Ausmus Apologizes Again For 'Insensitive' Remark: 'Hasn't Been A Fun 12 Hours'
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
COMERICA PARK (CBS DETROIT) - The instant the words left his mouth, Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said he knew he made a mistake.
After the Kansas City Royals dealt the Tigers another loss Wednesday, reporters asked Ausmus how he handled the recent losing skid, and one asked how Ausmus is when he goes home. Ausmus sarcastically replied, "I beat my wife." He clarified that he was kidding, and apologized within minutes.
Nevertheless, judgment came swiftly, with the situation making national news.
"I guess in today's world that's pretty standard," Ausmus said Thursday morning. "The truth is I wasn't trying to trivialize or marginalize the problem of domestic abuse or minimize how awful a thing it is, and I'm sorry. The last thing - there's people in this room who know me - I wasn't trying to hurt anyone. I certainly wasn't trying to offend anyone, and if I did I really am honestly sorry for that because that's not what I was trying to do.
"As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I knew it was insensitive and wish I hadn't said it," Ausmus added. "At this point, other than saying I'm sorry, there's really nothing else I can do."
The comment followed Detroit's 20th loss in the last 29 games, and the time since the remark has been painful for Ausmus.
"I didn't have a fun 12 hours," Ausmus said. "I didn't sleep well. I obviously talked to my wife and daughters about it because my daughters are on Twitter and all that, so they see it. It hasn't been a fun 12 hours."
Ausmus indicated he would likely make some kind of contribution to an organization related to preventing domestic abuse or helping victims of it. However, he said the details of such action would be private.
"I think I will do something on my own, but that would not be something I would do for public relations," Ausmus said. "I wouldn't tell you what I did or what my approach is going to be, but I've discussed things and I'll do that on my own."
Ausmus said he does not think there is any connection between his comment and the team's recent losing skid. He also declined to put responsibility on media for reporting his words.
"I take full blame for that," Ausmus said. "I don't blame any of the media members. They were doing their job."
