When Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi saw the viral video of a Scottsdale, Arizona city councilman speaking at an anti-mask rally, he rebelled.
Guy Phillips, at the meeting not far from Scottsdale Stadium, the Giants’ spring training facility, wore a black mask and repeated “I can’t breathe” before ripping it off and rolling his eyes.
Those were the last words spoken by George Floyd, who was killed by Minneapolis police last month. “Madness. Madness,” said Phillips, who received loud applause from Arizonans when he threw down his mask.
“I mean, f- that guy,” Zaidi told Athletic. “You can quote me about it. F … that guy.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey criticized Phillips for his comments, and Phillips apologized: “It was a stupid and callous comment he shouldn’t have made, and he had no intention of disrespecting anyone in making that comment,” but Zaidi kept steaming.
Coronavirus cases have skyrocketed to record levels in Arizona, and many Giants players and staff live in the Scottsdale area.
“I think anyone would have a hard time overcoming the abominable callousness of his statement,” Zaidi said in the Athletic interview. “But even if you can go beyond that, the fact that this guy is tolerating behavior that puts our staff and players at risk? As serious. F— that guy. I can’t believe that guy is a public official in this country. Is incredible.”
The Giants relationship with Scottsdale is vital to the community. Their presence each February and March injects millions of dollars into the local economy, and they are moving their minor league facilities from Indian School Park to a complex in Papago Park that costs more than $ 50 million.
“I know we will have some internal conversations about that,” Zaidi said of the Phillips episode. “I don’t know how you can see that and not get mad about it. And angry may be too simple a term. As for what recourse we have, I don’t want to talk about it. But I’m pissed off about it. And I know I speak for a lot of people when I say that. “
John Shea covers the Giants from The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @JohnSheaHey
