Yanks clarify Lady Gaga's access

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NEW YORK -- Lady Gaga is still welcome at Yankee Stadium, but just not in the clubhouse. Especially not after a loss.

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Al Bello/Getty ImagesLady Gaga wore her pinstripes -- and not much else -- to the park on Friday.

"She's not banned," New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman said on Sunday afternoon. "Celebrities aren't banned. If Michael Jordan showed up here he would have access [to the clubhouse], but not after a loss."

Following the Yankees' loss to the New York Mets on Friday night, Lady Gaga talked her way past security and into the Yankees' clubhouse. She reportedly met with some players, including Robinson Cano. The media, which is supposed to be allowed into the clubhouse 10 minutes after the final pitch, was held out.

"That was the wrong time and the wrong place," Cashman said. "It's been taken care of."

The New York Post reported on Sunday that Yankees co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner was furious at the display Lady Gaga put on in the clubhouse -- dressed in a half-buttoned Yankees jersey and a bikini bottom, she swilled whiskey and fondled her chest, the Post said, citing sources -- and that Steinbrenner had permanently banned Gaga from the team's clubhouse. Cashman downplayed that, but added that the Yankees have other places in the Stadium where players can interact with celebrities.

"There is just a time and place," said Cashman. "It is not her fault."

Cashman said that no one was fired over the security breach. When George Steinbrenner was in charge, employees would have likely been let go over such an incident.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi says he doesn't think celebrities cause a distraction for his team.

"Our guys know that when it's time to play, it's time to play, and they're used to it," Girardi said.

There were reports that Alex Rodriguez met with Gaga on Friday, but Cano says he was the only player to see her.

"She can sing, I'll tell you that," Cano said.

Gaga has been making her presence felt in New York baseball. The singer, who says she is a Yankees fan, attended a Mets-Padres game on June 10 at Citi Field and decided to give the finger to Mets fans. This provided not only a treat for photographers but also a marketing opportunity for the Mets; they've designated this coming Wednesday's game vs. the Tigers as "Go Gaga for Wright" night, to campaign for third baseman David Wright's election to the National League All-Star team. The first 20,000 fans through the gates will receive a blue foam hand with the index finger extended -- "the best finger," according to a TV commercial for the promotion -- and the words "Make Wright #1" printed on it.

Andrew Marchand covers baseball for ESPNNewYork.com. You can follow him on Twitter.

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Andrew Marchand

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Andrew Marchand is a senior writer for ESPNNewYork. He also regularly contributes to SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, ESPNews, ESPN New York 98.7 FM and ESPN Radio. He joined ESPN in 2007 after nine years at the New York Post. Follow Andrew on Twitter »