I thought the Yankees were very generous to Bernie with last season's contract. Granted, the Yankees were very fortunate to have him when Matsui and Shef were out for the season. But, if both were not hurt last year, Bernie's salary would have been wasted money.
I feel that if he had showed up to Spring Training under the minor league contract, the Yankees would have had a hard time with NOT finding a place on the team for him. But, as it stands now, I think he has burned that bridge.
I love Bernie and am saddened to see him go out like this. I think it would have been better for his whole legacy to have been in Spring Training, NOT made the team, spent a couple of months in the minors and if not called up to New York, decided to retire with dignity.
I'm sure he will be given a tremendous ceramony when he decides to call it quits, but I wish he would have kept loyalty to the team right up to the end.

metsgrl, Bernie has been paid for his services quite nicely. The Yankees have made him a very very rich man. He knows as well as anybody that his role with the Yankees is greatly diminished. It's time for him to show his gratitude and do what he can for the team.

No, Selfish is...

1. Not letting the best SS in baseball play SS ie Jeter not letting Arod play SS.

2. Wearing the #42 showing no respect for a player who broke thru barriers so that you could have a chance to play ie Mariano

Bernie wants a quarantine contract and after all he's done for the Yankees he deserves it so I don't blame him.

Just give him another year. Cashman is really ******* up dis year. Letting Bernie go, and the whole deal with Mo Rivera, he'd better watch his ***, or nobody is gonna like him.

Yeah, if you were offered a contract by the Yankees wouldn't you take it? I sure would. He could of had the money for doing nothing, then he could of retired at the end of the season.

Bernie Williams is not being selfish...after all he has been through wit the yankees, he deserves a spot on that roster. he is not done yet, he still has a few more year. the yankees are being retarded having four 1st basemans on the team, let phleps or phillips go because they both suck n give the spot to bernie. and as a response to one of the previous answers, jeter is a better ss than arod n mariano had the number b4 mlb decided to not allow anybody to wear it so he shuldnt have to give it up

Every Yankees player is selfish.

no ur wrong

It is a shame to see this saga unfold. Bernie is so lovable and has always been there for fans. I have his rookie card when he had braces and watched him his entire career. But at that same token, I feel he is being slightly selfish, especially in not returning teammates calls. it is hard being a face of a franchise, especially the Yankees, playing a position the greats such as Mantle, Dimaggio, etc have played, and then take a subservient role. It is a hard transition and I wish him look. He is a great player and I look forward to showing my children the number 51 in monument park at the stadium, but i think he needs to chose.

I think bernie should understand he is not the player he once was, and should now pursue other options like coaching.

Bernie Williams biggest problem regarding baseball has nothing whatsoever to do with the Yankees or a contract.

His biggest problem is that he's at the bottom of the downside portion of his career and he refuses to see it. The Yankees, however, do see it, and keep trying to help him to see it.

It's not always the easiest thing to see in yourself - seeing that it's time to say goodbye.

No, he's not being selfish at all - just a bit too stubborn for his own good at this point in his baseball career.

ARE YOU GODDAMN SERIOUS HE IS ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREAT YANKEES THEY SHOULD ATLEAST GIVE HIM WHAT HE WANTS HELL (AGAY ROD) MAKES 25 MILLION JESUS CHRIST GIVE UP SOME OF THAT MONEY.....
PS I AM A HUGE YANKEE FAN!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think he is. He wants to play and win. What is so selfish about that?

I think Bernie is being very selfish,he should have either showed up for spring training,Or just retired,We would have had a big party for him,and he would have gone out with class,and grace,I also heard they were gonna retire his #,,Now i feel really disappointed,and saddened,by has behavior,I really thought he was gonna retire and play his guitar. :)

why would bernie go to spring training? the yankees have 4 outfielders ahead of him (damon, abreu, matsui, cabrera). bernie has done too much to be stuck in the minors trying play for a spot for the entrie LAST YEAR of his career; that would be embarassing.

He had a decent year last year, so it's a good time to retire. I think the media probably blew up the feud, which probably wasn't even a big deal. Imo, bernie simply made a good decision to not come back and end up in the minors all year trying to play for a spot. No one in his position would do something like that.

Selfish? No. However, I think if he really wants to play he should swallow a little pride and go to camp. Multiple reports say Joe Torre has personally invited him to camp twice. I doubt Torre would go to the trouble of inviting Williams to camp just to cut him. That's not Torre's style. So if Bernie could see the forest for the trees he would realize that by simply showing up and putting in a good effort he would not be sent to the minors. At least that's how I see it. :-)