When HOFer Chipper Jones defended Alex Rodriguez by throwing shade at people who were jealous of him
In a 2008 interview with GQ, Atlanta Braves icon Chipper Jones revealed a lot about his personal life.
Jones, who has a tremulous private life that is often under a lot of public scrutiny, has always been honest about his troubles. In 1998, Jones' former wife, Karin, revealed that not only was the third baseman having an affair but also had a child from it.
This garnered a lot of backlash from people, however, Jones was honest about the whole situation and never tried to hide away his dirty laundry. This managed to get a lot of Braves fans to take his side.
But what shocked everyone was when Jones, in the same interview, supported Alex Rodriguez, who has always been in the middle of some controversy or another. The interviewer asked the Braves icon about the former Yankees star and his own cheating scandal.
He has also been part of a scandal relating to an affair. Rodriguez's ex-wife, Cynthia, filed for divorce because he had allegedly cheated on her with pop sensation Madonna. Chipper Jones took Rodriguez's side and said the hate the former Yankee accumulated could be because a lot of people were jealous of him:
“Even in his own ballpark they boo him sometimes. A lot of people are very jealous of him and want him to fail. It’s because he’s not a true Yankee.”
Chipper Jones then compared Derek Jeter to Alex Rodriguez and said while Jeter was loved by Yankees fans, A-Rod was not.
“If Jeter was going through the same problems A-Rod’s going through, you wouldn’t hear it, because Jeter is revered more like Mickey Mantle than A-Rod would be.”
Hoss is back at the batting cage. Chipper Jones, Hall of Famer and #Braves hitting consultant. https://t.co/ZqxDisuv5F
The two players have had their fair share of controversies and ridicule from the media and fans throughout their careers. Seeing Jones stand up for Rodriguez was rather heartwarming.
When Chipper Jones took responsibility for giving ammunition to hecklers
In the same interview with GQ, Jones went on to say that the season after the whole affair scandal broke out, the heckling of the fans became worse. However, he also took responsibility by saying that the scandals he's been part of are the reason for the mocking.
“You hear some of the vulgar things that come out of people’s mouths and you realize how anger fuels the whole world. Whatever ammunition I give the fans, that’s my fault, and I take responsibility for it."
Chipper Jones days till Opening Day https://t.co/mQ74JYEBmF
Chipper Jones went on to say that he made sure to let the hecklers know that he is over his past and their words don't affect him anymore.