Bronx, NY: Several weeks ago we were in Yankee stadium talking to several players and interviewing for the documentary that we are working on regarding the retiring of Roberto Clemente’s # 21 from Major League Baseball. It was interesting how the majority of the players that we approached agreed with retiring #21. We have been filming many and soon we will be able to produce a piece on this movement.

What was more interesting was that one of our Latino Sports Writers & Broadcasters Association (LSWBA) members asked us for some of the petitions to take to her community. Raquel Julitch, from Foreign Radio is not new to issues; especially since she is perhaps one of the most tenured persons in the press covering the Yankees.

Apparently, Raquel interviewed Jorge Posada soon after we had spoken to him and gave him a copy of the petition. To our surprise our office received a letter from the Yankees, and when we opened the envelope we were elated to find a petition with the signatures of nine Yankee players. The petition started with Jorge Posada followed by: Larry Bowa, Shawn Chacon, Johnny Damon, Bernabe Williams, Tony Peña, Miguel Cairo, Carl Pavano, and Mariano Rivera.

Thank you Jorge and all the Yankees that actually took time from their routine to actually sign a petition for a cause that goes beyond themselves and their teams.

A Community Grass Root Campaign

There have been several local campaigns; however, this campaign to retire Clemente’s # 21 is different in that it is trying to reach out to everyone. It picked up steam during the All Star game in Pittsburgh, PA when many volunteer’s from Latino Sports, Latino Sports Writers & Broadcasters Association (LSWBA) and community members gathered at a press conference to announce the beginning of a community grass root campaign to retire #21.

This campaign wants take the question of retiring Roberto Clemente’s # 21 directly to the community, the fans, the people that are rarely asked, the press, the players -- everyone that makes up our community in and outside the game.

We want teachers to ask students and students to ask teachers.

We want this campaign taken to our churches, as we have done in the South Bronx with La Resurrección United Methodist Church who has not only agreed to support this goal and distribute petitions to its congregation, but has also agreed to be the fiscal conduit to the campaign.

Soon it will be introduced as a resolution in the New York City Council by council member Melissa Mark Viverito. New York City can set the example for other governmental bodies.

We urge all our readers to continue to get the message out to as many friends, family and friends as possible.

© Copyright 2006 by LatinoSports.com

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