I've been kinda lax in writing about Yankee news lately.  There are many things going on in Yankee Land -- managerial decisions, personnel moves, The Captain's statement and well, I guess that's it.  I won't be commenting about any of that, but I will pass along an e-mail my brother sent me after he listened to the Michael Kay show on Tuesday.

Kay has a polarizing effect on people -- most either love him or hate him.  I can go either way, which might give you some insight into my wishy-washy way of thinking.  Kay was trying to provide a glimpse into the type of person Don Mattingly was and is.  Mattingly interviewed for the manger position on Tuesday and many believe he is the front-runner to take over the Yanks.  Anyway, since I'm a lazy, lazy man and since my brother wrote up an interesting e-mail, I thought I'd share.  Enjoy!

I was listening to the Michael Kay show on the way home and he decided to tell a little story that was supposed to give some insight into Don Mattingly. Instead all it did was tell what type of person Kay is and the entire media for that matter. Here is the story told by Kay...

When I took over full-time as the beat reporter for the Yankees it was 1987. For some reason Don Mattingly immediately took a liking to me and I was thrilled because he was the last player I really looked up to before getting into the business. I had a great relationship with him and his wife Kim. And anyone that knows Mattingly knows that he and his wife are close, they've been together since high school, Kim is Don and Don is Kim. One day I wrote a story that was critical of Mattingly. Before the game Mattingly was holding court with the media in the back of the clubhouse. Mattingly had the corner locker that Mariano Rivera now holds and Bernie Williams held before him because Mattingly passed Bernie that torch. I was in the back of the crowd behind the rest of the media when Mattingly began to speak about a disparaging article that some idiot wrote about him while looking at me directly. Now he didn't say idiot, he said something much, much worse that I can't say here. But anyway he went on and berated me in front of all of the media and players. After the game was over I was walking out and I happen to pass Kim Mattingly and I quickly said hello as I walked past. She stopped me and pulled me aside and asked what was wrong with me. I said your husband is a jerk. He just cursed me out in front of everyone. She said, "He cursed you out? Don't worry I'll take care of it."

The next day I was on the field during batting practice and Mattingly pulled me aside. He said he wanted to apologize for yesterday. I said shouldn't you apologize in front of everyone since you berated me in front of everyone instead of apologizing in private? He said, "Hey, Mike take what you can get."

This story was I guess supposed to give me some insight into Mattingly's personality. However, all it did was tell me how ridiculous Kay and the entire media is. They're allowed to say and write whatever they want, but if a player calls them on it in front of what 20, 25 people that's wrong. Mattingly, or anyone for that matter, should have to apologize in front of everyone (all 25 people) for it. Why? Did Kay write a story apologizing to Mattingly for calling him out? No. Nor should he, but Mattingly shouldn't have to apologize either. The media always talks about having a thick skin if you play or coach in New York. How about the media. Shouldn't that go for them too? My feeling is, you can say or write what you want, but don't expect the players or managers not to give it back to you. It's a two-way street Michael. Always keep this in mind.

It's not personal, it's strictly business.

There you have it.  Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Michael Kay!

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