LarryD
autodidact polymath
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2002
- Posts
- 29,846
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 36
- Location
- living the dream
- Website
- Visit site
By ADAM RUBIN AND DAVE GOLDINER
New York Daily News
PHILADELPHIA - Mike Piazza blasted the rumors right out of the park with a simple phrase: "I'm not gay."
The Mets superstar catcher proclaimed his heterosexuality to the world at an extraordinary news conference last night called to shoot down whispers that he is about to come out of the clubhouse closet.
"The truth is that I'm heterosexual and date women and that's it. End of story," Piazza said.
Even as he declared he is straight, Piazza said he would have no objections to playing with a gay teammate.
"In this day and age it would be irrelevant," said Piazza, 33. "If the guy is doing his job on the field . . . I don't think there would be any problem at all."
A relaxed Piazza spoke calmly and evenly to reporters, but his easygoing demeanor belied the unprecedented subject - one of the strongest taboos in sports.
In the topsy-turvy, 40-year history of the Mets, miracles came easy - but no one ever asked a player to fend off questions about being gay.
Piazza didn't blink when the questions turned for one of the first times in American sports history to sexual orientation.
``I deny those rumors. I don't know how they got started," said Piazza. "I don't know why. I don't know how or where. But obviously these things do not apply to me at all."
The nine-time All-Star catcher - who is often spotted around town with sexy women and used to date Darlene Bernaola, Playboy's Playmate of the Millennium - agreed to discuss the issue after New York Post gossip columnist Neal Travis hinted that a Mets star is gay in an article that ran on Monday.
Stung by the rumor, Mets general manager Steve Phillips blasted the story in a clubhouse hallway.
He then directed reporters to Piazza, who was stretching on the infield at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, where the Mets played the Phillies Tuesday night.
Minutes later, a small group of reporters approached Piazza - and he agreed to make a statement about the rumors to a larger group.
His teammates shagged fly balls as Piazza insisted he has no idea why fans often mention him as one top baseball player who might be gay.
"I guess that's the price you pay sometimes of being a public figure," said Piazza, as his father, Vince, watched out of earshot in the visitors' dugout.
The Post column spun out of a Details magazine interview in which Mets manager Bobby Valentine said in response to a question that baseball "is probably ready for an openly gay player."
The Mets skipper never mentioned Piazza or any other player, but Travis speculated he might be laying the groundwork for the outing of the team's biggest star.
Phillips told writers Tuesday to ask any player about his sexuality themselves if they believe the issue is newsworthy.
"Don't write rumors unless you're willing to go ask people directly," Phillips said. "I think it's reckless journalism. It's upsetting that writing rumors seems to be okay."
Phillips added, "if statistics play out," there are probably gays on every major league team.
"So what? It's nobody's business," Phillips said. "People show up to play baseball and do their jobs or whatever they do. Who cares?"
The issue of gays in baseball hit the headlines last season when the editor of a gay magazine threatened to "out" his ballplayer boyfriend.
Brendan Lemon of Out magazine identified the player as a starter with an East Coast franchise, but "not his team's biggest star" - a description that would seem to rule out Piazza.
Lemon never named the player, and other commentators later questioned whether the controversy was a publicity stunt.
New York Daily News
PHILADELPHIA - Mike Piazza blasted the rumors right out of the park with a simple phrase: "I'm not gay."
The Mets superstar catcher proclaimed his heterosexuality to the world at an extraordinary news conference last night called to shoot down whispers that he is about to come out of the clubhouse closet.
"The truth is that I'm heterosexual and date women and that's it. End of story," Piazza said.
Even as he declared he is straight, Piazza said he would have no objections to playing with a gay teammate.
"In this day and age it would be irrelevant," said Piazza, 33. "If the guy is doing his job on the field . . . I don't think there would be any problem at all."
A relaxed Piazza spoke calmly and evenly to reporters, but his easygoing demeanor belied the unprecedented subject - one of the strongest taboos in sports.
In the topsy-turvy, 40-year history of the Mets, miracles came easy - but no one ever asked a player to fend off questions about being gay.
Piazza didn't blink when the questions turned for one of the first times in American sports history to sexual orientation.
``I deny those rumors. I don't know how they got started," said Piazza. "I don't know why. I don't know how or where. But obviously these things do not apply to me at all."
The nine-time All-Star catcher - who is often spotted around town with sexy women and used to date Darlene Bernaola, Playboy's Playmate of the Millennium - agreed to discuss the issue after New York Post gossip columnist Neal Travis hinted that a Mets star is gay in an article that ran on Monday.
Stung by the rumor, Mets general manager Steve Phillips blasted the story in a clubhouse hallway.
He then directed reporters to Piazza, who was stretching on the infield at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, where the Mets played the Phillies Tuesday night.
Minutes later, a small group of reporters approached Piazza - and he agreed to make a statement about the rumors to a larger group.
His teammates shagged fly balls as Piazza insisted he has no idea why fans often mention him as one top baseball player who might be gay.
"I guess that's the price you pay sometimes of being a public figure," said Piazza, as his father, Vince, watched out of earshot in the visitors' dugout.
The Post column spun out of a Details magazine interview in which Mets manager Bobby Valentine said in response to a question that baseball "is probably ready for an openly gay player."
The Mets skipper never mentioned Piazza or any other player, but Travis speculated he might be laying the groundwork for the outing of the team's biggest star.
Phillips told writers Tuesday to ask any player about his sexuality themselves if they believe the issue is newsworthy.
"Don't write rumors unless you're willing to go ask people directly," Phillips said. "I think it's reckless journalism. It's upsetting that writing rumors seems to be okay."
Phillips added, "if statistics play out," there are probably gays on every major league team.
"So what? It's nobody's business," Phillips said. "People show up to play baseball and do their jobs or whatever they do. Who cares?"
The issue of gays in baseball hit the headlines last season when the editor of a gay magazine threatened to "out" his ballplayer boyfriend.
Brendan Lemon of Out magazine identified the player as a starter with an East Coast franchise, but "not his team's biggest star" - a description that would seem to rule out Piazza.
Lemon never named the player, and other commentators later questioned whether the controversy was a publicity stunt.
