Prompted by Jets GM John Idzik’s Monday press conference, the New York Post’s Justin Terranova compiled “The best, worst and most bizarre press conferences in NY sports”, a top ten that included such historic moments as Omar Minaya accusing Adam Rubin of coveting a Mets job and Mike Piazza publicly declaring I LIKE GIRLS. One memorable address that Terranova somehow overlooked, however, was ex-Mets speedster Vince Coleman expressing contrition (sort of) for throwing an M-80 at a small child. From The New York Times’ Joe Sexton, June 30, 1993 :
Vince Coleman, although never specifically saying, “I’m sorry,” read a prepared statement in front of television cameras and reporters in which he termed his actions in last Saturday’s firecracker incident “very inappropriate.” It was Coleman’s first public comment since three people were injured in Los Angeles after the left fielder for the Mets threw a firecracker in a parking lot.
Bud Selig, speaking on behalf of major league baseball in the absence of a commissioner, said in a statement that the sport “deeply regrets” the incident, which sent a 2-year-old girl to the hospital with injuries to an eye, cheek and finger. Selig, the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers and the chairman of baseball’s executive council, said baseball was “actively monitoring” the situation in California, where it is expected, but not certain, that criminal charges will be filed against Coleman. Selig also said baseball was “gathering information into recent alleged incidents in the New York Mets clubhouse between players and media.”
Meanwhile, Darrell J. York, the attorney for 2-year-old Amanda Santos, termed Coleman’s statement a predictable attempt to “mitigate their damages.”