Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios had some harsh words for a fan who chided him as he left a charity gala dinner Thursday night. The exchange, which referenced Rios' dreadful five-strikeout showing at the plate (platinum sombrero!), was predictably caught on video and posted to YouTube.On Friday, it was Rios' turn to apologize for the embarrassing incident.
"I just want to apologize for the situation that happened yesterday at the gala," Rios said. "I just want to apologize to my fans, to the team, to my teammates, because it was something I should have never done. It was a bad reaction on my side.""That's not the person that I am," he said. "You shouldn't act like that, even if there's sites like that or people following you, trying to make you say bad things, you shouldn't act like that."
"It was a long day," Rios said. "I kicked myself, I couldn't help the team win. It was just bad."
Of course, every apology is dependent on the actual offense in question. And so, let's take a look at the evidence:
Warning: The below video has explicit language and is not safe for work.
As Rios heads to the car, he appears to ignore a kid's request for an autograph. Not too pleased with Rios, a man yells at him: "The way you played today Alex, you should be lucky somebody wants your autograph!"
Rios replies with "Who gives a [expletive]!? Who gives a [expletive]!?" before unleashing one last F-bomb on the critic, who keeps egging him on with "You're a bum! You're a bum!" The man also later remarks: "You forget where you come from?" as the footage ends.
In Rios' defense, the Blue Jays were dealt a heartbreaking loss earlier and have plummeted from first to third in the AL East. It's not the first or last time emotions will overflow. Still, I have a feeling Toronto fans will remember this tirade for a while. Until he starts hitting a ton, of course, then all will be forgotten.
Sports Internet Scandals
Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios apologized after his profane exchange with a heckler was captured on video and uploaded to YouTube. "That's not the person that I am," Rios said. Click through to see more Internet scandals from the sports world.
Mark Cunningham, MLB / Getty Images
The NCAA is cracking down on sites that try to woo top recruits. Taylor Moseley, a North Carolina State freshman, received a cease and desist letter in April after he started this Facebook group called "John Wall PLEASE come to NC STATE!!" to influence the nation's No. 1 basketball recruit to pick the Wolfpack. Alas, Wall picked Kentucky.
facebook.com
Just days after British tabloid News of the World published this photo of Michael Phelps with a marijuana pipe, USA Swimming suspended the Olympic legend from competition for three months.
News of the World
In late January, Dallas Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett was reportedly fined $22,647 for a profane YouTube rap video in which he used derogatory terms for blacks and gays.
YouTube
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart took a dip in some hot water, both figuratively and literally, when Web site TheDirty.com released a photo of him partying with four women in a hot tub. The photo was even featured on SportsCenter and drew the ire of head coach Ken Whisenhunt.
thedirty.com
In 2008, controversial Mavericks star Josh Howard was caught on video disrespecting the national anthem before Allen Iverson's charity flag football game. Facing the camera during the anthem, Howard said, "I don't celebrate this s--t. I'm black."
YouTube
Redskins tight end Chris Cooley revealed a little too much private information when he snapped a photo of himself with the team playbook on his lap. Underneath the playbook, Cooley's penis was visible, and he later had to offer up a public apology on his personal blog.
Joe Robbins, Getty Images
Vince Young's 2008 season was full of more questions than game play for the Tennessee Titans. Some fans doubted Vince Young's commitment to the team when photos of him partying and swigging Patron tequila were leaked on the net.
Blogxilla.com
Jeff Reed became part of a running joke on sports blogs when numerous photos leaked of the Steelers kicker clubbing with his shirt off and hair gelled up to the heavens.
Deadspin.com
Even legends get caught in an awkward position from time to time. After Michael Jordan was photographed looking intoxicated, the "drunk athlete" snapshot became Photoshop material for dozens of sports sites.
Lioninoil.blogspot.com
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
6-06-2009 @ 4:02AM
hookmrl said...
typical jock with an ego does not know whhere he came from what a punk
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6-06-2009 @ 4:16AM
pkacp said...
Overpaid A-hole.........
Reply
6-06-2009 @ 5:08AM
gonzo1 said...
over-paid cry-baby , you would think that a latino man , with the richness of his lifes experiencewould make a better decision than a white man . ....... " NOT IN THIS LIFETIME " LMMFAO !!!!!!
Reply
6-06-2009 @ 6:39AM
nickstoli said...
Bravo to the fan! He comes across as a nice guy sticking up for a kid.
I thought for sure it was going to be an obnoxious fan goading an athlete, but it wasn't that at all.
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6-06-2009 @ 9:19AM
fnb539 said...
