Rangers' CEO blasts Yankees fans, then apologizes

First it was Cliff Lee's wife taking aim at Yankees fans.

Monday, it was Rangers CEO and managing partner Chuck Greenberg who blasted the fan base - and then apologized to Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner and team president Randy Levine.

Earlier in the day, asked a question about his team's fans on ESPN Radio in Dallas, Greenberg used that as a launching point to attack backers of the Bombers.

"I think our fans have been great," Greenberg said. "I think particularly in Game 3 of the World Series, they just blew away anything I've seen in any venue during the postseason. I thought Yankee fans, frankly, were awful. They were either violent or apathetic, neither of which is good. So I thought Yankee fans were by far the worst of any I've seen in the postseason. I thought they were an embarrassment."

But perhaps in an effort to douse the flames he created, Greenberg's tone changed significantly Monday night, when he issued a statement of apology.

"Earlier today, in the course of praising the extraordinary support and enthusiasm of Texas Rangers fans, I unfairly and inaccurately disparaged fans of the New York Yankees,'' Greenberg said. "Those remarks were inappropriate. Yankees fans are among the most passionate and supportive in all of baseball."

"I have spoken directly to Hal Steinbrenner and Randy Levine to apologize for my intemperate comments.''

After the original comments, a source said that the Yankees will hold off on returning fire until after the conclusion of the World Series, when they will have "a lot to say."

There was no immediate reaction to the apology.

Levine and general manager Brian Cashman were in Tampa with other members of the team hierarchy, including Hal and Hank Steinbrenner, for the first day of the team's organizational meetings Monday, and Greenberg's comments presumably were not at the forefront.

An organization spokesman released only this statement: "At this time, we are honoring the commissioner's policy regarding respecting and not distracting from the World Series."

Greenberg's comments were not the first this postseason critical of Yankees fans.

On the eve of the World Series, Rangers ace Lee was asked about remarks his wife had made days earlier to USA Today.

The soon-to-be free agent's wife was quoted describing some of the boorish behavior that she said she and other family members of Rangers players were subjected to by some Yankees fans during the ALCS.

"The fans did not do good things in my heart," Kristen Lee told the newspaper. "When people are staring at you, and saying horrible things, it's hard not to take it personal."

Lee said he did not take it personally, and that his wife's difficulties would not influence his decision as a free agent.

Greenberg, said during the ALCS that the Rangers were prepared to go toe-to-toe with the Yankees in trying to sign Lee.

"We're not going anywhere with a pea shooter," he said.

Greenberg said later: "We can't control what the Yankees or any other club chooses to offer. We can only control our own decisions.''