Rice Responds Angrily in Pregame Interview

Boston designated hitter Jim Rice responded angrily Saturday to NBC interviewer Marv Albert “for being negative” on the pregame show before the nationally televised Tigers-Red Sox game.

“He was bringing up the same old crap from the past,” Rice said. “The thing on Joe (Morgan, the Boston manager with whom Rice had a run-in a few weeks ago), something he picked up out of the paper last year, something from four or five years ago.”

Rice ultimately lost patience when Albert brought up the player’s recent failure to answer a curtain call after a home run at Fenway Park. Rice, initially choosing not to explain, berated Albert for raising the subject, then sidestepped questions, hinting he didn’t hear the fans.

Later, Rice explained why he resented the entire exchange.

“The only thing I told him was I’m worried about winning,” Rice said. “I just want to do my job and play. He’s trying to make a mountain out of an anthill.

“Why should you bring up all those negative things? We’re trying to focus on the positive here. We’ve just won 20-some home games in a row and we’re trying to get something good going.”

Rice was suspended for three games shortly after Morgan took over as manager. Rice was removed for a pinch-hitter and lost his temper in the dugout, drawing the suspension for shoving the manager.

Rice later apologized to Morgan and admitted he was wrong.

“Why does this guy (Albert) always want to bring up the negative?” Rice asked. “Didn’t (St. Louis Cardinals Manager) Whitey Herzog refuse to be interviewed by him? Maybe that tells you something.”