Boomer Esiason apologizes for criticizing Daniel Murphy's paternity leave
Daniel Murphy defended missing the Mets' first two games while on paternity leave . (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
WFAN radio co-host Boomer Esiason apologized on the air Friday morning for "insensitive comments" he made regarding Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy's paternity leave earlier this week. Esiason's comments included his opinion that Murphy's wife should have scheduled a C-section prior to the season so her husband would not have to miss a regular season game.
(Disclosure: Esiason also regularly appears in videos for SI.com.)
On Thursday, Murphy defended missing the Mets' first two games of the season while on paternity leave provided under the MLB-MLBPA collective bargaining agreement.
Esiason started Friday's "Boomer & Carton" show with the following apology (via CBS):
“I just want to say again on this radio show that in no way, shape or form was I advocating anything for anybody to do. I was not telling women what to do with their bodies. I would never do that. That’s their decision, that’s their life and they know their bodies better than I do. And the other thing, too, that I really felt bad about is that Daniel Murphy and Tori Murphy were dragged into a conversation, and their whole life was exposed. And it shouldn’t have been.
“And that is my fault. That is my fault for uttering the word ‘C-section’ on this radio station. And it all of a sudden put their lives under a spotlight, and for that I truly apologize. I tried to reach out to Daniel yesterday through intermediaries over there at the New York Mets, and to his credit, he answered all of his questions yesterday. I’m sorry that he had to go through that. No man should have to go through that. And certainly Daniel Murphy, who we both admire much as a baseball player as anybody else — and all I can say is that I truly, truly, feel terrible about what I put them through. So for that I certainly apologize.
“I spoke with (Mets public relations chief) Jay Horwitz yesterday and was texting back and forth with (team co-owner) Jeff Wilpon, and I think Daniel -- I can’t speak for Daniel -- I think he wants to put everything behind him, he wants to try to play baseball, he wants to try to become a dad, he wants to try to do all the right things in life, and he has every right to do that. And again, like I said, I apologize for putting him and his wife in the midst of a public discussion that I basically started by uttering insensitive comments that came off very insensitive. And for that I apologize, and that’s really all I can do.
“The other thing I do want to say is that my friends — our friends — over at the March of Dimes also reached out to me yesterday. And I immediately called them back and talked to them, and they kind of re-educated me on their mission statement. And you and I (co-host Craig Carton) have been a part of the March of Dimes luncheon for many years, and I go back all the way to 1994 with them, and they were very gracious in re-educating me and making me understand what their mission statement was. And I agree wholeheartedly in their mission statement.
“I can only hope that people understand that my comment -- my flippant comment -- wasn’t made in any way, shape or form to insult anybody. But obviously it did. And for that I am truly sorry.”
He added: “Again, I just want to reiterate one more time that if I in any way, shape or form insulted anybody, that was not my intention. My flippant remark was insensitive. I’ll leave it at that. And again, I feel terrible for the Murphy family, because what should be the greatest time in their life turned out to be somewhat of a firestorm that I personally put them into. And for that hopefully they can find forgiveness in their heart.”
WFAN Radio host Mike Francesa also was critical of Murphy’s decision calling it a "scam" and a "gimmick" and said that Murphy could hire a nurse to help take care of his wife.
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said he had no problem with Murphy taking the time to be with his wife and family.
