Sports talk radio hit a recent low last week when Larry Krueger of San Francisco’s KNBR gave this informed critique of the San Francisco Giants’ offensive struggles.
“Brain-dead Caribbean hitters hacking at slop nightly.”
American players such as the benched J.T. Snow must be hitting .400?
As with many incidents such as this, Krueger apologized and he is suspended until August 15.
What’s unusual is the fact that the Giants – including management – want no part of the apology and remain upset.
“I haven’t heard anything like that since John Rocker,” Venezuelan shortstop Omar Vizquel said, “I think an apology is not going to be enough for that type of comment. I’ve said things I’ve regretted, too, and I wish I could take them back. I would give a guy a second chance if I knew him better, but I don’t know him.”
Not only has Alou said he is not accepting the apology, he called a meeting with all of the Latin players and let it be known that he vowed to make everyone aware in his native Dominican Republic. Forget calling do-nothing Commissioner Bud Selig and Major League Baseball, he says he plans to take it up with the country’s president, Leonel Fernandez. It just so happens Fernandez was at SBC Park in May for a statue tribute for Hall of Famer Juan Marichal.
“It really made me sad to know that 40, almost 50 years later I could hear comments like that,” said Alou, who faced racism as a black Dominican minor leaguer in the South nearly five decades ago. “Especially in San Francisco … I never heard anything like that here. I heard it in the South and in some other cities, but not here. A man like me and the Latin guys out there, we have to be aware now that it’s not over yet. It is coming back.”
Giants GM Brian Sabean called Krueger racist tirade “deplorable.”
“I’m swallowing hard,” Sabean said. “I’m really trying to fathom how in this day and age it can even be said. This is not something we’re going to take lightly. It’s a very emotional subject. It’s a blow below the belt. I know it deeply affected Felipe. I’m disappointed and disheartened we have to react to it. We stand by our manager and stand by his comments and feelings on the subject.”
The SportsEye wonders why African-American professional athletes are so quick to forgive and forget when a racist remark is lobbed their way in the media. Also, would Cardinals’ management be quick to smooth all ruffled fathers, accept the apology and move on, or would the front office be as surly as the Giants?