Joe Torre: NFL "Dropped The Ball" In Ray Rice Investigation
By Steve Shapiro
Joe Torre says the NFL "dropped the ball" in the Ray Rice domestic violence investigation.
The former Major League Baseball player and Hall of Fame manager spoke to Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric about the scandal that has plagued professional football and the NFL's commissioner, Roger Goodell, for weeks.
Of Goodell, Torre said, "He's lost a lot of the luster, obviously over this case, which I understand."
Torre says he hopes the attention focused on the NFL will bring broader attention to the issue. "If there's something good that comes out of this, it's that we have to pay attention to it and really understand the seriousness of it."
Torre and his wife, Ali, founded the Safe at Home Foundation in 2002 to help families shattered by domestic violence.
"I think he's going to go hide somewhere. I think he's going to travel and not live by a schedule for the first time in his life."
Torre also spoke about another one of his former players, Alex Rodriguez, who was suspended for the entire season after being linked to MLB's performance-enhancing drug scandal.
"It's sad. Because you know, when you look at ability and his age, it looked like he was just gonna steamroll all the records. And -- knowing how hard he worked, again, this wasn't a fluke. He was -- he was a talented player from high school -- down in Miami. And it was just disappointing…for the game and, I know, for Alex."
As to whether Rodriguez will return next season, Torre isn't sure.
"I think in Alex's case, the biggest question would be his health. 'Cause he's had some hip issues in the last few years or last couple years. "
Rodriguez's uncertain future leaves a lot of questions for the franchise Torre once helmed, but tonight it's all about Jeter -- the man they called the Captain, for good reason, according to Torre.
"Trustworthy is -- is a word I use. And it doesn't seem to cover enough of what I think about him. But that just means that you've made everybody around you -- you know, work harder and play harder and -- and really respond."
Watch Complete Interview:
