Albert Pujols does not like KTVI. In fact, he is so angry about an inaccurate report from the station that Pujols had reporters from KTVI take a timeout, sit in a corner and remain quiet until ST. LOUIS -- Albert Pujols, angry his name was incorrectly linked to the Mitchell report on steroids last month, banned a St. Louis television station from participating in a news conference Monday.
Pujols asked Cardinals media relations director Brian Bartow to make a reporter and cameraman from St. Louis Fox affiliate KTVI leave the room where Pujols' news conference was taking place on the final day of the Cardinals' winter warmup.
On Dec. 13, KTVI broadcast an incorrect report, citing information posted on the Web site of New York television station WNBC, that linked Pujols and other players to the Mitchell report.
When the report was released that day, Pujols' name was not included.
"I know we're in the dark clouds with the steroids," Pujols said. "But now people are going to second-guess my numbers because some guys started something that wasn't the truth."
The KTVI duo watched Monday's news conference from the corner of the room with the camera off and did not participate.
After chewing out the media, Pujols directed his wrath toward his critics who second-guessed him since his rookie year:
"Since 2001, I've been proving myself every year," he said. "How much better can I get? Only God knows. Do I need to cheat in this game to get better? This is a hobby, man. I fear God too much to do stupid things in this game. Cheating on this game, that's not right."
Pujols has been dealing with doubters since shortly after he began his career, first with his age. Throughout the years he said media have tried to goad him into creating controversy.
"I remember from 2001, 'Oh he's not 21,'" Pujols said. "During the playoffs, they always look for the big names to start things. And now with the steroids I've been getting rocks all over the place, and they keep bouncing off me."
Pujols said he decided against offseason surgery on his right elbow, a trouble spot for several years, because he would have had to miss a significant portion if not all the 2008 season. Pujols still is unable to straighten his arm, but team doctors concluded that because he plays first base, an operation can be postponed.
What I do know, is that the handful of superstars who owe their stardom to performance enhancing drugs have completely ruined the reputations of those major leaguers who did it naturally.
3 comments:
Good for Pujols. The nedia always loves to play the "we just report the news, we don't make it" card. But you have to wonder at what point a local media affiliate realizes that they owe the guys on their "home" team a little more respect by not running with rumors before they are substantiated. It doesn't surprise me so much in New York, although that doesn't mean it's any more "right" there.
Good point Wolf and thanks for the comments.
As I am somewhat of a media member myself, I completely agree with the idea that some outlets hide behind the "we report the news, we don't make it" card. It's an easy play.
While nationwide sports talk hosts will deride Pujols for bullying a reporter since he is just "a messenger," I find it difficult to fault him for being angry and trying to clear his name.
if a player did not use the juice he should be able to defend his name as hard as it was smeared. good for pujols
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