Video: Bernie Williams on Players’ Perception of the Yankees-Red Sox Rivalry

Bernie Williams was in the Big Apple yesterday promoting Mastercard’s Priceless NYC campaign.

During lunch, he sat with a group of bloggers that included yours truly, Bronx Banter, The OCD Chick, River Ave. Blues, Bleacher Report and Bro Bible.

Bernie offered candied anecdotes, on, among other things: the contrasting managerial styles of Buck Showalter & Joe Torre; his early years stepping in to replace the popular (injured) Roberto Kelly; the roles Maas, Stankiewicz and the like played in paving the way for him, Jorge, Jeter and Mo; his music career; and, of course, Yankees-Red Sox.

Asked whether he and his teammates recognized and bought into the rivalry or whether it was simply a product of the media and fan bases, Williams acknowledges there “was something going on between players,” crediting Pedro Martinez as the lightning rod that sparked it, and laughing, “It wasn’t pretty.”

Here’s his response...

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Pedro Martinez Loves Him Some Jamie Moyer

On his Gillette Pro Glide media tour and in between AJ's Espanol Deadspin interview, Pedro wouldn't take the bait and talk ill of his former mates...but couldn't say enough good things about Jamie Moyer.

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Pedro, Archie Manning Shop at Same Costume Store

And that store was Chess King, and it closed in 1994.

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Esquire: Why Is Pedro Martinez Smiling?

Monika Graff/UPI via Newscom

"However, the wry smile he cracked in the face of substantial booing from the crowd at Steinbrenner's House of Fiscal Excess was worth every moment of the six solid innings that he pitched. That smile was a coda. Someone should have talked about it more."

Full Article

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Lawmakers, Wary of Mets in FL, Crack Down on Cockfighting in SC

Myrtle Beach Online is reporting that "People who organize or participate in cockfights could be charged with a felony, but onlookers would still face a misdemeanor under a bill sent Tuesday to the Senate floor."

Sen. John Hawkins argued for increased penalties for cockfighting, citing that "people who fight the birds now consider the misdemeanor, which carries no minimum fine, the cost of doing business."

Hawkins was also pushing for making watching a cockfight and possessing the birds felonies. Cooler heads in the Senate prevailed saying it made no sense "when it's only a misdemeanor to beat your wife or drive drunk."

Hawkins argued keeping participation a misdemeanor would make South Carolina a haven for people from other states who want to fight the birds.

(Like say...Florida by way of Port St. Lucie?)

TMZ: PETA Tells Pedro -- Go Cluck Yourself!

Home Run Derby's YouTube find has taken a life of its own. Of course PETA has to get involved.

From TMZ:

Pedro Martinez was caught on camera tossing roosters into a cockfight -- and now, PETA is throwing a high, hard one back at him for the deed.

In a letter obtained by TMZ, PETA slams Pedro for setting "a terrible example" for fans, especially the kids, and points out that Major League Baseball discourages its players from gambling of any kind.

What's worse? PETA on your ass or Scientologists?