New York Yankees special advisor Reggie Jackson unleashed a foul-mouthed on-air rant against slugger Giancarlo Stanton on Sunday after learning that the highly-paid superstar would sit out Game 2 of the ALCS due to an ailing quad.
During an interview with Jim Bowden of the MLB Network, Jackson dropped multiple f-bombs out of frustration, questioning Stanton’s desire to stay on the field after missing 144 games due to injury this season.
“[Expletive], he’s been out all [expletive] year! How the [expletive] could he be hurt?” Jackson said, later adding that he didn’t realize they were live on the air.
After a few moments of silence, reality set in for Jackson.
“[I was] trying to make fun of the question, thinking it can’t go on the air with the swear words, I said, ‘He’s been out all [expletive] year,” Jackson explained via text with NJ Advance Media. “I thought [Bowden] would then say, ‘OK, Reggie, since you’re going to shoot yourself since we have the same birthday and you filled my tape with all the swear words, let’s do one for radio as we’re wanting to go on the air with you.’
“That was the an ‘Oh [expletive]’ for me. I thought it was all a joke. I almost choked when he said they were on the air.”
Jackson immediately reached out to Yankees media relations VP Jason Zillo to explain the situation and was informed he should bring it to Stanton before the media does.
“I immediately spoke to Jason Zillo and he advised I go in and talk to Stanton, which I did,” Jackson added in his texts to NJ Advance Media. “I’d just spent several days with him during his rehab [from a knee injury] and he graciously accept my faux paux.
“Please know this was said to belittle the question, not with intent or malice.”
Stanton batted .288 with three home runs and 13 RBI in 72 plate appearances this season.
