Saturday, July 15, 2000

Henson insists he's made no decision


Reds prospect wants to clarify remarks

By Scott MacGregor
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        Drew Henson wants to be clear: He hasn't made up his mind about choosing baseball or football as a career. And being traded to the Reds won't change his opinion either way.

        Henson was concerned his quotes in an Associated Press story in Friday's editions of the Enquirer made it sound as if he'd reconsider his baseball career because the Yankees traded him. He said that's not the case.

        He doesn't want to sound as if he is slighting the Reds, because he says that's not his intention.

        “I'm no closer to my decision than I was two days ago or a year ago,” Henson said Friday by phone from New York's LaGuardia Airport. “I was disappointed at first, because the Yankees were the only team I knew, and they treated me great. But I still love playing baseball.”Henson, a Double-A third baseman and the starting quarterback for the University of Michigan, was the top prospect of four traded by the Yankees to the Reds on Wednesday for pitcher Denny Neagle and outfielder Mike Frank. Henson reported to the Reds' Double-A affiliate in Chattanooga on Friday and will play his first game there today. On Aug. 1, he'll report to Michigan to prepare for the college football season.

        There has been much speculation about Henson's future.

        On Thursday, Henson told the Ann Arbor News, “At least now, I want to rethink what my priorities are between baseball and football. I have to look at why I might want to play baseball. Is it because I was playing for the Yankees, or because I love baseball?

        “I think, in the long run, this will make me understand whether I'm doing it for the right reasons.”

        The story was picked up on the Associated Press wire. Henson said those comments are accurate, but what he meant is that he wants to determine whether his baseball dream was about playing in the majors or playing for the Yankees.

        Henson said he is no hurry to make his decision. He'll be a junior at Michigan this fall, and may not decide until after his senior season.

        “My timetable hasn't changed,” he said. “The only thing that has changed is that prior to a couple days ago, my decision was to play football or play for the Yankees. I never imagined I would be traded. It's a different organization, but it won't change my decision.”

       



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