The Yankees fan who was ejected from Game 4 of the World Series for grabbing the glove of Dodgers star Mookie Betts has a surprising connection to the world of sports.
Watching video of the incident between Betts, 32, and a fan identified by ESPN as Austin Capobianco during an appearance on Up & Adams that aired on Wednesday, October 30, former NFL star Rob Gronkowski realized he knew the now-banned fan personally.
“Here’s a little fun fact: That guy who grabbed Mookie Betts’ glove was a friend of mine in college,” Gronkowski, 35, a graduate of the University of Arizona, said on the show, noting it was his “first time” seeing a clip of the viral moment.
According to the former tight end, Capobianco, 38, was a member of the college’s ice hockey team while Gronkowski pursued his football dreams. “And let me tell you, the whole hockey team, they were absolute maniacs,” Gronkowski said.
Fans interfere with Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Al Bello/Getty
Travis Kelce responds to Rob Gronkowski discussing playing with him and jokes that being on the same team ‘Would be unfair!’
The four-time Super Bowl champion said the viral moment Capobianco interfered in the World Championship game “represents him very well.”
“He’s for his teams, he’s for the Yankees,” added Gronkowski, who recalled how the former Arizona hockey player “talked about the Yankees all the time — how much he loves them.”
But while baseball fans condemned Capobianco’s behavior — which resulted in his ejection from Yankee Stadium and a subsequent ban from returning for Game 5 on Oct. 30 — Gronkowski had a more positive impression that his college teammate “is just doing whatever it takes to help his team. ”
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The former NFL star said: “He’s a beauty. I just want to congratulate you for shining when your moment came.”
The Yankees didn’t feel the same way about Capobianco’s actions. On Wednesday, the team released a statement confirming that Capobianco and John Peter — who grabbed Betts’ wrist as his friend tried to get the ball out of the Dodgers star’s glove in the first inning — would not be allowed to attend Game 5.
“The Yankees and Major League Baseball maintain a zero-tolerance policy for the type of behavior displayed last night. These fans will not be permitted to attend tonight’s game in any capacity,” the Yankees said, adding that “the safety and security of players, fans and stadium staff is a fundamental element of any event taking place at Yankee Stadium and cannot be allowed.”
Fan in Mookie Betts incident banned for next game, but says he has no regrets after being ejected
ESPN spoke with Capobianco at a local bar near the ballpark after his ejection, where he told the paper he had no regrets about interfering in the World Series.
“We always joke around with the ball in our area,” Capobianco said. “We’re not going to go all-out on offense. If it’s in our area, we’re going to ‘D’ up there. Somebody defends, somebody dunks the ball. We talk about it. We’re ready to do this one.”
Game 5 of the World Series begins at 8:08 PM ET on October 30.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education