Zachary Sharples, a 12-year-old middle school student, was punished with an in-school suspension last week for committing the dastardly crime of ... getting a haircut? More specifically, he got a "Rayhawk," which is exactly the same as a mohawk except ... well, okay, it's just a mohawk. But while the hair cut was once reserved for rebellious punk rockers, it's now popular among Tampa Bay baseball fans following in the footsteps of Jonny Gomes, Evan Longoria, Ben Zobrist and the rest of the Rays. But apparently at Palmetto's Lincoln Middle School, it's also against the dress code.
Not surprisingly, the suspension made waves both in the local media and the blogosphere, and when Gomes saw a story about Sharples on the news, he decided to invite him and his family onto the field to watch batting practice before Game 2 of the ALCS. From MLB.com:
Once Sharples got out onto the Tropicana Field turf, the Rays stopped over, one by one, and offered their support."Keep the mohawk, man," right-hander Andy Sonnanstine said, giving Sharples a fist bump. First baseman Carlos Pena offered to write the youngster's former principal a note.Between this and the girl in Chicago who got in trouble for (gasp!) wearing a Kosuke Fukudome jersey, some school officials need to relax. When did being a sports fan start being against the rules?
[...] Gomes laughed when asked of his suspensions as a youngster, saying a Mohawk would have been "one of the better things" he did. "Hopefully, we've got a Rays fan for life -- a Jonny Gomes fan for life," Gomes said.
Rays-Red Sox Photos
BOSTON - OCTOBER 13: Starting pitcher Jon Lester #31 of the Boston Red Sox deals against the Tampa Bay Rays in game three of the American League Championship Series during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Fenway Park on October 13, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jon Lester
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BOSTON - OCTOBER 13: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox bats against the Tampa Bay Rays in game three of the American League Championship Series during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Fenway Park on October 13, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Ortiz
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BOSTON - OCTOBER 13: Relief pitcher Edwin Jackson #36 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches against the Boston Red Sox in game three of the American League Championship Series during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Fenway Park on October 13, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Rays defeated the Red Sox 9-1 to take a 2-1 series lead. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Edwin Jackson
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BOSTON - OCTOBER 13: Jason Bay #44 of the Boston Red Sox stands in left field in game three of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Fenway Park on October 13, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Rays defeated the Red Sox 9-1 to take a 2-1 series lead. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jason Bay
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BOSTON - OCTOBER 13: Fans of the Boston Red Sox watch game three from the green monster during the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Fenway Park on October 13, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Rays defeated the Red Sox 9-1 to take a 2-1 series lead. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
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BOSTON - OCTOBER 13: B.J. Upton #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with teammate Akinori Iwamura #1 after defeating the Boston Red Sox in game three of the American League Championship Series during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Fenway Park on October 13, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Rays defeated the Red Sox 9-1 to take a 2-1 series lead. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** B.J. Upton;Akinori Iwamura
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BOSTON - OCTOBER 13: Dioner Navarro #30 of the Tampa Bay Rays throws to first against the Boston Red Sox in game three of the American League Championship Series during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Fenway Park on October 13, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dioner Navarro
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BOSTON - OCTOBER 13: Akinori Iwamura #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays fields the ball against the Boston Red Sox in game three of the American League Championship Series during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Fenway Park on October 13, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Akinori Iwamura
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Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Matt Garza, right, congratulates catcher Dioner Navarro after defeating the Boston Red Sox 9-1 in Game 3 of the American League baseball championship series in Boston, Monday, Oct. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
AP
Tampa Bay Rays' Carlos Pena, left is congratulated by teammate Evan Longoria after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning in Game 3 of the American League baseball championship series in Boston, Monday, Oct. 13, 2008. Tampa Bay defeated Boston 9-1 to take a 2-1 game lead in the ALCS. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
AP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
10-13-2008 @ 3:15PM
Dorothy Graham said...
what is the big about the hair?
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10-13-2008 @ 3:17PM
Dorothy Graham said...
what is the big deal about this kid 's hair.let him show his support for his team,find someone else to pick on.
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10-13-2008 @ 3:43PM
George B Vieto said...
If the Tampa Bay Rays would jump off the Centennial Bridge into the Panama Canal would Zachary do the same thing? So much for atheles being role models for their young fans.
