Sutcliffe Apology

by jbox on May 11, 2006 10:31 PM PDT in News

Sutcliffe issued this statement: "I appreciate the opportunity to address the situation that occurred last night in San Diego. While spending a week off in California, I planned a day of golf and attendance at a ball game as a fan with friends. I want to assure everyone that I was not drinking and driving. Towards the end of a long day on the golf course and evening at the game, I made a brief visit to my former co-workers in the Padres television broadcast booth.

"I was offered the opportunity to make a guest appearance on the air. At that time, I exercised bad judgment and accepted, even though I was not in optimum condition to go on live television. I regret that lapse in judgment and my decision and I sincerely apologize," he said.

You have to wonder why the Channel 4 producer allowed him on the air. It seemed pretty apparent that his speech was slurred from the start. Apparently they cut his mic at some point, it sure took them a long time. It's too bad, somebody at Channel 4 couldn't have helped him out a bit, stopped him from embarassing himself. After all he was employed there last year.

Sucks that the Channel 4 general manager doesn't take any responsibilty for the situation and throws Rick under the bus.

Craig Nichols, general manager of the station, said: "[Sutcliffe] used remarkably poor judgment. I'm embarrassed. I'm embarrassed for the Channel 4 team, and I'm embarrassed for the viewers."

Oh well, no harm done, he's a happy loving guy when he's had a few. He didn't say anything offensive and he got a ride home, so it's really a non-issue. It's always kind of funny when these things make it to the air though and it was entertaining.

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Totally obvious why they allowed him on air

Because they knew it would be amazingly hilarious.

Everybody can apologize all they want to. The truth of the matter is that they're all secretly proud of themselves and laughing about it harder than anybody.

by Dex on May 11, 2006 11:01 PM PDT reply actions

Glad Sut just told the truth

That was a refreshing apology.

by jbox on May 11, 2006 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Did you expect him to say something else?

I'm not sure what else he could've said.

by Dex on May 11, 2006 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions

he could have said

"Screw you for judging me! If you had drank as many beers and had as many shots of SoCo as I had that night, you'd have been passed out instead of on live TV! Blaaaaaaaaaah!"

B/c honestly, that might be true.

by gophersw @ Gaslamp Ball on May 11, 2006 11:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Are you kidding?

He could have pulled the politician or hollywood actor card. "I am on some medication..." or "I was suffering from exhaustion..."

by jbox on May 12, 2006 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions

No way, man

Medication? He was just a little tossed. He doesn't need to take the blame for anything. When you're drunk, you do silly things.

If anything, admitting that he was out getting plastered with Bill Murray makes him more popular than he was before. This may be the one time that being drunk in public makes somebody more likable than he was before.

by Dex on May 12, 2006 8:39 AM PDT up reply actions

you're agreeing with me

and you don't even realize it. That's how crazy this has made us all.

I'm saying I'm glad he just said "i'm drunk". Look at all the politicians and actors that always come up with these stupid excuses. No need dude, no need.

by jbox on May 12, 2006 8:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Stick it to him

Channel 4 also sticks it to him for leaving them for the ESPN gig.

by Jonny Dub on May 12, 2006 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions

Just so you know...

The Sutcliffe clip was played over and over on the Lex and Terry Morning Show today...It was quite hilarious. You can download the show with ITunes or whatever

by padresfan311 on May 12, 2006 8:08 AM PDT reply actions

audio

You've heard it here too, right? We have the clip from Dave, Shelley and Chainsaw.

by Dex on May 12, 2006 8:19 AM PDT up reply actions

yea I hurrrrrrrrrd it

by padresfan311 on May 12, 2006 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions

Video

The video is up at Deadspin and on YouTube.

by thenerdhater on May 12, 2006 8:27 AM PDT reply actions

Loretta

Anyone see him rough up the Yankees yesterday? Yikes. Matsui out for the season, then 2RBIs to put them ahead.

by Dalton on May 12, 2006 9:16 AM PDT reply actions

Yeah Loretta went off

It's so funny how Boston Fans found a way to complain about getting Loretta too.

by jbox on May 12, 2006 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions

Drunk Bit*h

http://omnibaseballview.blogspot.com

by slodown4me on May 12, 2006 12:47 PM PDT reply actions

Matty V

could have ened this debacle INSTANTLY. He chose not to, as he always choses comedy over baseball. The producer shouldn't have let him on -- but, I'm guessing the star power of Sutcliffe (he is an imposing figure) and Bill Murray with him could have been overwhelming. In any event, V could have stopped this -- he didn't. Dex is right, V, Grant, all proud of themselves. Personally, they should be ashamed of themselves. Totally unprofessional, but that's the it is at Channel 4 Padres.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 12, 2006 2:47 PM PDT reply actions

From what I heard

it sounded like Matt V initially thought, this is funny, then realized he had made a mistake, tried to steer it to something else.

whatever though, you're right, they got good ratings out of it.

by bktabinga on May 12, 2006 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh man

I knew you were the diabolocal one behind this. I knew it!

Man... We need to fear Papa Morgigno...

by Dex on May 12, 2006 6:13 PM PDT reply actions

Passing judgement

I don't think he even made any sort of mistake. He was doing what a lot of people do at ballgames. He obviously had a few and was chatting it up with the guys. It just so happened that the guys he was chatting up were the TV broadcast, but it's not the drunk guy's fault that somebody stuck him on TV.

I don't think anybody's kicking him while he's down. I laugh about funny drunk people all the time and usually, once they're sober, they're laughing about it too.

by Dex on May 12, 2006 11:06 PM PDT reply actions