when Sierra came here in 95, he requested 21 (which was worn by O'Neill at the time) but was denied. Anyone else remember this?
Posted by: Raf at April 16, 2008 04:20 PM
I agree completely, booing Hawkins for wearing 21 was a total asshat move by those Yankee fans that did it.
Posted by: ccaviness at April 16, 2008 04:51 PM