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Gray
Apologizes By George Stahl NEW YORK (AQB)--NBC reporter Jim Gray apologized to baseball fans Tuesday night, two days after his contentious interview with Pete Rose. However, the Yankees were not quick to forgive. Gray said during NBC's pregame show before Game 3, "After viewing the videotape, I can understand the reaction of many baseball fans. I thought that it was important to ask Pete Rose if this was the right moment for him to make an apology. "If in doing so, the interview went on too long and took out some of the joy of the occasion, then I want to say to baseball fans everywhere that I'm very sorry about this." Gray,
who has been following the Yankees for NBC, delivered his apology
after providing an update on New York infielder Luis Sojo, who returned
to the team after missing the first two games because of his father's
death. When Gray finished the Sojo update, NBC baseball announcer
Bob Costas said in a Tell-Mr.- Despite the apology, Yankee outfielder and Game 3 hero Chad Curtis abruptly ended his postgame "interview" with Gray, minutes after his game-winning home run in the tenth inning. "As a team we kind of decided that because of what happened to Pete, we're not going to talk out here on the field. I do want to say, though, that was for you, Grandma," Curtis said on air and then walked away. Gray shouted after Curtis, ''Chad, you don't want to talk about the home run?'' but Curtis did not turn around. On CNBC's postgame show, Curtis and other Yankees talked to NBC's other dugout reporter, Craig Sager, who has been covering the Braves. NBC spokesman Ed Markey told The Associated Press that NBC does not plan to make any changes to its coverage despite the boycott. ''Jim Gray will be back tomorrow night in the Yankee dugout - same assignment as tonight,'' he said after Tuesday night's game. Markey added that the network expected the Yankees will talk to Gray for Game 4. Should the Yankees clinch the series, Gray is scheduled to be the reporter for the postgame trophy presentation. Curtis later said it wasn't anything personal between him and Gray. "It's a thing the team decided. It [the Rose interview] really upset some people, so we as a team decided to boycott talking to him on the field," Curtis said. "If my team decides that, then it's my decision, too." Fans, media critics and players have criticized Gray for being overly aggressive in his interview with Rose moments after the ceremony for the All-Century team and minutes before Game 2. Rose, a member of the All-Century team, had received the longest ovation of any member during the ceremony despite being banned from baseball for allegedly betting on games as manager of the Reds. Click here to see George's opinion and the full transcript of the interview. The Associated Press contributed information to this report. |
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