Apparently deciding that the millions of dollars he earns as manager of the New York Yankees isn’t enough, Joe Girardi has taken to declining interview requests unless the request comes in the form of a check. Well, if you believe noted New York sports radio personality Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, that is. Russo says the Bronx Bombers’ skipper used his agent to back out of a recent interview due to the galling lack of remunerations. Hey, since when does anything come for free in New York City?
“We get down there and find out (from Yankees PR) it’s a problem, Joe won’t do it. I said: ‘What do you mean he won’t do it?’ They tell me he has to get paid,” Russo said. “His agent (Steve Mandell) said Joe is the Yankees manager and he’s not talking for free.”
How chic.
For their part, the Yankees claim that it’s because Girardi is in negotiations for an exclusive deal with XM radio’s MLB channel, which is really just another way of saying he won’t do an interview unless he gets paid. Glad we cleared that up.
However, if there are any AL East beat writers out there in desperate need for a sound-bite, I suggest you just head on over to Buck Showalter and the Baltimore Orioles. He hasn’t stopped talking since the Triassic Period. Hell, you’d probably have to pay him to shut up.
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Yankee won’t do radio interview unless he gets paid [BenMaller.com]
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- doublechinmusic - Mar 26, 2011 at 5:30 PM
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say it aint so Joe
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- pisano - Mar 26, 2011 at 6:05 PM
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Well, that’s one way to keep the media from busting his balls.
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- uyf1950 - Mar 26, 2011 at 6:44 PM
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Anyone whose ever lived in NYC knows $3MM (his annual Yankee salary) doesn’t go as far as it used to.
As a side note I don’t blame him for not wanting to talk to most of the press either they will only put their own spin on the interview anyway. Besides they can always go over to Queens if there really desperate for an interview. The Mets don’t seem short on news this season.
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- rapmusicmademedoit - Mar 26, 2011 at 7:03 PM
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coaches don’t like the press, I don’t either, what can you do.
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- sparkyd - Mar 26, 2011 at 7:46 PM
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If true, I have lost all respect for Girardi. I had so much respect for him when he stood up to the owner of my beloved Marlins. What a shame.
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- ocgunslinger - Mar 26, 2011 at 8:46 PM
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The “Free Press” must be wetting their pants. I would hope the press would simply boycott the Yankees manager. We already know the typical spin that would go with any interview anyway. This would give the opportunity to hear more from coaches and players.
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- cur68 - Mar 26, 2011 at 11:57 PM
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Ahh, this is just some misunderstanding, I bet. Joe seems like a decent dude. I bet when he’s asked about it in the clubhouse tomorrow it all turns out to be nothing.
