GEORGE TO CAIRO: NO PARKING!

TAMPA - Miguel Cairo, who is delighted to be back with the Yankees after a season across town with the Mets, got a quick reminder of how, um, different life in pinstripes can be when he briefly interrupted his workout at the Yanks' minor-league complex on Thursday and sprinted to the parking lot.

The reason? He inadvertently had parked his car in George Steinbrenner's spot at the facility, which is about a mile from the Yanks' spring training home at Legends Field.

Steinbrenner stopped by the complex to pick up something and found Cairo's car blocking his regular spot. Moments later, Cairo bolted past two reporters who were interviewing Derek Jeter, got his car keys from the clubhouse and found a new spot, though he said he didn't see Steinbrenner.

Cairo laughed about it yesterday, saying, "I just parked. I didn't know it was The Boss' spot. I moved my car real quick. I didn't want to get in trouble.

"I'm going to take it as luck," Cairo added. "You've got to see it from the positive side."

BY ANTHONY McCARRON DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

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