Rudy Giuliani concedes defeat to Yankees fandom, ends boycott with participation in team’s fan event

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From a self-declared pinstripes detractor to an enthusiastic Yankees fan, Rudy Giuliani has made a quick turnaround. The ex-NYC mayor and lawyer of Donald Trump made a surprising appearance at a New York Yankees fan event on Sunday, despite previously stating that he had been boycotting the team for years due to their endorsement of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Giuliani, who served as Mayor of New York from 1994 to 2001, had publicly disclosed last summer that he refrained from supporting the Yankees because of their alignment with BLM, a contentious political and social movement aimed at addressing racism.

Giuliani’s misguided Yankees boycott call proved wrong

In addition to distancing himself from the LA Dodgers over their ‘Pride Night’ invitation to a drag group that parodies nuns, an action he labeled a ‘war on Christianity,’ the 79-year-old remarked, ‘I did that with the Yankees when they supported Black Lives Matter.’

‘Sorry, I love my country more than baseball.’

Despite avoiding Yankee Stadium due to his stance on the BLM movement, Giuliani participated in a Yankees fan event in New Jersey on Sunday, where he took photos and signed autographs.

The event, named ‘Pinstripe Pride 2024,’ included appearances by former players such as Goose Gossage, Wade Boggs, and Bernie Williams.

Giuliani, a close associate of former President Trump, engaged with both Yankees legends and fans at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford. Despite residing closer to the Dodgers’ former home stadium, Giuliani, who grew up in Brooklyn, developed a fondness for the Yankees through his father.

Giuliani reflected on his eight-year tenure as mayor, noting that the Yankees achieved four World Championships during that period. He mentioned that the team’s success coincided with New York’s transformation from a city perceived as challenging to govern to becoming a prime illustration of Urban Renaissance.

Giuliani added that the Yankees, along with the Mets and all the New York sports teams, played a significant role in the city’s recovery following the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. He expressed enduring gratitude and a special place in his heart for these teams and their contributions to the healing process.

Giuliani faces lawsuits

In December, Giuliani filed for bankruptcy after being instructed to pay $148 million in a defamation lawsuit related to false claims he propagated about two former Georgia election workers.

The lawsuit, centering on lies that led to racist threats and harassment against Wandrea ‘Shaye’ Moss and Ruby Freeman, resulted in emotional testimony during which the women detailed the distress caused by the false conspiracy theory promoted by Giuliani and other Republicans in their attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.

The jury awarded $75 million in punitive damages, along with approximately $36 million each in additional damages for Moss and Freeman.

In a recent virtual court hearing, a lawyer representing Giuliani informed a U.S. bankruptcy judge that the former mayor lacks the financial resources to settle the $148 million owed to the election workers. Other creditors with claims against Giuliani were also advised to anticipate delays in receiving payments.

The attorney, Gary Fischoff, mentioned that Giuliani was earning a living as a radio and podcast host and dealing with various financial issues, emphasizing that there was no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

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