It's just a number, people.

Opening Day is usually a happy, fun-filled day where tens of thousands of Yankees fans file into Yankee Stadium to watch their team open a new season.  Some fans though, choose to be complete imbiciles rather than fun-loving attendees.  Which is what happened last night.  When LaTroy Hawkins was introduced to the crowd, rather than applaud him as they did all the others, they booed him.  Why you may ask?  Because he's wearing #21.  Apparently, the most sacred number in the history of sport.  Hawkins chose to wear #21 to honor Roberto Clemente, which is a very admirable and classy gesture.  Such a gesture however, was not responded to in kind. 

I know that Paul O'Neill holds a special place in the hearts of Yankees fans and I know that seeing someone wearing his number all these years later is a shock.....but it's just a number.  Hawkins wearing that number does not in anyway detract from what O'Neill did on this team.  He doesn't deserve to have his number retired, and that's not a mark on his abilities at all.  It's just the way it is.  If the Yankees held every single number belonging to a player that a majority of fans hold in somewhat high esteem, they would have no numbers to give out.  It's time the number got back into circulation and of all people who would be embarrassed by the this garbage, Paul O'Neill is at the top of the list.  I'm sure the last thing he'd want is Yankees fans booing another Yankee over a number.  Hawkins hasn't even thrown a regular-season pitch as a Yankee and already he's getting the A-Rod treatment.  We all like to talk about how we supposedly have the classiest fans in baseball.....this is an indicator that we don't.  Such a proud and storied franchise doesn't deserve fans who at the drop of a hat, will turn into boorish clowns.  We're better than this.  Aren't we?