Sutcliffe Apologizes For Drunken Guest Appearance In Booth

Sutcliffe Apologizes For Inebriated Interview

ESPN baseball analyst Rick Sutcliffe during a guest appearance in Channel 4 San Diego’s broadcast booth for Brewers-Padres on Wednesday gave a “rambling, slurred interview” before his microphone “eventually was cut off,” according to the AP’s Bernie Wilson. Channel 4 GM Craig Nichols said Sutcliffe “used remarkably poor judgment. I’m embarrassed. I’m embarrassed for the Channel 4 team, and I’m embarrassed for the viewers” (AP, 5/12). ESPN’s “SportsCenter” on Thursday night aired an audio clip of Sutcliffe’s appearance in the booth. “SportsCenter” anchor John Buccigross also read an apology from Sutcliffe: “I exercised bad judgment and accepted [an opportunity to go on the air with the Padres broadcast team], even though I was not in optimum condition to go on live television. I regret that lapse in judgment and my decision and I sincerely apologize” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 5/11).