Sheff: Torre Treats Blacks Differently
By TIM BOOTH, Associated Press Writer
39 minutes ago

SEATTLE - Detroit slugger Gary Sheffield had an idyllic view of the New York Yankees when he joined the team before the 2004 season. Sheffield also had a strong friendship and trust with Barry Bonds when he went to California and to train with the slugger one offseason.

Those opinions quickly changed, and once again, Sheffield isn't shying away from sharing his thoughts.

The latest controversy surrounding Sheffield surfaced Friday, with comments he made to HBO's Real Sports, in an episode scheduled to air Tuesday night. Sheffield had strong words for Yankees' manager Joe Torre and shortstop Derek Jeter, as well as Bonds.

"They came to me, they asked me certain questions and whatever you ask me I'm going to answer," Sheffield said before Friday night's game in Seattle. "Whether you like it or not I'm going to answer."

Sheffield's strongest opinions were about the Yankees and Torre. Sheffield said Friday he felt disrespected from the time he arrived in New York, claiming early in his New York tenure that Torre said the Yankees should have instead acquired Vladimir Guerrero.

"When you're hearing that from your manager when you are out there busting your butt for him, that's disrespectful," Sheffield said. "But no one came to my defense to say it was disrespectful."

Sheffield claims black and white players in the Yankees clubhouse were treated differently, specifically how players Tony Womack and Kenny Lofton were handled by Torre. In the interview with HBO, Sheffield says the black players on the Yankees' roster would be "called out" in the clubhouse by Torre, while the white players would be called into Torre's office to discuss matters.

"I think it's a, a way of, the way they do things around there, you know," Sheffield told Real Sports. "They run their ship differently."

Sheffield's comments to HBO were first reported by Newsday. Before Friday night's game against Tampa Bay, Torre had little to say about Sheffield's comments.

"I just don't even want to answer those types of questions because I feel comfort not answering," Torre said.

In the visiting clubhouse at Safeco Field, Sheffield stood behind what he said to HBO _ that Torre is not a racist _ but also tried to clarify some statements. In the piece, when it was mentioned that the Yankees' most prominent player _ Derek Jeter _ is black, Sheffield quickly clarified that Jeter is "black and white."

When asked the significance of that, Sheffield said, "It's really no significance. It's just you ain't all the way black."

On Friday, Sheffield said he and the Yankees shortstop were best friends on the team, and that Sheffield's son is also of mixed race.

"They're trying to make it a problem with him, when my son is the same. I'd say the same thing about my son," Sheffield said. "No one knows he's black until they look at the back of his jersey and see 'Sheffield.'"

Jeter declined comment.

Sheffield also addressed his past relationship with San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds. The two spent an offseason working out together in California after Bonds hit his record 73 homers during the 2001 season.

Sheffield denied to HBO that he ever took steroids, but admitted to taking the "clear" and the "cream" _ two designer steroids created by BALCO. Sheffield said he didn't know they were steroids, claiming, "In a million years I don't care what nobody say. Steroids is something you shoot in your butt. You know, I do know that."

Sheffield told HBO he trusted Bonds, and said he felt himself being controlled by Bonds. But, Sheffield claimed, "if I took what Barry Bonds took, why don't I look like him?"

On Friday, Sheffield said he doesn't speak with Bonds.

"We don't have no communication," Sheffield said. "I love and respect Barry to this day. I had a problem with him at that time, but I moved on and forgave."

Sheffield is in his first season with the Tigers and leads the team with 21 homers and is hitting .309. The Tigers started Friday with a 1/2-game lead over Cleveland in the AL Central division. Manager Jim Leyland didn't anticipate Sheffield's comments being an issue.

"I don't care what he says," Leyland said. "He's a grown man."

And, as for the atmosphere in Detroit versus New York?

"It's totally different, because we don't see race," Sheffield said.

___

AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall in St. Petersburg, Fla. contributed to this report.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


Memo to Gary:
Shut the hell up, and please go away with all your resentment and hate. If a white player said this he'd have Al Sharpton on his ass in a heartbeat.
I happen to despise racism and ignorance of any kind and I love it when I watch a team where everyone gets along regardless of race and it can bring different people together and they can become lifelong friends in many cases. I think sports is one of those things that can go a long way in that area. I'm not naive and I know there are very bad people out there, but I like to believe that most of us will be decent to one another.
I'm not saying Gary hasn't encountered some idiots and rednecks along the way, but Joe Torre? C'mon now! And, this isn't the first time we've heard this crap this year.
On a brighter note-the Phils kicked St. Louis in their red behinds tonight!

Sheffield has always been a supreme moron. I was horrified when it was rumored he was being traded to the Mets a while back. Thank God that never happened. The Mets apparently have one of those good clubhouses that he would love to tear apart.

What'd I say? What'd I say?

I am a life long Yankee fan - but I really like GS too. He speaks his mind whenever someone asks him a question. He is honest - or at least that's what he honestly believes. Doesn't hide his feelings or what he is thinking. I disagree with much of what he said but he is much closer to the situation, so who's to say. I wish him nothing but luck in his career. (May he never be a Red Sox)

I wish he was still in right field. What a swing he has.

I agree. I like how Sheffield has never afraid to criticize anybody, black or white. What's interesting to me is Sheffield's comments on Detroit: "It's totally different, because we don't see race." That's certainly a change from the Sparky Anderson/Tom Monohan era of the 1980's, when Tiger management would only play a handful of black and Hispanic players who kept their mouths shut.

Hey, anyone can speak their mind, but when you destroy someone's reputation with no proof and then backtrack-not cool. Not cool at all.
At least he doesn't talk to Barry Bonds anymore!