COLUMBUS (WCMH) – As Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella was answering questions during a trade deadline news conference, he was also answering a phone call.
During a news conference Monday, The Athletic reporter Tom Reed was using his phone as a recorder.
After letting it go to voicemail once, Tortorella picked up the phone.
“Mrs. Reed,” he said. “Hi, this is John Tortorella. I’m in the middle of a press conference here.
It was Reed’s mother on the other end.
“No, that’s okay, I’d rather talk to you than your son. I’ll be done in about five. I’ve seen you call a few times. So, yeah, it’s rude of him not to call you back, but he’s busy right now. It’s nice talking to you,” said Tortorella.
Reed tweeted about the incident shortly after it happened.
If it’s not one thing, it’s your mother.— Tom Reed (@treed1919) February 25, 2019
