Detroit Tigers MLB 2015 News: Joe Nathan Blames Media for His Controversial Comments About Tigers Fans
'They Misquoted Me,' Says Pitcher
Joe Nathan is becoming a big problem for the Detroit Tigers. It is one thing to be a highly paid athlete on the downside of his career, and quite another to continually irk the fans of an organization. Beyond the $11 million the notoriously image-conscious Tigers will pay Nathan this year, the team will now have to deal with the fallout from Nathan's latest tirade, which was aimed at the team's own fans.
Nathan dismissed Tigers fans that booed him during Spring Training.
"I don't care, to be honest. You know, those guys, to be honest with you, aren't even on my mind. Fans aren't in my mind," the pitcher told reporters March 12. "Only people that really matter to me is my family and the people in this locker room. ... Fans are going to be the way they are, and that's the way it is. That doesn't bother me. It's not a part of my life. They're not a part of my life. Period."
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However, Nathan denied those comments on MLB radio Tuesday, blaming the backlash on media miscommunication.
"This goes on the reporters that said it. What I said is, they brought up the fact that they booed and I said I don't care how they react. They're entitled to do whatever they want. They paid, they bought the ticket. They're entitled to do what they want while they're there," Nathan explained.
"So not one time out of my mouth did I say I don't care about the fans. So that was a misinterpretation, I think. So if that wasn't a misinterpretation then they misquoted me," he continued. "So the heat falls on the reporters. I'm glad you brought it up because hopefully this kind of clears the air a little bit. Never once did I say that."
"I think I've proven to fans that I do care about them. I'm always outside every day basically signing autographs. So I think my actions speak more than the words that came from another reporter," Nathan added.
This isn't the first time Nathan's attitude has earned the ire of Tigers fans. In a game last year, the pitcher made a crude hand gesture towards the fans after being taken out of a game to a chorus of boos from the Detroit stands.
