Reggie Jackson’s back-peddling and apologizing were not enough to prevent the New York Yankees from banning the Hall of Fame slugger from being around the team indefinitely.
Jackson, a special adviser to the team, was quoted in Sports Illustrated blasting Yankee Alex Rodriguez, saying, among other things, that Rodriguez’ statistics are tainted because of his admitted use of performance enhancing drugs and that old timers would not vote for him for the Hall of Fame.
On Friday Jackson called Rodriguez, manager Joe Giradi and team officials to apologize. That did not temper the team’s anger. Jackson was not in Boston over the weekend, where the Yankees played the Red Sox.
“A cooling-off period, but not a death penalty,” a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking called it Jackson’s banishment to ESPNNewYork.com.
At some point, Jackson is expected to be back with the team, the source said.
Rodriguez said he heard from Jackson but would not get into details of the conversation. “We’re going to keep that very private,” Rodriguez said Friday.
In the Sports Illustrated article, Jackson said “Al’s a very good friend,” Jackson said of the Yankees’ third baseman, who has 642 career home runs, placing him fifth all-time.
“But I think there are real questions about his numbers,” Jackson said. “As much as I like him, what he admitted about his usage does cloud some of his records.”
He went on to say that Rodriguez and Barry Bonds and others who have been part of the steroids scandal should not be in the Hall of Fame.
“If any of those guys get in, no Hall of Famer will attend,” Jackson told SI.
Rodriguez handled the disrespect with aplomb. But he did say, apparently jokingly, “With friends like that, who needs enemies?”
He might have offered that in jest. But if Rodriguez was serious, who could blame him?
