Thanks to an Anti-Semitic comment, longtime Yankee Stadium playoff fixture Ronan Tynan will not be in attendance when the Yankees and Angels kick off the American League Championship Series on Friday night. Tynan, well-known for his addition of obscure extra lyrics to "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch, got into hot water after a run-in with a real estate broker trying to sell an apartment in his New York City building. Here are the particulars, as reported by NBC New York.
Tynan has apologized for the comment, using the always popular "I have Jewish friends" appeal. He also says that it was just a joke, but the fallout has already claimed his most high-profile gig.The real estate agent said to the tenor, famous for his association with Yankees, "Don't worry they are not Red Sox fans," according to the apartment-hunter, Dr. Gabrielle Gold-von Simson.
To which Tynan replied, "I don't care about that, as long as they are not Jewish," Gabrielle Gold-von Simson told NBC New York. "Why is that?" asked a flabbergasted Gold-von Simson of the singer.
And Tynan responded that Jewish ladies had been looking at the apartment before and they were "scary," according to Gold-von Simson.
Opinions may vary on how enjoyable you find Tynan's rendition of the song, but no one can say that a Yankee game is unable to go forward without Tynan in attendance. The Yankees won games before Tynan started singing songs and they can win games without him singing songs. He probably won't be missed by many in attendance on Friday night. Given the cold and rainy conditions in the Bronx, anything that makes the game move at a crisper pace will be appreciate by the bundled masses yearning to see a Yankee victory.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-16-2009 @ 1:24PM
mikerat42 said...
Tynan will probably survive w/o the annointed Yankees..
Reply
10-16-2009 @ 2:51PM
Thomas Geirin said...
Ronam Tynan will be missed very much for his singing of all of God Bless America. I always looked forward to hearing him sing at the Yankee Games. The way he has lived his life tells us all what a good person he is. His life story has been an inspiration for many people. Its too bad that one thoughtless moment can bring him so much trouble. Hopefully this will be soon forgotten.
Reply
10-17-2009 @ 11:58AM
barbara said...
Forgotten, you mean like people who do not believe or have forgotten the Holocaust? Do not think so, Yankee Organization will not forget his ignorance.
10-16-2009 @ 3:07PM
forrestfreedman said...
Once an Anti-Semite, always an Anti-Semite, just like drunk Mel Gibson who thinks he can just go through life trying to expuinge hios sins. Same with Ronam Tynan because he is only asking for forgivness because his wallet's hurting and not because of the hurt he caused. Gee if he used the "N" word, people would want him shunned from all future performances, like Kramer from Seinfeld, who got shunned.
No more double standards, if you can't denegrate one minority group,then you can't denegrate any minority groups!
Reply
10-17-2009 @ 3:01AM
Neon said...
So who will sing it now again..the recording of the late and very openly anti-Semitic Kate Smith??? Bring back the (I believe Italian) cop who sang it after 9/11. Besides Tynan is obviously not only an ignorant bigot, he's a hypocrit, since his "Deliverance" lightbulb with ears look is about the scariest in the entertainment business!
Reply
10-17-2009 @ 3:01PM
propackage said...
The whole world is prejudice about one thing or another. A better solution is to make someone explain a position so it can be broken down by logic. Sanctions never work. The problem with shutting up prejudice is that it is not stopped. It is merely moved to tommorow where it may be more difficult to deal with
Reply
10-24-2009 @ 1:34PM
Jeff said...
Gold-von Simpson had a brief encounter with Ronan Tynan and has the audacity to assume she knows this man! Then is compelled to announce to the world that he is an "anti-Semite, a hypocrite" and that she is still "horrified" by his comments...interesting...seems to many that this woman is more "horrified" about her 15 minutes of fame NOT going 16 than she is about what telling only half of a story can do to someone’s spirit, passion and ones career.
For the past 7 or 8 years I've had the privilege of calling Dr. Tynan one of my best friends and unlike Dr. Gold-von Simpson and her 20 second chat with him, I've had many years to learn, understand and to appreciate exactly what type of a person he is. Ronan doesn't see himself as a celebrity, actually anything but; he's a very sensitive, caring and generous human being; a person that once quoted (WB) Yeats by saying "the best of us lack all conviction whilst the worst are full of passionate intensity" and when I asked what he believes Yeats meant by that he responded so matter of fact "the world has bad people in it and that doesn't mean you have to be Osama bin Laden or a murderer to be noticed, there is evil around every corner, it’s easy to agree with stereotypes and prejudice, and some will, but it's truly the best of humans to respect one another and understand what it means to lack"all conviction"; don't let history dictate or present itself in the present; make your own judgments and you'll live a brighter and more appreciated life". Ronan lives that life, a life that is honest and fair, he has never asked of anything from anyone. As for the Yankees, Ronan has never been paid a penny to sing at Yankees Stadium NOR does he want to be; "being able to sing and be recognized by the best sports franchise and more importantly the fans is more than enough payment, not everything in life has a monetary price tag".
I'll close with this...for anyone that wants to attack Dr. Tynan before listening to his side of the story is not only doing him an injustice, but they're doing themselves one as well; because in the end, being born with leg deformities, and ultimate double amputation at 21, Ronan has lived a life full of ridicule, prejudice and stereotype, but he's faced each an every challenge head on with truth and perseverance; Ronan went on to win 18 gold medals in the Para-Olympics, set 9 world records, receive his Doctorate from Trinity, deliver 15 babies and in an attempt to warm the hearts of their loved ones (and America), he sang at 54 funerals for the hero's of the FDNY that died in 9-11 ...bottom line I'm tired of having to defend my friend, if you have a question to ask...ASK HER...here's one...How was the free Yankees game the other night!?!? ohh and by the way...your 15 minutes is up...
Reply
11-19-2009 @ 5:15PM
bridget molloy said...
Dear Jeff,
I was delighted to see you defend ronan tynan. I feel very bad for him. While his comment was foolish and insensitive, which one of us hasn't fluffed up in a broadly similar way at some stage? Most of us escape censure and learn our lesson in private.The man is only human. People are too quick to condemn others but I am really annoyed at how quickly they forget this man's good deeds. I have emailed the n.y. times and n.y. post newspapers in his support, but don't know what else to do. I dont suppose the yankees would heed an online petition and it might be just more hassle for ronan??
i hope he is doing o.k.
11-13-2009 @ 5:45PM
Roisin said...
Just heard Ronan Tynan on Irish TV chatshow tonight trying to talk his way out of this. Pathetic.
Hard to believe that somebody who has travelled internationnally and worked in the US could be so unaware of semitism. This is yet another example of racist attitudes that are not far from the surface in many people.
Sounds like he is desparately trying to back-pedal to safe his career in US.
Reply