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Priceless By George Stahl NEW YORK (AQB)--Major League Baseball sponsor MasterCard, like thousands of baseball fans, saw Jim Gray's controversial interview with Pete Rose on Sunday night and didn't like it. "MasterCard International in no way condones or supports Gray's actions during last night's telecast. We strongly believe that Mr. Gray owes an apology to the millions of fans that tuned in to see what was meant as a celebration of baseball and its greatest players. We urge Mr. Gray to issue an apology swiftly, to avoid tarnishing the last World Series of the century." Gray said in Tueday's USA Today, "Nobody in sports could hold the fans in higher regard than I do. As always, I was trying to do my job to the best of my ability. If the fans felt that the interview went on too long, particularly on a night of special celebration, then I'm sorry for that." [Click here to see more of Gray's comments in Tuesday's USA Today, as well as reaction from other NBC and sports media members. Other Gray/Rose stories from Tuesday's newspapers: New York Times, New York Daily News column, New York Daily News story, Baltimore Sun, Boston Herald and Boston Globe.] The credit card company, which sponsored baseball's All-Century team, said in a statement Monday night that everything was going smoothly until the interview. "MasterCard has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from baseball fans all over the United States in response to Sunday's broadcast announcing the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Millions of fans voted for the players, including Pete Rose, who they considered to be the greatest of the century and tuned in to this tribute to America's favorite past-time. "Unfortunately, today we've also heard from thousands of fans who were outraged that NBC reporter Jim Gray tarnished what was a wonderful tribute honoring the 30 individuals America chose to be the All-Century Team. They are outraged that Mr. Gray chose this celebration to attack Rose, who received more than a 500,000 votes from fans across the nation. "We share their outrage." NBC officials and Jim Gray were unavailable for immediate comment. |
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