Bama DB laments outburst at end of Vandy game
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Chris Low, ESPN Senior Writer
Malachi Moore, an Alabama team captain, apologized Monday for his outburst at the end of Saturday’s 40-35 loss to Vanderbilt, and Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Moore would not be suspended for his actions.
Moore released a statement on X and said he was “completely out of line.”
He added in his statement: “I let the emotions of the game get the best of me and put myself before the team. As a two-time captain and fifth-year player, I understand the standard we are expected to live up to at Alabama, and I failed to do so by acting in a selfish and unacceptable manner. … I will do better to uphold the Alabama standard moving forward.”
Moore, a multiyear starter at safety, shoved Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia‘s head toward the ground at the end of a play. Moore also threw his mouthpiece and was hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for kicking the football. The Alabama staff tried to substitute for Moore at the end of the game, but he appeared to refuse to come off the field.
DeBoer said Moore has “gone above and beyond in taking ownership” for his on-field tirade that went viral on social media and drew sharp rebuke from many around the college football world, including former Alabama running back Damien Harris, who was part of two national championship teams at Alabama.
“I can tell you what would have happened in the days that I was there,” Harris said on a podcast with The Athletic. “We would have tried to rip the ‘C’ off his jersey. We would have lit him up, from every coach, every player. … Everybody would have been on this dude’s head, like we don’t do that.”
DeBoer defended Moore for what he has meant to the program, while adding that it doesn’t make his actions right.
“He has had my back and our back since day one,” DeBoer said. “There comes a point too where sometimes as things play out, you’ve got to have your guy’s back as well and understand we all make mistakes and we all have just got to own up to it.”
DeBoer added: “I think the thing I want to make sure Bama fans know is that this guy has been rock-solid and been a critical, critical piece, along with others — there were others as well — of keeping this thing together since January, OK? When a lot of guys chose to leave, this guy stood firm. This guy loves Alabama football.”
Moore was one of the Alabama players most vocal in January about players buying into DeBoer and the new staff and not bolting for other opportunities just because Nick Saban retired.
“We did our own homework as players. The dude has won everywhere,” Moore told ESPN in January when DeBoer was hired. “His standard is the same as ours, to be hoisting that trophy up at the end of the year. He was one win away last year, and that puts a chip on his shoulder. We definitely have one on ours with the way the season ended.
“We’re working toward the same goal, and this time with his vision.”
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs and free agent Colin Rea have agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract, reuniting the right-hander with manager Craig Counsell, a source told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers on Friday.
The 34-year-old Rea made one appearance with Milwaukee in 2021 and then pitched in Japan during the 2022 season before returning to the Brewers. He went 12-6 with a 4.29 ERA over 27 starts and five relief appearances for the NL Central champions last year.
Counsell managed Milwaukee for nine years before he was hired by Chicago in November 2023.
Rea gives Counsell and Chicago another versatile arm for their pitching staff. The Cubs have Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd for their rotation, but Rea could push Javier Assad for the fifth spot or work out of the bullpen.
Rea became a free agent when Milwaukee declined its $5.5 million club option on his contract in November. The Iowa native was paid a $1 million buyout.
Rea was selected by San Diego in the 12th round of the 2011 amateur draft out of Indiana State. He made his big league debut with the Padres in 2015.
He pitched for the Cubs during the 2020 season, going 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in nine appearances, including two starts.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has banned two fans who interfered with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts during a World Series game at Yankee Stadium from attending games at big league ballparks.
The league sent a letter to Austin Capobianco and John P. Hansen this week informing them of the decision.
“On Oct. 29, 2024, during Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, you interfered with play by intentionally and forcefully grabbing a player. Your conduct posed a serious risk to the health and safety of the player and went far over the line of acceptable fan behavior,” said the letter, the contents of which were first reported by the New York Post and later obtained by The Associated Press.
“Based on your conduct, Major League Baseball is banning you indefinitely from all MLB stadiums, offices, and other facilities,” the letter said. “You are also hereby banned indefinitely from attending any events sponsored by or associated with MLB. Please be advised that if you are discovered at any MLB property or event, you will be removed from the premises and subject to arrest for trespass.”
MLB has previously issued leaguewide bans for fans who trespass on the field or threaten baseball personnel. A fan who approached Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. at Colorado’s Coors Field in 2023 received a similar ban.
Capobianco and Hansen were ejected from the game on Oct. 29 and banned from Game 5 the following night.
Betts leaped at the retaining wall in foul territory and caught Gleyber Torres‘ pop fly in the first inning, but a fan in the first row with a gray Yankees road jersey grabbed Betts’ glove with both hands and pulled the ball out. Another fan grabbed Betts’ bare hand.
The Yankees at the time called the behavior “egregious and unacceptable.”
The team said Friday the two fans MLB banned were not season-ticket holders. The Post reported Friday that the person who is the season ticket holder was not at the game and will be allowed to keep them.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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