When Kevin Youkilis switched sides in one of the greatest rivalries in sports, fans of both teams were upset. But Youkilis and his soon-to-be Yankees teammates were quick to say that the history between Youkilis’ former and new teams means nothing, and that they would all play together just fine.
Tell that to Joba Chamberlain.
The hard-throwing Yankees reliever, who has had quite a few pitches get away from him in the direction of Youkilis during their encounters over the years, reportedly reached out to his new teammate soon after the signing. It was a nice gesture, and sure to smooth things over before Youkilis pulled on the pinstripes this spring.
There’s just one problem — Youkilis didn’t pick up, and Chamberlain had to leave a message. And now Youkilis hasn’t returned the call at all.
“I did everything I can do,” Chamberlain told the New York Daily News at a charity event. “I can’t control what Kevin Youkilis does. I can only control what I do and, you know what, we’ll go on from there.”
It’s not like Chamberlain was upset over the incident, though. While observers like to talk up the meetings between the often fiery Chamberlain and the often fiery Youkilis, the fierceness of competition is not always as it seems, and it wouldn’t be unusual for the two to just wait until they are actual teammates to strike up a friendship.
“I’m bound to run into him at some point,” Chamberlain said. “Sooner rather than later. We’ll see what happens. We’re grown men.”
Yeah, but it would be so much fun if you were boys and had a fight about it.
