David Shuster Denies 'Dork' Habits: 'I've Never EVER Worn Softball Pants'

May 14th, 2010 2:25 PM

Friday's "Yeas and Nays" gossip column in The Washington Examiner reported that despite his suspension by MSNBC, anchor David Shuster is still playing on the "Original Peacocks" softball team of WRC (NBC's local affiliate). An anonymous player claimed:

"One funny thing is he has his own uniform, while the rest of the teams play in shorts and T-shirts," a player from an opposing team told Yeas & Nays. "What a dork," the player added.

1)  I don't wear a "uniform." I wear shorts and the WRC/NBC t-shirt just like everybody else. There is one player on our team who wears softball pants. But he plays left field. I play center. And I've never EVER worn softball pants. So, your claim about me wearing a uniform is false. 

And I now ask you to identify who it was that claimed I was a "geek," given that they were false in their claim about what I wear. [For the record, the Examiner quoted a player as saying, "what a dork."]

(2) I have not played in the metropolitan media softball league for "two years" as you wrote... I've played in it for 20.  I've been in  the league  since 1990, with the exception of '95 and '96 when I was working in Arkansas.  My history in the media league tracks who I worked for... CNN from  90-94, Fox  News Channel softball team from 96-2001; NBC News channel from  2002-2006;  WRC/NBC from 2007 to present.  So again, your source for how long  I've played  in the co-ed rec league got it wrong.  Please publicly identify that source. [The Examiner, like MSNBC and CNN, does not identify confidential sources.]

(3) You claim that a week after I was suspended, I spoke to a fellow softball  player or players about being on "paid vacation."  I've never said any such  thing to anybody in the media softball league.  And the only conversations I've had about my status are with my agent, my immediate family, and my  closest friends. None of them play or interact with anybody in the media softball league.

 Please correct the article immediately. It is accurate that I continue to  play on the NBC/WRC "Peacock" softball team.  It is also accurate  that we won the championship last year (and the year before) and that like many of of my teammates, I hoisted the trophy after we won.  It is also accurate that I  batted 5th last weekend, though that was only in the 2nd game. In the first  game, I batted my usual 4th spot.

Next time, if you want to write about the media softball league and can't reach me by deadline, please call somebody/anybody on our team.  It wouldn't have taken more than a few minutes for you to realize that your reporting sources were bull sh*t.

It's quite clear that a man with Shuster's ego belongs on a team called the "Original Peacocks." As for throwing softballs, he also plays at the office when interviewing Democrats.