Rob Gronkowski is friends with the Yankees fan who was banned

Feb 7, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Rob Gronkowski at Fox Sports media day at the Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Leave it to Rob Gronkowski to have a connection to the story of the New York Yankees fans who were banned from Game 5 of the World Series.

A Yankees fan who was sitting in the first row down the right field line ripped a ball out of Mookie Betts glove after the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder made a catch in the first inning of Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., on Tuesday night.

The fan and his friend were removed from their seats. On Wednesday, the Yankees announced that the fan would not be allowed to attend Wednesday’s Game 5 due to his actions the night before.

During “Up and Adams” on Wednesday, Gronk revealed that he was friends with the fan, Austin Capobianco, in college at the University of Arizona. Gronkowski, who played football for the Wildcats, said Capobianco played on the school’s club ice hockey team.

“The whole hockey team, they were absolute maniacs. It’s undescribable how wild these guys were. Him doing that represents him very well. He is all-in for his teams. He is all-in for the Yankees. I remember him talking about the Yankees all the time, how he loves them so much. That describes him perfectly, just doing whatever it takes to help his team out,” Gronkowski said of Austin.

“I haven’t talked to him in a while. They were fun, that’s for sure. He’s a fun dude.”

If Rob Gronkowski is calling you wild, then ou must be really wild.

Austin was a college friend. Very passionate about the teams he represents. Will do anything for them. A menace, wild boy as well, he is the person that undoubtedly would say he would do that then actually do it. Maniac status since college has been confirmed. https://t.co/jkSaiWlr8i

— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) October 30, 2024