Will Ferrell responds to John Madden’s criticism

Will Ferrell took a heavy dose of criticism from none other than John Madden for his spring training stunt where he played in 10 different games for 10 different teams in the same day.

Ferrell’s stunt was done for charity and recorded with camera crews for a future TV project. Though Ferrell’s day-long affair was clearly done for entertainment purposes and to raise some money for Stand Up to Cancer and Cancer for College, Madden played the role of the grumpy old man and criticized it.

“I hate it,” Madden told KCBS 740 in San Francisco. “That’s a lack of respect, that’s a lack of respect for the game, I think, and a respect for what players have to do to get where they are.”

Maybe some players were irritated by Ferrell’s presence, but many more seemed to enjoy it and were happy to be part of it. Even the Angels had a lot of fun with it by putting on a great defensive shift. After all, any player who has played in the minor leagues knows that publicity stunts are a huge part of the game.

During an interview on “Conan” last week, Ferrell was asked about Madden’s criticism and responded.

“First of all, he’s right. Look at me. I’m all about lack of respect,” Ferrell joked. “I don’t think the interviewer told him it was all for charity, number one, but I do love that in his mind he just thought I was just like ‘Major League Baseball, I want to play in 10 different games for 10 different teams. I want to do it Thursday! Because I’m a big shot, and make it happen now!’ Like I’m Veruca Salt. So he’s like ‘this Will Ferrell thinks he can just insert himself into big league games.”

When asked if he planned to speak with Madden to bury the hatchet, Ferrell said no and then offered a humorous alternative.

“My next thing for charity I’m going to impersonate football analysts,” he said.

Now that would be awesome.

Madden must have been misinformed, because he doesn’t seem like a grump. Ferrell was about keeping it loose. He wasn’t taking at-bats away from players. Whether it’s going around to spring training venues or showing up at Staples Center as “Ted Vagina,” Ferrell keeps it fun in the sports world whenever he pops in.

H/T Big League Stew