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10-13-2008 @ 3:48PM
Matt Watson said...
George: but the Rays didn't jump off a bridge, they simply inspired a hair cut. What's the big deal?
10-13-2008 @ 3:51PM
pinky said...
what next, lets see no freedom of speech he got his haircut to support his team, let it go, people there are far worst things in this world than a hair cut can we say FORECLOSURES,ECONOMY,ETC!!!You people need to get a life and focus on this very scary election...think about it!!!!!
10-13-2008 @ 4:02PM
Rob Burns said...
Are you serious about that post? Get a grip and lighten up.
10-13-2008 @ 4:13PM
seahawk said...
George, you are an idiot. Just because he decided to show some fan appreciation by getting a hair cut, doesn't mean he's nieve. Fan's do things like that all the time such as waving the terrible towel, growing victory beards, or face painting. They are just cheering there teams and having fun with it. "If the Tampa Bay Rays would jump off the Centennial Bridge into the Panama Canal would Zachary do the same thing?" This just show's how intellecutally shallow you really are.
10-14-2008 @ 10:35AM
Ciolli said...
George you're an idiot.
10-14-2008 @ 2:44PM
KR said...
who ever you are you have no idea what it means to express how you feel about anything.....its hair whats the big deal...?
10-16-2008 @ 10:27PM
Mike said...
Your an idiot!
10-13-2008 @ 4:06PM
shelly said...
We are talking about a haircut! And honestly I don't want any sports figure to be my kids role model. I would prefer they look up to police officers, teachers and doctors. What contribution do sports figures make to society? Oh I know shows our kids that education isn't important, but playing games are. NICE culture we are raising.
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10-13-2008 @ 4:32PM
Brigette Walters said...
Shelly- You must remember that there are crooked police, pedophile teachers and unethical doctors out there. It is up to parents to explain to children what good model behavior is. While society influences children, it's parents who are supposed to teach them morals and values. So if you want your children to live in a NICE culture, teach them what one it is supposed to be like. Otherwise things will never change.
10-14-2008 @ 2:37AM
peace said...
ames are how we learn the best. Its what we learn from those games. CHavign time to play weatehr a child or and adult is vital to every aspect of human developement. Same is true for animals. And, sports also allow us to hark back to the time when we had to learn to fight and then fight for survival in the wilderness. the fact that we don't incorporate enough play in teaching is why americans are falling behind in education.
Wantt o tach math play math games. Reading reading games.
The game hangman is great for teaching spelling.
10-13-2008 @ 4:12PM
sammy said...
It doesnt make sense that a kid got suspended for pretty much being a fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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10-13-2008 @ 4:13PM
cheryl said...
come on u guys chill out. its only a hair cut and it will grow back normally. my gosh let he boy be a boy!
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10-13-2008 @ 4:14PM
Kevin said...
george: The Players got the haircut. tons of fans have rayhawks in tampa bay... Besides people should be able to have any hairstyle they want. Its not like it distracts kids in school
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10-13-2008 @ 4:25PM
Brigette said...
George-you obviously are not a fan of team that has been at the bottom of the barrel for years. At least this kid has been inspired by SOMETHING. A team of young athletes that believe in their ability to be successful in accomplishing a common goal, winning the World Series. Last time I checked that's a great attribute to look up to. I for one would want my son to look up to people like that. And while a "Rayhawk" may be a distraction in class, it is only that way because closed minded people have made it so.
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10-13-2008 @ 4:26PM
Charlee said...
Schools have dress codes, which include hair. He didn't follow the rules, he was suspended, end of story. Sports are playing FAR to large a role in the development of our youth. This combined with a "rules are for everyone but me" attitude are undermining schools ability to control learning environments, which is turn lead to more idiotic "zero tolerance" policies. The parents should have used a little common sense.....oh wait, that's UNcommon sense these days.
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10-13-2008 @ 4:48PM
Anthony said...
Sports last time I check pay for college and not everyone plsys in the big leagues! What happened to our basic freedom rights! Next thing they will put astop to praying or allgiance to the US in class o wait they did!
10-13-2008 @ 4:34PM
Colt Cecil said...
I have one and its really not that big of deal. You walk in any highschool and im sure you will find alot more distracting then a rayhawk. give me break, you think its a good role model sittin on this website talking about some dumb haircut. its 2008 get with the program
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