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10:06 AM ET 10.29 | Billy Martin Jr. defended his father yesterday in regard to comments by Hall of Famer slugger Reggie Jackson in which the famed slugger said he had witnessed racism and anti-Semitism during the Yankee manager's reign in the Bronx. "I can assure you, my father was not a racist," Martin said in a telephone interview. "My father was about winning. That's all he cared about. He put people on the field as best he thought to get victories. He didn't care about anyones background. "He just wanted the best player on the field. My father could've cared less about anything other than winning. He wasn't there to make friends, but to make winners. Let's let my father rest."

Billy Martin, Icon SMI

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October 29, 2011 10:39 AM ET

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Shut up, Reggie. Let the dead lay. Dragging Martin's name through the mud when he isn't in a position to defend himself serves no purpose but get your own name in the news again. While I'm sure that's your real motivation, it just makes you look like an ass.

williewilliejuan

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October 29, 2011 10:42 AM ET

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Reggie Jackson is a piece of dung. Overrated as a ballplayer, and a turd of a human being.

...the best policy

Harrodsburg, KY

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October 29, 2011 11:03 AM ET

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QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 10:42 AM ET 10.29 by ...the best policy

Reggie Jackson is a piece of dung. Overrated as a ballplayer, and a turd of a human being.

... he's right about Billy Martin being a racist though.

Jackson, though the most vocal, isn't the only one who has provided evidence of this being true.

The Action Brown

New York , NY

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October 29, 2011 11:16 AM ET

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I like the end of the article - let the man rest for Gawd's sake, Reggie is just trying to maintain relevancy ... he should be happy they named a candy bar after him, and shut his cake hole!!! I did like him as a player, simply electric man, but he really needs to pipe down on this subject.

Telsonx

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October 29, 2011 11:25 AM ET

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QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 11:16 AM ET 10.29 by Telsonx

I like the end of the article - let the man rest for Gawd's sake, Reggie is just trying to maintain relevancy ... he should be happy they named a candy bar after him, and shut his cake hole!!! I did like him as a player, simply electric man, but he really needs to pipe down on this subject.

And it is hard being relevant when you are talking about your long dead manager from 35 years ago. We know all that we need to know about Billy Martin. There's no mystery about his character flaws. Nor it is any surprise that a man of his generation and background used racial and ethnic slurs.

Hatrunner

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October 29, 2011 11:49 AM ET

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Reggie is still pissed about Martin calling him out !!!

drbpor

St Clair Shores, MI

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October 29, 2011 11:56 AM ET

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QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 11:26 AM ET 10.29 by G-B

What is wrong w/ SI T&R? The Cards just won the World Series and there is not a single story about it? maybe it's because they jinxed the Rangers by putting Nelson Cruz in their cover. Coincidence? I think not!

Nobody cares about the Cardinals.

Rex Racer

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October 29, 2011 12:08 PM ET

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Face it guy's people like Reggie are always going to play the race card...Reggie couldn't carry Mantle's jockstrap and as a matter of fact he couldn't carry Billy's either.

You are right that nobodys cares about the Cardinals..It's Football season..Cowboys Eagles tomorrow night..enough said

PaPa Ray

Gretna , VA

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October 29, 2011 12:11 PM ET

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QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 10:39 AM ET 10.29 by williewilliejuan

Shut up, Reggie. Let the dead lay. Dragging Martin's name through the mud when he isn't in a position to defend himself serves no purpose but get your own name in the news again. While I'm sure that's your real motivation, it just makes you look like an ass.

Well said. Jackson is an arrogant blowhard that never misses an opportunity to tell people he's Reggie Jackson. He wanders the halls of Yankee Stadium blabbing, "hey do you know I'm Mr. October".

trooper707

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October 29, 2011 12:13 PM ET

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QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 11:56 AM ET 10.29 by Rex Racer

Nobody cares about the Cardinals.

Not fair. Well done Cardinals.

trooper707

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October 29, 2011 12:24 PM ET

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QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 11:49 AM ET 10.29 by drbpor

Reggie is still pissed about Martin calling him out !!!

There ya go.

50yearfan

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October 29, 2011 12:34 PM ET

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QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 11:56 AM ET 10.29 by Rex Racer

Nobody cares about the Cardinals.

I agree!

Old No. 4

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October 29, 2011 12:34 PM ET

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QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 12:13 PM ET 10.29 by trooper707

Not fair. Well done Cardinals.

Lucky!

Old No. 4

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October 29, 2011 01:01 PM ET

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What?!?! Let him rest in peace?!? really? So you can say nice things about the dead but you can't be honest decades after? This is ridiculous. Who cares if he says something about a dead guy? With all due respect to Billy Martin, reggie has every right to talk about him. Sure maybe you don't like what he has to say but he has every right. Billy Martin IS resting in peace, regardless of what anyone has to say. Martin's managerial numbers show he was extremely successful. Reggie's do too. But come on guys, put this rest in peace stuff to rest.