MLB wants Sizemore photos off Web sites
November 30, 2009
CLEVELAND (AP)—Major League Baseball officials have asked Internet sitesto remove racy photographs of Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore(notes).
Sizemore said the photos—one of them showing him nearly nude—were stolenfrom his girlfriend’s e-mail account and posted online. He contacted baseballofficials to stop the spread of the photos, which began appearing Sunday onvarious Web sites.
It is not known how many sites are complying with MLB’s request. At leastone site, deadspin.com, is refusing to take the photos down.
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“There’s no reason to,” editor A.J. Daulerio said Monday. “They were upother places already.”
Daulerio said the photos originated on a community message board and wereforwarded to his site, which is also displaying a letter from an MLB officialrequesting the photos be removed.
The letter reads: “The photos posted in the article cited below are theproperty of Grady Sizemore. They were stolen from a personal computer. We’vebegun an investigation and request that you immediately remove Mr. Sizemore’sproperty from the posting. We also ask that you preserve any records associatedwith its submission in anticipation of a criminal complaint to be filed withlocal law enforcement.”
MLB investigators are trying to determine how many sites ran the photos ofSizemore standing in front of a bathroom mirror in various stages of undress.Sizemore used a cell phone to take the pictures of himself. He told The PlainDealer of Cleveland they were intended only for his girlfriend.
The Indians said Sizemore wouldn’t make any further comment on the photos.
“We fully support Grady as he deals with this personal matter,” theIndians said in a statement Monday. “The posted photos were stolen from hisgirlfriend’s e-mail account and a legal investigation is under way.”
The 27-year-old Sizemore is the Indians’ most popular player. His fan baseincludes “Grady’s Ladies,” and several other women’s groups devoted to thethree-time All-Star.
With a rare combination of speed and power, Sizemore has developed into oneof baseball’s best all-around players. He is one of only two players in clubhistory to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in one season.
A two-time Gold Glove winner, Sizemore has endeared himself to Clevelandfans with his hustle and durability. In 2006 and 2007, he played in all 162regular-season games, but he was limited to just 106 games last season.
Sizemore suffered an elbow injury and sports hernia during spring trainingin 2009 and was never 100 percent. He batted a career-low .248 with 18 homersand 64 RBIs before he deciding to stop playing on Sept. 4. He underwent twooffseason surgeries.
AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.
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