David Justice claims his portrayal in the film Moneyball is fake news.
The film, based on Michael Lewis’ book about former Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane, portrays Justice as a me-first egotist.
Justice appeared on Keyshawn Johnson’s Fox Sports podcast “All Facts No Brakes” and denied certain aspects of how he was portrayed in the film.
“There’s a scene in Moneyball where my character comments on how expensive it is to buy drinks. [and it cut to the actor playing Justice asking why soda costs $1 in the clubhouse] Or the general manager, played by Brad Pitt, comes into the batting cage and says he needs to bring me on to the team so he can be a leader,” Justice said.
“It’s like me saying to the general manager, ‘Look, you guys are paying me so don’t come in here and talk to me.'” [a clip played of Justice’s character asking what was in it for him to be a leader]First of all, my mother would kill me if she saw me doing anything that was disrespectful to a coach or a manager or anybody like that.”
In the 2011 film, Justice was played by Stephen Bishop.
On Johnson’s podcast, Justice said he already knew he was expected to be a leader with the Athletics in 2002, his 14th year in the MLB.
“This was my last year in the major leagues,” he said.
“On the first day of spring training, I already knew what it was. Billy Beane … didn’t have to have a conversation with me.”