If people, especially those in the spotlight, would just THINK before they speak, all this apologizing wouldn't be necessary. Why do so-called celebrities act so compulsively? Do they think we're just dying to hear what they have to say? It's high-time every public figure took lessons in public speaking and etiquette, and stopped acting like a spoiled child. It's tiresome.
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6-07-2009 @ 2:32PM
dskaalrud5 said...
Pardon me, but are you that stupid? Let's say you had a bad day and somebody tailed you and told you what a bum you are (which is probably true based on your inane post). Are you going to tell yourself to be calm and composed and level headed when this retard you don't even know is constantly yanking your chain? And since when do you slime balls have a right to make someone's life miserable outside of the ballpark? You pay money for your ticket and that allows you to tail somebody and harass them? You are a typical low-life baseball fan who has air for brains. I'm sick of you idiots thinking the rules of engagement only go one way. You give all fans a bad name.
6-06-2009 @ 10:15AM
Rachel said...
Nobody wants to dis on the "fan"? How was he defending the kid wanting the autograph? Anybody here remember that two wrongs don't make a right?
All I have to say to Alex is that he should not have apologized.
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6-07-2009 @ 4:32PM
Chris said...
He should not have apologized? Have you EVER been to a baseball game? These overpaid athletes are goaded and goaded all day long. Learn to deal with the "words" -- you are taught as a child to walk away -- "Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me..." Grow up and be a role model.. We need a new Steve Young in the world.. a man that not only plays at the highest of level but considers his education and faith to be above the sport and has the DESIRE to be a role model.
What if athletes would STOP saying things they had to recant and apologize for?
6-06-2009 @ 11:25AM
tritongirl06 said...
I have tried a million times to get his autograph at games even when he has done well or sucked and he never would sign. I even said to him at one point your my favorite player please sign and he looked right at me and said that nice in a sarcastic tone and kept walking by me. The only reason that I have his autograph is that I made friends with one of the guys on the team who had bee there for a while and he took out to Rios made him sign it and turn around and wave to me. Pretty pathetic. Needless to say he is not my favorite player anymore. I guess once you get that kind of money you do forget who you are or where you came from. Let alone the fact that the fans are basically paying for your salary.
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6-06-2009 @ 12:29PM
Nick said...
Alex should've signed the kid's stuff but the fan has no right whatsoever in heckling him. Would you like it if you had a bad day at the office and someone constantly remindied you of what a terrible job you did? I didn't like Alex's response to the fan but the fan shouldn't have egged him on. Bad decisions on both sides.
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6-06-2009 @ 12:59PM
p5pirate said...
too bad he's not sorry for being such a crappy player and an even crappier person off the field. Overpayed if he can't even sign an kid's autograph. What a punk
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6-06-2009 @ 1:05PM
mattkimbennett said...
Without the fan that a-hole wouldn't be making millions!
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6-06-2009 @ 2:00PM
dittodogs said...
That 'fan' was an @sshole. Rios had every right to respond like he did. Let's see that fan say that right in his face....I bet he wouldn't have the b@lls.
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6-07-2009 @ 5:56PM
Smokey said...
any idiot siding with Rios just look at how he ignores a kid wanting his autograph in the beginning of the video. this is why the fan rips him and deservedly so. sign one autograph the piece of sh*t mexican.
6-06-2009 @ 4:29PM
jakethesnake195j said...
hes a over paid jerk the kids day at game is now the worst game the kid helps pay his sorry butt, the punk
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6-06-2009 @ 5:38PM
charles donaghy said...
ok if it was at the game that is differnt but this was well after the game he was leaving a gala sign the autograph and tell the guy to fuck off
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6-06-2009 @ 7:18PM
nwyrkjeremy said...
he's too rich to care.
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6-07-2009 @ 4:23PM
Darrell said...
That basically proves the fan's point. People are who/what they are, regardless of their bank accounts.
6-06-2009 @ 9:06PM
Tony said...
Your right that stupid fan has a big mouth and Rios should have closed it for him. Just bhecause your a star athlete doesn't mean you have the right to belittle them when they have a bad game. Players have a right to defend themselves & had it been me i would have punched him in his BIG FAT MOUTH! FYI....The fans pay the owners not the players. The OWNERS decide who they are going to pay millions too & if the idiot fans have a problem with them making millions then don't go to the games.
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6-07-2009 @ 12:26AM
jcghill said...
What, why is everyone jumping on Alex. What about the a-hole who messing with him. What, he gets a pass. The dude was a bum, freakin A-hole. Typical joe blow who thinks he knows everything and knows nothing. And right on cue, joe public, aka the fans, jumps on the athlete.
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