Oscar-nominated actor and Bronx native Chazz Palminteri joined OutKick’s “The Craig Carton Show,” offering his thoughts on MLB pitcher Sonny Gray, throwing his support behind the Giants’ signing of JJ McCarthy, and reflecting on his working relationship with Robert De Niro.
Palminteri, a lifelong New York sports fan, recounted a cold personal encounter with current Boston Red Sox starter Sonny Gray from Gray’s stint with the Yankees.
“Here’s something I got to say: Sonny Gray, Sonny, you hear me, Sonny? Sonny Gray, that son of a b– –h,” Palminteri said.
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“And I’ll tell you why: because I went to meet with him when he was with the Yankees, and he was like, ‘Ah, you know… really?’ I said, ‘You don’t, Sonny? From one Sonny to another Sonny…’ I was doing the whole bit with my restaurants. He goes, ‘Well, I’m busy.’ I said, ‘Okay.'”
Palminteri pointed to Gray’s 6.98 home ERA in pinstripes, arguing the righty folds under the spotlight.
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“Sonny Gray is the ace of the Boston staff. He’s pitching Game 2. Why is he not pitching Game 1? He’s the ace!” Palminteri said. “You know why? He chokes. He can’t pitch. And you know what? We’re going to have to see him pitch in the Bronx. He cannot pitch in the Bronx. Never! He was a failed Yankee. Every other place he goes, huge success. In the Bronx, he chokes!”
Chazz Palminteri and Robert Di Niro attend “A Bronx Tale” as it celebrates its 100th performance on Broadway at Longacre Theatre on March 1, 2017, in New York City. (WireImage)
Transitioning to Hollywood … Palminteri shared the moment he realized his life was changing while developing “A Bronx Tale” (’93) alongside Robert De Niro, who directed the gangster flick. Palminteri wrote the story and developed it from his one-man stage show.
“Think of somebody saying to you right now, ‘Hey, Craig, you know, I love your show. Listen, I think your life is really interesting. Robert De Niro wants to do your life story, and he wants to play your father.’ You would be like, ‘What the f– –k?’ Right?” Palminteri recalled.
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“I hit the elevator button. I’m going down the elevator, and I went, ‘I just acted with Robert De Niro!’ And I said no to him for lunch!” Palminteri joked. “I was like, ‘What the f …’
“That’s when it hit me. And then I got off the elevator and I went, ‘All right, it’s all right. Come on, babe, you belong here. You waited your whole life for this.’ Then I was okay. He’s on Mount Rushmore. If you want to put four up there, he’s up there.”
Director Dito Montiel, actor Robert Downey Jr. and actor Chazz Palminteri pose together. (WireImage)
In a “Usual Suspects”-level plot twist, Palminteri shockingly backed the Giants’ polarizing signing of backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Palminteri argued that early career struggles do not define a player’s potential, pointing to guys like Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield who got drafted, bombed, busted, and then roared back.
“I’m telling you, the kid’s got a strong arm. Definitely better than, I hate this, Jameis Winston. I don’t like him because he’s got happy feet, and he’s afraid to get hit, and I could see it in his eyes,” Palminteri said. “He makes these stupid throws where you just go, ‘God, he got away with that.'”
“I want a young arm, a young pair of legs in there. And I’m happy J.J.’s here,” Palminteri added. “Look, the guy won the championship in high school, won the championship in college. He’s a winner. Maybe the fame got to him a little bit, but you know what? He’s been humbled. Bing! I think he’s gonna be good.”
Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Chazz Palminteri speaks onstage at the Table 4 Writers Foundation Second Annual Awards Gala at the New York Athletic Club on March 27, 2014. (Donald Bowers/Getty Images for Table 4 Writers Foundation)
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