The Pavanos are Connecticut Italians. Connecticut Italians are Yankees fans. There are exceptions, of course, but the ties date to Tony Lazzeri and Frank Crosetti, but they were cemented by the son an Italian fisherman. "Joe DiMaggio was the mega-star that gave Italian Americans the mainstream acceptance they craved."

Now Carl Pavano, at 28, 6'5", 240 lbs, fulfills Parents dream, and the Connecticut Italian becomes an Italian 'Connecticut' "Yankee".

Carl signed with the Red Sox out of high school, but first pitched for Montreal for
4 1/2 years, and then Florida for 3 1/2 years.

Carl's 18-8 record and 3.00 ERA last season with Florida, earned him a four year, $40 million contract, with the NY Yankees, as one of the most sought-after free agent pitchers of the off season.

Pavano's road to the Bronx was a lengthy one, as he embarked on his "Carlpalooza" tour, stopping in Detroit, Seattle, Boston, New York and Baltimore to meet with prospective suitors.

Despite early reports that Pavano was leaning toward the Red Sox, the Yankees continued to pursue the right-hander. Pavano credited Joe Torre, NY's manager's persistence and persuasion as the difference.

For a time, Pavano was better known for his links to the famous than for his right arm. He was traded for Pedro Martinez. He gave up Mark McGwire's 70th home run. His brief relationship with Alyssa Milano showed up in tabloids everywhere

The Hartford Courant, CT, USA
Jeff Jacobs
December 23, 2004

NEW YORK -...Carl Pavano began to button on the pinstripes - a fit his mother felt was ordained since birth - and only then did the big guy with the jet black hair glance toward his family.

"I couldn't tell if they were happy or sad," Pavano said. "Everybody was crying."

This was the day two lifelong Yankees fans had long awaited.

This was the day Carmen and Ann Marie Pavano's boy became a Yankee.

Outside, the center field scoreboard announced the arrival of one of the most sought-after free agent pitchers of the off-season. Inside, surrounded by his tight-knit Italian family, a son of Connecticut joined the greatest rivalry in sports.

"It doesn't get any better than this," Carmen Pavano said.

"When Carl was little he'd be on the front lawn playing catch with my dad," Ann Marie said. "Up until he died, he would say to me, `One day, you're going to see Carl in pinstripes.'"

Three days before Christmas 2004, Angelo Lepito was proved right.

Romance is a precious commodity in today's sports marketplace. Red Sox fans will find none in a four-year, $40 million free agent contract Pavano, 28, signed with the Yankees. There is no denying that on the competitive surface, it is stark, cold business. The Yankees rotation fell apart, the Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918 and George Steinbrenner reacted by throwing open his checkbook and overhauling his pitching staff. Now where's the Big Unit and Beltran?

However, for a family from Southington- one with roots that grow deep into New Britain and even deeper to Italy - it is something more profound, more personal. Ann Marie is a Lepito, a familiar name in New Britain neighborhoods. Carmen's dad Angelo arrived from Florida, Sicily. Carmen would become the owner of Eagle Cleaners in Bristol, a man his major league son honors for rising before dawn and returning home after dark.

Brian Kenny and Rece Davis of ESPN come in for dry cleaning as does Ernesto Jerez of ESPN Deportes. They'll chat baseball with Carmen. His customers, the ones who are Red Sox fans, tease Carmen that they're going to find a new place. Yankees fans praise his son's choice. Either way, Carmen assures them he played no role in Carl signing with the Yankees. Sure, Carmen has dry-cleaned pinstripes. Folks come in with their Yankee jerseys, the ones with Jeter on the back. But they come in with Red Sox jerseys, too.

All leave with fashion equally crisp.

"They're my customers," he said. "They all deserve my best."

There is something lush in Pavano's Connecticut story, something that goes beyond his 18-8 record and 3.00 ERA last season, beyond him finding good health, learning to dissect lineups and not try to overpower everyone. Beyond his "Carlapalooza" free agent tour of America, beyond even the overblown reputation as a playboy. For a time, Pavano was better known for his links to the famous than for his right arm. He was traded for Pedro Martinez. He gave up Mark McGwire's 70th home run. His brief relationship with Alyssa Milano showed up in tabloids everywhere, and, gosh, he even was described as "hot" in our family newspaper by Max's Oyster Bar manager Jen Holcomb when he showed up on a date with Milano last December... He turned down a chance to be "The Bachelor." Instead, he chose "The Yankee."

The Pavanos are Connecticut Italians. Connecticut Italians are Yankees fans. There are exceptions, of course, but they cross over the mythical line that divides our state, deep into Red Sox territory. The ties date to Tony Lazzeri and Frank Crosetti, but they were cemented by the son an Italian fisherman.

"Joe DiMaggio was the mega-star that gave Italian Americans the mainstream acceptance they craved," said Dom Amore, who covers the Yankees for The Courant. "In a way the Yankees became what the Dodgers later became to the black community when they signed Jackie Robinson."

Carmen loved Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra. He said Angelo would bring him only to Yankee Stadium.

"I was never in Fenway Park until Carl signed with the Red Sox," Carmen said.

Carl idolized Don Mattingly, hitting Wiffle balls left-handed when he wasn't much taller than a bat. The Mattingly story, of course, remained within the family when Carl signed with the Red Sox out of high school. Only when he was traded to Montreal for Pedro in 1997 did Ann Marie openly declare her dream for Carl to play for the Yankees.

Pavano said he tired of pitching in empty stadiums in Montreal and Florida. He says he craves the "baseball energy" of 50,000 fans. Others have the energy, too, only to wilt under the big city's glare.

"He's resilient," Carmen insisted. "He has been through some tough times already. He had a lot of injuries. He never gave up. He's ready for New York, the good and bad. It's like Reggie Jackson told him: This is the ultimate stage and the ultimate challenge."

The Yankees lore is growing up from Pavano's toes. Tuesday night, he went to see "700 Sundays" and afterward Billy Crystal regaled him with Yogi stories. Once upon a time, when Pavano was a Little Leaguer, Curt Schilling had picked him out of a New Britain camp and befriended him. Pavano would get his first major league start against Schilling on May 23, 1998. He would get his first win against Schilling 10 days later. His first hit and first RBI were against Schilling, too. Six years later, the Big Schill recruited him hard for the Red Sox. He chose the Yankees.

"Ironic," Pavano said.

Or destiny.

Ann Marie may have suspected. She went shopping in New York for Yankees jewelry in late November. Carmen and Ann Marie remembered the days when a Trenton bus filled with Red Sox prospects used to pull up to their house after Eastern League games with New Britain.

"Carl brought Trot Nixon, the whole team would come for a cookout," Carmen said, "steak on the grill, all the fixings."

"And pasta," Ann Marie said.

Even the Red Sox, the Pavanos concede, deserve a good meal.

"A Son's Destiny, A Family's Pride" in the Harford Courant, CT, USA
http://www.ctnow.com/sports/hc-jeffcol1223.artdec23,1,4900278.column?coll=hc-utility-sports

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