Tuesday afternoon, the Daily News reported that the same NYC private sector vaccine mandate that prevents Kyrie Irving from playing in home games will also be in effect for New York’s Major League Baseball teams. 15 minutes before the Daily News reported the story, WFAN’s Craig Carton broke the news on-air, and he wants credit.
At about 2:27 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, Carton announced to his WFAN radio partner Evan Roberts that unvaccinated New York Mets and Yankees players will not be allowed to play in home games because of the same mandate that impacts Irving. Carton also tweeted the news at 2:29pm as a way of further stamping his receipt.
Craig & Evan break the news that per the same NYC mandates keeping Kyrie off the court, unvaccinated Mets and Yankees won't be able to play home games. @CartonRoberts pic.twitter.com/1VkF8RuTcH
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) March 15, 2022
At 2:45 p.m., Stefan Bondy of the Daily News echoed Carton’s report, citing a conversation with City Hall, but did not credit the WFAN host. When the Daily News story on the report was published, it similarly did not credit Carton. The New York Post published their story on the vaccine mandate that will effect the Yankees and Mets at 3:05 and did not credit Carton or WFAN.
Spoke to a City Hall spokesperson and the Yankees and Mets fall under the same private sector mandate as Kyrie Irving and the Nets. No difference because it's an outdoor sport. Spokesperson cautioned that things could change by Opening Day.
Story posted shortly
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) March 15, 2022
Carton went on a Twitter rampage, demanding journalistic integrity from the Post and Daily News, but as of 4:30 p.m., pressure from the WFAN radio host did not elicit any credit.
which one of you will be first to acknowledge that you stole oops I mean heard the story from me and @EvanRobertsWFAN @Joelsherman1 @SBondyNYDN we are waiting
— Craig Carton (@craigcartonlive) March 15, 2022
In recent weeks, Irving has been at the center of New York’s COVID conversation. The unvaccinated NBA superstar is currently allowed inside the Nets home arena, but remains barred from the court and locker room. New York City lifted their indoor vaccine requirement earlier this month, but the private sector mandate remains in place.
The private sector mandate went into effect Dec. 27, 2021 which is why it did not impact Mets and Yankees players at all last season. For Yankees players who are unvaccinated, the mandate will force them to miss all home games, as well as road contests at Citi Field and in Toronto, totaling 93 games.
[WFAN]
About Brandon Contes
Brandon Contes is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He previously helped carve the sports vertical for Mediaite and spent more than three years with Barrett Sports Media. Send tips/comments/complaints to bcontes@thecomeback.com