Squawker Jon did such a good job recapping last night’s Opening Night loss at Citi – or is that Kitty? – Field that his post was featured in Yahoo Sports’ Big League Stew. How cool is that?
But there is one thing my writing partner didn’t touch on – Mike Piazza’s appearance catching Tom Seaver’s first pitch, and how the usually chatty Piazza had Mets security surrounding him to prevent any pesky questions from reporters.
According to today’s New York Times, while Seaver spent 15 minutes in the press box chatting with the media, Piazza had different plans:
Piazza, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen. Escorted by security, he went from the field to the stadium tunnel. His plan to avoid the news media was only briefly interrupted, by two questions from a television news reporter about the new stadium.
Hmmm, I wonder why that is. You don’t think it had anything to do with the steroid allegations about Piazza in Jeff Pearlman’s new book “The Rocket That Fell to Earth,” do you?
Mets PR guy Jay Horwitz said Piazza “wasn’t looking for any attention. He said, ‘I’m a private person now, I have a family, I’m raising my kids, my wife’s having a baby and I want to stay in the background.'”
Yeah, so the best way to stay in the background is to be introduced at the opening of a $800 million stadium as a “soon to be Hall of Fame catcher,” and as one of “the greatest players” the Mets ever had. And to catch the first pitch thrown at that stadium. Good grief.
“I’m a private person now” is shades of Mark McGwire’s “I’m not here to talk about the past” statement. Then again, at least McGwire said that himself, and didn’t leave that ridiculous remark to be made by some PR flack.
Besides, it was less than six weeks ago that Piazza talked up a storm with reporters when he was a coach for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. Now he’s Greta Garbo, vanting to be left alone? Gimme a break.
Frankly, given the complete lack of coverage this Piazza PED story has received so far, I’m surprised any reporter was going to ask him anything about it!
If Piazza were some random average retired player, I could see leaving him alone. But as long as his name is going to be talked about as a future Hall of Famer, and as long as he’s out there representing Mets history, this is a valid topic of discussion.
McGwire lost his HOF chances because of PED allegations. Why should Piazza get a pass?
Mike needs to answer the PED allegations in Pearlman’s book. Otherwise, I never want to hear him talked about as a great player again.
What do you think about Mike Piazza? Leave us a comment!
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