Last week when Jason Bay’s name came up, I was reminded of the awkward press conference in which the Mets handed Jason Bay a hockey jersey. That was the inspiration for this post.
Now what’s interesting to me….and it may just be a function of the realities of digital media and the 21st century….who knows maybe there were awkward press conferences in 1965….I thought these were all gonna be from the Jeff Wilpon Era…..
BOWLING QUESTIONS ONLY
…Fortunately, an LA Times Article (of all places, although sourcing the New York Daily News) recounted the 10 Most Embarrassing Mets things of all time and reminds me that
When teammate Bobby Bonilla, the supposed driver of the vehicle from which Coleman tossed the explosive was questioned about the incident at his charity bowling tournament later that week, longtime Mets PR honcho Jay Horwitz interceded and famously told reporters, “Bowling questions only.”
I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE
I forgot the Mets made TDK Apolgize.
which could have been a throwback to
Cleon Jones, a .340 hitter on the Mets’ 1969 World Series championship team and a member of the team’s Hall of Fame, was forced to hold a press conference to apologize for a 1975 incident in which he was arrested in St. Petersburg for indecent exposure after being found by police naked and asleep in the back of a van with a woman other than his wife. (also LA Times)
THE MARIJUANA PLAGUE
Remember not-so long ago when someone smoking marijuana was A Thing?
”I’m sorry,” Roberts said to a roomful of reporters and television cameras at Shea Stadium. ”I’m very embarrassed by the situation. I made a mistake. The picture that you all saw is from the off-season in 1998. The woman who gave up the picture has also tried to threaten me and do other things, to get me to do stuff and give her things. And obviously I did not. Again, I’m sorry and I apologize to the New York Mets organization and to their fans. I love and respect this game a lot and I’m going to continue to play and I look forward to putting this behind me and moving on.” (via NY Times)
And as if that’s not enough…
Manager Bobby Valentine, trying to illustrate the potential dangers of playing under the influence of drugs, struck a pose as a disoriented hitter swinging an imaginary bat. (NY Times)
Fortunately baseball has rid itself of marijuana usage among the current players.
OMAR MINAYA ANYTHING
(Thanks Jessie for sending over.) Omar Minaya may have been good at many things. He was not good at press conferences. Here he is explaining firing a manager at 2am.
My favorite was when Omar went after Adam Rubin.
I’M NOT GAY
But then there’s this…
I couldn’t find any video but
Mets All-Star catcher Mike Piazza, often pictured with a pretty model on his arm, held an unusual press conference Tuesday to announce that he is not homosexual.
“I’m not gay,” he said. “I’m heterosexual.”
Piazza, reacting to questions and rumors about his sexual orientation, said he was just setting the record straight. He said he heard the rumors.
“I can’t control what people think. I date women,” said Piazza, who has been seen with model Darlene Bernaola and Debbie Dunning, the actress who played the “Tool Time Girl” on “Home Improvement.” (via Hartford Courant)
Can you imagine?
And I will leave you with this. It has nothing to do with the Mets, but Angry Mike Piazza Soccer Press Conference is a must watch!
