Boone expressed his excitement right away because he loves Opening Day and baseball.

After discussing the Yankees’ 6-1 road start and the morning’s news that reliever Jonathan Loaisiga had been placed on the 60-day injured list due to a flexor strain, Boone spoke for 12 minutes. He also talked about the excitement surrounding Juan Soto’s first game at Yankee Stadium in pinstripes and Dennis Santana, Loaisiga’s replacement in the bullpen.

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RESTORING THE GLAMOR

Boone indicated he had one more thing to say after that, when there were no more questions.

Boone wished to discuss the devastating news that Cathy Tusiani, the wife of Yankees executive Michael Tusiani, passed away late on Wednesday in Armonk, New York, during a storm. The tree fell on her car.

Beginning calmly, Boone leaned toward a microphone.

“After all the hoopla surrounding Opening Day, we are constantly reminded of the bigger picture and the fact that this is our job,” he remarked. Though it is only a game, it is very important, and today our family—the Yankees family—is grieving. Michael Tusiani lost his wife, as you are aware.”

Boone began to lose his cool at this point. He blinked, looked down, paused for a few seconds, started crying, and tried to speak again, getting only one word out before sobbing.

Boone’s voice cracked, and he said, “Cathy.” Boone continued, “So we will be praying for them today and all season,” after ten more seconds had gone by. Alright.

Then Boone rose from his chair and walked out of the press-packed room.