Texsox Posted April 20, 2004 Share Posted April 20, 2004 BOSTON - UConn basketball coach Jim Calhoun was honored by the call, but there was no way he was going to accept the offer. A chance to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium doesn't come along very often - only a true Red Sox fan would snub it. "I got the call as soon as we got back (from New Orleans)," Calhoun said after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch yesterday at Fenway Park. "Actually they called twice. "I just said firmly that I would visit there to watch the Red Sox, but I'm not going to step on that mound." The coach of the NCAA champions grew up in Braintree, Mass., and his family were followers of the Boston Braves. But after the Braves left, by fatherly decree they began a love affair with the Red Sox. Like most of their fans, he is long-suffering. "Last fall I told (freshman forward) Josh Boone that I had nothing against him except the name Boone," Calhoun said. "I told him that name didn't conjure great memories for me." Calhoun was startled when the Yankees called back a second time to invite him. "I think they were surprised, like I didn't hear them right the first time," he said. "I have great respect for those guys, but there's no question my heart is here with the Red Sox. "I half expected the next call to be from (George Steinbrenner) to tell me I'm fired." Calhoun's team was adopted by many in the New York area because of area products like Taliek Brown of Queens, Ben Gordon of Mount Vernon and Charlie Villanueva of Brooklyn. "They should have had Taliek and Ben and some of the guys from New York do that," he said. "Obviously Connecticut is a divided state in many, many ways. It's not divided for me. I know where my passions lie." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Posted April 20, 2004 Share Posted April 20, 2004 That's awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiff Posted April 20, 2004 Share Posted April 20, 2004 He also coached at Northeastern before UCONN hired him. One quote I saw that wasn't in that article, he told the Yankees, "Sixty years of torment is enough." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 20, 2004 Share Posted April 20, 2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted April 22, 2004 Share Posted April 22, 2004 That is cool as hell! I love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 Now THAT is a true fan. SALUTE to Jim Calhoun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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