Rob Gronkowski said he knows Yankees fan who was ejected from World Series game for interference
"Here's a little fun fact: That guy right there grabbing Mookie Betts' glove was my friend in college."
As the sports world reacted to the bizarre moment of interference committed by a pair of Yankees fans during Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday, Rob Gronkowski saw it on a different level.
This was because Gronkowski recognized one of the fans (who were eventually thrown out of Yankee Stadium following their attempt to pry a baseball out of Dodger outfielder Mookie Betts’s glove).
Speaking during a Wednesday appearance on “Up & Adams” the day after New York’s 11-4 win that — at least for the moment — staved off World Series defeat, Gronkowski shocked host Kay Adams with his admission.
“This is actually the first time I’m seeing this live, and here’s a little fun fact: That guy right there grabbing Mookie Betts’ glove was my friend in college,” Gronkowski revealed.
Noting that the fan, Austin Capobianco, attended the University of Arizona at the same time as he did, Gronkowski explained that Capobianco was a member of the college’s club ice hockey team.
Referring to the club hockey team as “absolute maniacs,” and that Capobianco was a “fun dude,” Gronkowski tried to provide context for his former college peer’s behavior on Tuesday.
“Him doing that represents him very well. I mean he is all-in for his teams,” Gronkowski explained. “He is all-in for the Yankees. I remember him talking about the Yankees all the time, how he loves them so much. That describes him perfectly: Just doing whatever it takes to help his team out.
“He is a beauty,” Gronkowski added, “and I just want to say congratulations to him for shining when your moment came.”
Adams pushed back, pressing Gronkowski on if he felt what Capobianco and fellow Yankee fan John Peter had done to Betts was acceptable.
“I’m not saying it’s OK,” Gronkowski clarified, later adding that he felt the interference was “definitely unacceptable in the world of sports.”
“But when you’re that big of a fan,” Gronkowski admitted, “that’s what fans do.”
Capobianco and Peter were ejected following the incident, and will not be allowed back for Wednesday night’s Game 5.
“The Yankees and Major League Baseball maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward the type of behavior displayed last night,” the Yankees said in a statement, per The New York Post. “These fans will not be permitted to attend tonight’s game in any capacity.”
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