Staten Island South Shore Little League manager Bob Laterza, who started a war of words with the Yankees, wants everyone to know that nobody on his team hates the Bronx Bombers or feels entitled.
Laterza made headlines last week after he told the Staten Island Advance that superstar slugger Aaron Judge didn’t interact with his players while the Yanks were in Williamsport, Pa., for the Little League Classic.
In a phone conversation with The Post, he stood by his criticism.
“The only reason I said anything to the Advance is because these kids, they’re my kids when they’re with me,” Laterza said. “They were disappointed. How can I explain to them the guy can’t even turn around and wave? All right, you could say he’s busy in the game. … We’re 10 feet away. I mean they waved to the bleachers when they’re up at bat.”
The Staten Island coach pushed back on some of the rebukes he’s heard since his comments were published and the Yankees responded with a fiery defense of Judge.
Laterza said he had been under the impression the Yankees would give the local New York Little League team extra attention during their visit to Williamsport.
He claimed to read a published report to that effect, but that he couldn’t recall in which outlet.
Since Staten Island played the Sunday morning that the Yankees flew into Williamsport, they missed a chance to greet the Yankees at the airport.
Logistical issues hampered a planned meeting at “The Grove,” the dormitories where the teams stayed during the tournament.
Laterza said his players waited for an hour, but because of the size of the crowds, the Yankees couldn’t get to the site of the planned meet and greet, which prevented another chance for the kids to meet Judge.
The Staten Island Little Leaguers were able to meet some Yankee players ahead of the Little League Classic when Aaron Boone, Anthony Volpe and Gerrit Cole came out to meet them, which softened their disappointment.
But when Judge didn’t acknowledge the Staten Islanders while he was on deck, Laterza indicated it was the final straw.
“It seems like [the Yankees] couldn’t get through the crowds to get to The Grove where the rec room where we were held up to meet them was. I guess it happens especially with crowds like that,” Laterza said. “I understand that. And then he couldn’t come out, he’s preparing for a game, I understand that. I mean how much can we understand? Why can’t you turn around and wave? That was the gist. What was the big entitlement?”
Laterza said neither the Yankees nor Judge have reached out to him personally since the Yankees issued their critical statement.
He says he harbors no ill will, but did seem to take issue with the team’s statement and indicated he would still like an apology for Judge’s failure to meet with his team.
The Yankees declined to comment on Laterza’s new comments.
In the days following Laterza’s initial complaint, the Yankees responded with a strong defense of their captain while Judge chose not to respond directly to the comments.
Laterza did seem to relent and acknowledge that things could have been handled better by everyone involved.
“You know what, maybe I should have gave a better answer. Maybe they should have gave a better response,” Laterza said.
The Staten Island Little League team was knocked out by Florida on Tuesday night.
Laterza said the players enjoyed the experience in Williamsport and after their successful run, they’ve already been invited to be on a float at the Feast of San Gennaro festival.
“They were treated top-notch, from when we got there ’til when we left,” Laterza said. “There was nothing that you needed or was overlooked. It’s just tremendous. … Never imagined that it would be that well done.”
