Braves pitching coach suspended without pay for calling Giants fans 'homos'
Mon. May 2, 2011 12:04 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
Atlanta -
Major League Baseball suspended Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell for two weeks without pay Sunday because of homophobic comments he yelled at fans.
Last month, McDowell asked some San Francisco Giants fans at AT and T Park if they were a "homo couple" and made threatening gesture with a baseball bat.
The Braves did not release the exact amount of the fine. McDowell will also have to go through sensitivity training. And, he will have to apologize personally to the father, Justin Quinn, who had complained to McDowell at the time and was told by him that kids don't belong at a ballpark.
"I am embarrassed by my actions and I plan to give a personal apology to Mr. Quinn and his family," McDowell said in a statement released Sunday.
MLB commissioner Bud Selig said on Sunday that this sort of thing "cannot and will not be tolerated."
"I understand that Mr. McDowell is very contrite about his conduct, and hopefully this incident will be used to increase public awareness of the importance of sensitivity to others," Selig said.
Last month, McDowell asked some San Francisco Giants fans at AT and T Park if they were a "homo couple" and made threatening gesture with a baseball bat.
The Braves did not release the exact amount of the fine. McDowell will also have to go through sensitivity training. And, he will have to apologize personally to the father, Justin Quinn, who had complained to McDowell at the time and was told by him that kids don't belong at a ballpark.
"I am embarrassed by my actions and I plan to give a personal apology to Mr. Quinn and his family," McDowell said in a statement released Sunday.
MLB commissioner Bud Selig said on Sunday that this sort of thing "cannot and will not be tolerated."
"I understand that Mr. McDowell is very contrite about his conduct, and hopefully this incident will be used to increase public awareness of the importance of sensitivity to others," Selig said.