While NBC's Jim Gray apologized last night to a
national TV audience before Game Three of the World Series
for his interview Sunday with Pete Rose, Yankees LF Chad
Curtis refused to speak to Gray after his 10th-inning game-
winning HR. Gray approached Curtis: "Chad, tell us about
that pitch." Curtis: "I can't do it. You know, as a team,
we kind of decided that because of what happened with Pete,
we're not going to talk out here on the field. I do want to
say that was for you Grandma. Thanks." Curtis ran off, and
Gray followed him saying, "Chad, you don't want to talk
about the home run?" After a pause, Gray said, "Alright,
back to you, Bob [Costas]." Curtis later spoke with Craig
Sager on CNBC's post-game coverage. The Braves did speak
with Gray ("World Series Game Three," NBC, 10/26).
EBERSOL "LIVID": Afterward, Curtis said, "It really
wasn't my doing. It was something the team decided to do.
We decided we needed to do something" (DETROIT NEWS, 10/27).
NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay writes that Gray "thought he had
defused the smoldering [Rose] controversy," but "it turned
out he hadn't." NBC Sports Chair Dick Ebersol, when asked
if NBC would move Gray off the broadcasts: "Jim Gray will be
back tomorrow in the Yankee dugout." Asked if the Yankees
knew Gray had apologized before the game, a "livid" Ebersol
said, "The manager knew an apology was coming" (NEWSDAY,
10/27). Earlier, Ebersol had said that the Yankees were "too
professional" for a boycott of Gray. (N.Y. TIMES, 10/27).
In Atlanta, Prentis Rogers writes that the "snub of Gray
overshadowed all the other aspects" of NBC's game coverage
(ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 10/27). A photo of Gray offering his
apology is featured on the front page of USA TODAY (10/27).
PREGAME: Before the start of Game Three, NBC's Bob
Costas told Gray, "Just about everybody watching tonight
either saw or has heard about your interview with Pete Rose
following the All-Century Team celebration on Sunday night
in Atlanta. You had something you wanted to say about
that." Gray: "Yes, Bob. 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 am very sorry about this" (NBC, 10/26).
WHY THE APOLOGY: Gray said a decision to apologize came
after watching the interview with NBC execs: "The [viewer]
response was so overwhelming over the past 48 hours, we felt
we had to say something." Ebersol: "We simply had to
respond to what has been an overwhelmingly negative reaction
to a perfectly justified interview. ... The mistake was our
timing, choosing to put the interview on after the
excitement of the ceremony, when everyone has such a good
feeling. We also went too long and stayed with the same
line of questioning for too long" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/27).
Ebersol said there wasn't any pressure from corporate
advertisers to have Gray apologize: "Mastercard asked for
something for the fans, an explanation. But no advertiser
had any displeasure with NBC. And we never heard a word
from baseball. The people who spoke to us, loud and clear,
were the fans. They made us go back to it and look at it."
Ebersol said he has no plans to take any action against
Gray. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig: "I heard about the
interview and I'm sorry about the timing. I'm sorry that
anything detracted from the ceremonies. ... It's time to
put it aside and move on. ... (The reaction) is something
NBC should handle" (WESTCHESTER JOURNAL NEWS, 10/27).
REAX: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes that "it took some
guts for Gray ... to go on national TV and apologize. But I
have to question his motivation." Raissman notes that Gray
did not apologize when speaking with reporters on Monday and
asks, "Why did he decide to offer his apology after
MasterCard demanded he do so? The answer to that question
is easy. Money talks." Raissman, to Gray and NBC: "Take
your apology and stuff it" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/27). In
Toronto, William Houston: "It's a sad day when a journalist
needs to apologize for asking tough questions" (Toronto
GLOBE & MAIL, 10/27). In Detroit, Mitch Albom writes that
Gray should have been less "abrasive" in his interview of
Rose, but to "brand him evil for not lobbing mushball
questions at Rose ... is far more damaging. It suggests we
shoot the messenger rather than hear bad news. And it puts
a star athlete above the rules" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 10/27).
In N.Y., Wallace Matthews writes that Gray had "the
obligation" to ask Rose tough questions. Wallace: "America,
get over it. You, too, Yankees" (N.Y. POST, 10/27). In
Miami, Greg Cote: "I'll take one Jim Gray, daring to press
on with the rugged interview, over a thousand ex-jocks
grinning at Rose and lobbing 'questions' like, 'Pete! What a
night, huh!'" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/27). In S.F., Bruce Jenkins
notes that the Gray/Rose controversy continues to be the
story of the World Series: "Is anyone talking about the
games?" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/27). In Chicago, Paul Sullivan
writes under the header, "Gray 'Sorry' -- But Gets Stiffed'"
(CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/27). David Letterman, on Gray's
interview of Rose: "Crazy wasn't it? Crazy, that guy just
going after Pete and working him over. Did you feel bad for
Pete when you saw that interview?" ("Late Show," 10/26).
FALLOUT: Pete Rose's agent, Warren Green, on the Gray
interview: "He misled us. He told us he was a big Pete Rose
supporter, that this interview was a great opportunity, that
Pete should do this" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 10/27).
