Henson's decision to leave Michigan makes little sense.(Brief Article)

I have one question for Drew Henson: Why now?

Then again, this is a world that's in a big rush to have people grow up. There is no time to savor things. Just punch the accelerator toward tomorrow. So Henson's decision to take the Yankees' offer of $17 million over six years shouldn't come as a surprise.

After all, the Yankees, who are pro sports' equivalent to the kid with peanuts, popcorn and Cracker Jack who still has his face pressed against the glass case at the concession stand, always seem to get what they want.

But Henson could have said no. Henson should have said no.

If Henson, a 6-5 powerhitting third base prospect who was re-acquired by New York last week, was going to do this, why didn't he commit full-time to the Yankees out of high school? That's what Josh Booty, Quincy Carter and Chris Weinke, among others, did. They gave baseball the ol' college try. After bombing out, they turned to college football.

Why did Henson invest three years in a college football career and then bail out? Yes, his bargaining power has improved, but it would have been even better with a strong senior season on his resume. As it stands, Henson will make about $3 million a year. As the top pick in the 2002 NFL draft, which many think Henson would have been, his signing bonus certainly would have been more substantial than the $1 million he got from the Yankees. Top pick Courtney Brown got a $10.03 million signing bonus and an $800,000 reporting bonus last year. But instead of playing one more year at Michigan, Henson bails. It makes no sense.

It makes even less sense when you consider what Henson often has said the university means to him. He grew up in Brighton, Mich., not far from the Michigan campus. He dreamed of wearing a winged helmet. He dreamed of being serenaded with The Victors. He dreamed of running onto the field at the Big House anti jumping and touching that "Go Blue M Club Supports You" banner. He was living his dream.