Marty Noble, the Mets' beat writer for Newsday, has
sent a letter to the Baseball Writers Association (BBWAA)
alleging that N.Y. Post baseball columnist Joel Sherman
"threatened Mets GM Steve Phillips with negative publicity
if he didn't 'take care of'" Post Mets beat writer David
Waldstein, according to Bob Raissman of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS.
Noble wrote that Phillips has "acknowledged the threat." In
addition, Noble wrote that Sherman "implied" he might use
his position as Chair of BBWAA's NY chapter "against" the
Mets. In his letter, which was reviewed by the BBWAA during
the All-Star break, Noble "concluded that Sherman's BBWAA
membership card should be revoked." Yesterday, Sherman
"categorically denied" ever implying he would use his
position as NY BBWAA Chair "as a hammer against the Mets."
But when asked about the allegation that he threatened
Phillips, Sherman said "it was a long story" that involved
other writers (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/10).
FUZZY SUIT: Fuzzy Zoeller is suing Florida Today sports
columnist Peter Kerasotis for a "satirical commentary
published" during The Masters in April, according to George
Diaz of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. The lawsuit, filed in U.S.
District Court in Orlando, "seeks unspecified money damages
and injunctive relief" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/10).
