Rockies pitcher gets in fight with his cab driver!

Rockies reliever gets in fight with cab driver

By JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer
April 25, 2002


CINCINNATI (AP) -- Colorado Rockies reliever Mike James fought the cab driver who brought him to Cinergy Field for a game Thursday night and wound up with scrapes and torn clothes.

James said the driver went in the wrong direction, then took offense when he told him to turn around. They fought after the driver dropped him off at a stadium gate.

The right-hander said he wasn't seriously hurt and would be available to pitch against the Cincinnati Reds. He didn't plan to file a police report, and police said the cab driver had not filed a report Thursday evening.

"It's unfortunate you can't pick your cab driver,'' he said.

Rockies manager Buddy Bell talked to James after he arrived in the clubhouse.

James had scrapes above his eye, on his cheek and along the side of his neck following the fight. He also tore his pants.

He said the cab driver went in the wrong direction after picking him up from the team's downtown hotel, heading past Paul Brown Stadium and away from Cinergy Field.

"I made him turn around so it wasn't expensive,'' James said. "He took exception to my choice of words.''

He said they fought a few minutes later when he got dropped off.

"It's not a big deal,'' James said.

James, 34, has pitched for the Angels and the Cardinals. He signed with Colorado as a free agent last January and was a non-roster player in spring training.

He has appeared in nine games, giving up six earned runs for a 6.75 ERA.