Gregg Zaun, a former Toronto Blue Jays catcher and in-studio analyst for Rogers Sportsnet, has opened up about his firing from the network eight years ago due to allegations of inappropriate behavior. In a recent podcast appearance, Zaun reflected on his mistakes and the impact they have had on his life and career.

During the episode of the _Toronto Legends_ podcast, Zaun acknowledged his past errors, stating, "I definitely made mistakes. I let celebrity get in my head." He noted that his fame as a broadcaster surpassed his recognition as a player, saying, "I was never as famous in Canada as a player as I was as a broadcaster. I mean, I couldn’t walk down the street."

Zaun expressed the profound effects of his firing, saying, "My life was turned upside down, ruined. My professional career, ruined. I can’t get a job in television. There’s not a lot of forgiveness for people that look like me in this world. And it’s my fault. It’s absolutely my fault."

He described being "shocked" by the allegations but took responsibility for his actions. Zaun admitted, "There are certain topics of conversation that don’t belong in the workplace," and reflected on how he misjudged the nature of some interactions. "The biggest mistake that I’ve made is thinking that because a lot of the conversations and exchanges were initiated by females in the workplace that they were somehow OK," he said. "The tomfoolery, the hijinks. These allegations, they were shocking to me. I was just having fun with willing participants. Yeah, the environment was inappropriate. It was my fault for letting it get as far as it did. I should have been classier and I definitely should be held to a higher level of accountability."

Several anonymous employees at Sportsnet previously reported that Zaun made sexual comments intended to make them uncomfortable. In the podcast, he mentioned that the network encouraged him to adopt a persona he referred to as a "Manalyst," akin to the controversial sports commentator Don Cherry. "Sportsnet created that ‘Manalyst’ guy. They wanted ‘Don Cherry of baseball,’ so I gave it to them," Zaun explained.

Despite this, Zaun believes he has more to offer than just that role. "People misunderstand or underestimate my versatility. I can be whatever you want me to be," he said. He added, "You want me to be the loud guy. You want me to cause a ruckus. You want me to polarize the fan base. I can do that. Do you want me to just be quiet and go put my head down and be a soldier? I can do that too."

Currently residing in British Columbia after his third marriage ended, Zaun has been sober for two years. He expressed a desire for a second chance in baseball, whether in broadcasting or coaching.