Reggie Jackson: Yankees and Mr. October Both at Fault for Public Spat

What is the world coming to?

Now a special adviser for the franchise, Reggie Jackson has been told by the New York Yankees to stay away from the team until further notice. The entire situation is a complete joke and both sides need to take a look at themselves in the mirror.

Jackson told Phil Taylor of Sports Illustrated in a column published last week that Alex Rodriguez doesn’t deserve to be in the Hall of Fame because of his steroid use.

Mr. October claimed that if sports writers voted A-Rod into the Hall, none of its members would attend the induction ceremony. He also said:

“Al’s a very good friend. But I think there are real questions about his numbers. As much as I like him, what he admitted about his usage does cloud some of his records.”

A very good friend? Are you serious? What “very good friend” disses you in a story that will be read by everyone around you?

Sure, what Jackson said is completely true. But if he was dying to let out his feelings on his friend’s use of PEDs, he should’ve went to Rodriguez—not SI. In Jackson’s attempt to be insightful, the only thing he revealed is that’s he’s two-faced.

A-Rod is and should be furious. He was quoted by Bill Madden and Christian Red of the New York Daily News saying: “With friends like that, who needs enemies?”

Phenomenal question, Alex. He was stabbed in the back by someone he believed was his brother. The Yankees, on the hand, should stay out of the situation entirely.

Madden and Red also reported that a source close to the club said: “The team doesn’t need any negative publicity or aggravation, especially playing in a big market like Boston, and at Fenway. A-Rod doesn’t need the aggravation.”

One word: wow.

New York is essentially putting Jackson in the corner for being mean to Rodriguez. What is this? Kindergarten?

Jackson and Rodriguez are grown men. They can handle their differences without the Yankees’ help.

New York should've allow A-Rod to deal with Jackson alone and from there, Reggie should've been able to realize by himself that he needs to give Rodriguez some space until he cools off. But New York decided to play the role of a power-hungry elementary school teacher instead.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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