Rob Gronkowski reveals what Yankees fan who clashed with Mookie Betts text him after lifetime ban
One of the two New York Yankees fans banned for life over their World Series clash with Mookie Betts is adamant he did nothing wrong, according to Rob Gronkowski.
The pair of Yankees supporters - Austin Capobianco and John P. Hansen - have received lifetime MLB suspensions after trying to prize the ball out of the glove of Dodgers right fielder Betts in Game 4 of this year's World Series.
After the viral moment happened in October, former NFL tight end Gronkowski revealed that Capobianco is actually one of his old friends from college, while praising him for 'shining' when the ball came his way on the night.
And following his buddy's lifetime ban from baseball, Gronk has opened up on their recent exchange over text.
'I don't think he should really be banned, but I think his buddy next to him should be banned, because his buddy kind of reached over and grabbed his wrist,' the ex-New England Patriots star said about his good friend 'Cappuccino' on Kay Adams' 'Up & Adams' show.
'When I talked to Austin, he gave me a text message back. I said, "Hey, congratulations. You didn't back down. Like, you would say you'd actually do that and you did."
Rob Gronkowski (left) says one of the two Yankees fans banned for life over their clash with Mookie Betts (right) is adamant that he did nothing wrong
Austin Capobianco (left), one of Gronk's friends from college, has received a lifetime MLB ban
'He then wrote back, "Hey Rob, thank you man. Best buds for life," and all that stuff.
'And then he goes, "What did I do wrong? Mookie put his glove on my lap, I was just trying to swat the ball away." And that was the truth, he was just swatting it away.
'It's not like he reached over into the play or anything, but his buddy did. So I think his buddy should be suspended for life. But Austin, just maybe a year or so.'
Capobianco and Hansen, who took the place of a season ticket holder who was unable to attend the game that night, both received letters from MLB informing them of their suspensions.
'Your conduct posed a serious risk to the health and safety of the player and went far over the line of acceptable fan behavior,' the letter, obtained by the New York Post, said.
'Based on your conduct, Major League Baseball is banning you indefinitely from all MLB stadiums, offices, and other facilities.'
Capobianco said after the game that he had been prepared to make such a move for a long time and that he usually watched the Yankees in that area of the stadium.
'We always joke about the ball in our area,' he told ESPN. 'We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’re going to ‘D’ up. Someone defends, someone knocks the ball.
Capobianco and John P. Hansen were accused by MLB chiefs of endangering Betts
'We talk about it. We’re willing to do this. I know when I’m in the wrong and as soon as I did it, I was like, "Boys I’m out of here". I patrol that wall and they know that.'
Over the holidays, Betts appeared on a television show with Kevin Hart and was asked again about the incident.
'I would really say "f*** you guys". Like try and get the ball, cool. But you tried to grab my s***,' Betts said.
'I was in the moment. So I thought about throwing the ball at them. And then I realized, "Mook, you ain’t gonna do s***. Go back to right field."'
The Dodgers went on to win Game 5 and secure a 4-1 World Series victory in New York.
