Fans have followed shirt policy to a T

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Charles Steinberg, the Red Sox' executive vice president of public affairs, has spent much of his week dealing with all matters pertaining to the Rolling Stones (more on their lasting impact on the Fens in a moment), so he was caught a bit off guard by the calls he fielded yesterday regarding the team's rules against wearing offensive T-shirts to ballgames.

Especially, Steinberg said, since the Sox have had the same guidelines in place since the start of the 2004 season, in response to complaints from fans objecting to such T-shirts as those accusing the Yankees of inhaling excessively, but in blunter language. Evidently, the issue resurfaced yesterday because Boston Magazine's website published an item referring to the Sox' practice of asking fans to turn inside out T-shirts that they consider offensive -- again, most of which target the Yankees and their most prominent stars, such as Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.

''About two years ago, at the beginning of the 2004 season, in response to requests from many, many fans, we started the practice of asking fans to turn their T-shirts inside out," Steinberg said. ''The compliance rate has been outstanding ever since we started. It has not been an issue, and it has contributed greatly to a more family-friendly, civil ambience."

Understand, Steinberg said, the Sox have not instituted a formal prohibition against wearing such T-shirts. They are relying, he said, on the goodwill of their customers to comply.

''If someone wants to make a point, we're not trying to make some legal claim," Steinberg said, referring to the freedom of speech issues raised. ''If it's a cool night, we might ask someone to wear their jacket over it. Our security people use their judgment that [wearing such shirts] is not going to be a problem. It is not a rigid concept; we rely on a spirit of cooperation and collaboration.

''I asked [director of security Charles] Cellucci, and he said he doesn't remember anyone being ejected [for offensive attire]."

The Yankees have had a similar practice of requiring fans to reverse offensive T-shirts at the turnstiles in Yankee Stadium, but there isn't a team in the major leagues that has yet to find a way to curb the practice of fans chanting the very words they are compelled not to wear on their T-shirts.

Still, Steinberg said, he noted a definite improvement in the atmosphere at Fenway Park, which brings us back to the Stones. Sox manager Terry Francona had joked last week in Anaheim, Calif., that he was adamant the Stones be kept from using his office during their concert appearances. His wishes were respected, Steinberg said; the Stones used the home clubhouse, while the band's warmup act, the Black Eyed Peas, used the visitors' clubhouse.

''The clubhouse smells much better," Steinberg proclaimed, ''after an array of Rolling Stones candles changed the fragrance."

Candles? If he says so.