Reggie Jackson: "Billy Martin was anti-semetic"

[RickD]

Reggie Jackson says that "Billy Martin was anti-semetic."

Talking with Bob Costas this Monday night Reggie Jackson said among other things that:


"I did not accept the way he managed (pitcher) Ken Holtzman. I thought there was anti-Semitism there. ... I struggled to have respect for Billy as a person and had it reinforced with the anti-Semitism that I witnessed."

Of course this being Reggie, he never knows when to shut up:


"I couldn't accept (his) racial epithets in reference to players like Elliott Maddox or Billy Sample."

He also talks about the night he and Billy went at it:


"I knew Billy was a sucker puncher, so I took my glasses off. ... And I said, 'Well, all the alcohol you've been drinking must be going to your brain.' ''

Reggie also says he treasures his time with the Yanks....

[Old Sweater]

I like both of them but Billy ain't around to say different, so I don't know why Jackson has to go off on a dead person. Not very classy IMO, but neither was Billy.

[RickD]

There's the rub.

30+ years after the fact you come out and villify a dead man. I mean everyone knows Billy was not a saint but neither was Reggie. It is not cool o trash a dead man IMO

[Mickey Mental]

A friend of mine interviewed Martin many years ago for his program on WBZ radio. I laughed when he told me that "he was the biggest asshole on the planet." I'm not the biggest Reggie Jackson fan but I agree with him on this one. I witnessed Martin in a few bars/clubs in Kenmore Square (outside of Fenway Park) and he was a ruthless, mean drunk. Acting like a jerk when you're drunk doesn't mean that you're NOT a jerk when sober.

[RickD]

Well yeah, everyone knew Martin was a mean, nasty drunk. However calling someone who can't defend themselves a racist is low IMO.

[BobH]

Boy, this one's hard to figure....One guy's a mean spirited drunk and the other's the biggest ego possessed prima donna on the planet. Sorry, OS...I never liked either one of 'em.-BH