News of Jeanie’s comments on the call with Jesse soon made the rounds within the organization and to Joey.
“It’s mind-blowing that she would say that,” said someone on the team who became aware of the remarks. “I don’t care who you are. You don’t say that to somebody else.”
Said another: “Why would that ever get thrown into somebody’s face? I don’t know.”
Of Jeanie’s alleged remark to Jesse, Janie said, “I can’t imagine my sister saying that, but that was the truth. They [Jerry and JoAnn] did have an understanding.”
An obvious but ominous dynamic had revealed itself from that call, people close to the family told ESPN -- the remark was perhaps a sign of something more, a deep-rooted resentment that for decades had lingered.
“That,” someone close to the family said, “was the beginning of the end.”