Networks can't show Piniella tape, Rays say

© St. Petersburg Times
published March 8, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Devil Rays are upset with ESPN and WFLA-TV Ch. 8 for airing footage of manager Lou Piniella the team says was obtained unethically and without authorization.

Piniella's expletive-laced diatribe during Thursday's game was captured by an Orlando TV station, NBC affiliate WESH, which did not have permission to record sound in the dugout, said Rick Vaughn, the Rays vice president of public relations.

The tape was distributed to several networks and aired repeatedly by ESPNEWS on Thursday evening and all day Friday with plenty of words bleeped out.

Once the Rays were aware of the video, they complained to ESPN and asked other networks, including the Tampa Bay area affiliates, to not run the video or at least delete the audio. Ch. 8, the local NBC affiliate, aired it anyway during newscasts Thursday and Friday.

"The audio was unauthorized. It has to be approved by the team," Vaughn said. "We're disappointed ESPN showed it since they are a partner with Major League Baseball. And it's disturbing Ch. 8 showed it when they knew it was obtained without authorization and obtained unethically."

Forrest Carr, news director at Ch. 8, said Rays officials initially threatened to yank their credentials to cover the team, saying broadcasting the footage would be illegal.

But the station included it in a sports report Thursday and a story Friday in which they showed fans the tirade and asked their opinion.

Carr said the station received the footage from a satellite feed provided to NBC affiliates. Located at the end of a collection of images, the Piniella footage escaped notice by Ch. 8 employees until a Rays representative called to ask them not to air it, the news director said.

"It's one thing to be embarrassed by the actions of one's employee. It's another thing to try and cover up those actions," said Carr, adding the Rays didn't follow through on their credentials threat.

"It was out there in the public domain, and we didn't find a single fan who didn't love it. And isn't that (language) what Lou is famous for?"

Piniella is known for an occasional eruption on the field or during an interview session but was said to be embarrassed that comments he made in what is, essentially, his workplace received so much attention.

Vaughn said the matter has been turned over to Major League Baseball, but it is unlikely there will be any sanctions against ESPN or the local affiliates. The team would like an apology to Piniella.

-- Times staff writer Eric Deggans contributed to this report.