Metallica Rumored for Mariano Rivera’s Retirement Ceremony

It didn't take much connecting of the dots after Metallica announced their Harlem performances to get New York Yankees fans speculating about a guest appearance at Mariano Rivera's retirement ceremony.

The New York Daily News reports that the band is rumored to be participating in the event honoring the Yankees longtime closer and certain future Hall of Famer. For years, Rivera has used Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' as his entry theme (as seen above) and given that Metallica are in town, the appearance would provide a special touch to the night.

The timing is right as Metallica will play their show at the Apollo in Harlem Sept. 21, with Rivera's pre-game event set for Yankee Stadium the following day. Further fuelling the rumor is the fact that the Yankees opponents for the night will be the San Francisco Giants, the hometown team of the Bay Area-based Metallica.

Though the rumors are flying, a Yankees spokesperson told the paper that he could not comment on "any events surrounding Mo's ceremony." Earlier this year, Rivera received a Metallica gold record from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland as part of the Indians' farewell celebration of the retiring pitcher.