Tony Vitello clarifies what he meant by saying if he knew who leaked his interest in Giants, ‘it might have changed the course of history’
Former Tennessee coach Tony Vitello clarified his controversial comments from earlier this week.
Former Tennessee Vols coach Tony Vitello ruffled some feathers on Monday simply by being authentic.
Vitello, who is in his first spring training as the manager of the San Francisco Giants, asked reporters in Arizona on Monday when they first learned that he was making the jump to MLB.
The former Tennessee coach took issue with a report that was leaked four days before he actually accepted the job last October.
“That was not reality at all,” said Vitello. “I don’t know if Buster (Posey) would feel the same way, but that wasn’t the case. Somebody decides they think they’ve got the information (on October 18), but the final blow was about four days later. I’m just kind of having a conversation (with reporters), therapy, if you will, from walking out of there. But I needed confirmation from the coaches that I worked with, that helped boost my status (as a coach), that they were okay with what was going to go on, and that they were going to be okay with their jobs. That staff had always been built as the next man up, and all of a sudden that was being threatened.
“So it’s kind of hard to do something for yourself and then your teammates get left behind. But it was not four days (before it was officially reported), for what it’s worth. That was not the case at all. If you would have seen me in my condo, you would have agreed.”
“Because somebody tweeted it out,” continued Vitello when asked why he was bringing up the timeline. “I don’t know who told them. I wish I did — it might have changed the course of history if I would have known who did it, to be honest with you. But it just bothers me.”
Tony Vitello clarifies what he meant by saying if he knew who leaked his interest in the Giants, “it might have changed the course of history”
Vitello spoke with reporters Tuesday at Giants spring training and clarified his comments, specifically what he meant when he said that if he knew who leaked his interest, “it might have changed the course of history.”
“I wouldn’t take what I say too seriously,” said Vitello. “We were talking about Lil’ Wayne [the other day]. Again, I think the facts of the case were what I just said. It’s just that. Anybody else would react the exact same way, and it has no real impact on the opportunity that was presented. And it wouldn’t have changed what Buster (Posey) and I would have agreed to and joined to do. So, it just happened to be circumstantial. Like I said, when it affects the people, first off myself, but the people that I’m around every day, too, then it was less than ideal circumstances. But pretty ideal circumstances as I sit here [now].”
Some fans and media speculated that Vitello, who noted that he didn’t receive any backlash from the Giants for his comments on Monday, was implying he would’ve made a different decision had he known who leaked the initial report.
It’s clear, though, that Vitello was just airing some grievances.
Anyone who has watched Vitello speak to the media over the last seven or eight years in Knoxville knows that he’s always going to say what’s on his mind — which is beyond refreshing.
That’s why the suggestion that Vitello has regrets about taking the Giants job because he’s a little miffed about the premature report is nonsense.
Tony V got this job with the Giants because he’s always been unapologetically himself. Changing that now would be silly.
Tennessee Volunteers News
‘I don’t think he was super happy with what was going on’ – Arkansas HC Dave Van Horn reveals what he told Tony Vitello about leaving UT
Tony Vitello left the Tennessee Vols this offseason to become the new manager of the San Francisco Giants.
