The Oakland Athletics’ announcer Glen Kuiper has been suspended after using a racial epithet during a live broadcast.
On Friday night, before the A’s game against the Kansas City Royals, Kuiper did not say the word “negro,” as intended. He substituted, shockingly, the “n-word.”
The horrendous faux pas occurred during the pregame show as Kuiper and his broadcasting partner Dallas Braden discussed their recent visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
“Negro” was “altered” by Kuiper into the worst possible “synonym.”
He apologized before the start of the sixth inning, saying his earlier comment “didn’t come out quite the way I wanted it to.”
Meanwhile, Vince Cotroneo and Johnny Doskow will take turns calling the games.
On Saturday, NBC Sports California released a statement from Kuiper in which he apologized and expressed his disgust at his earlier remarks. “I could not be more sorry and horrified by what I said,” he continued. “Please know that I apologize from the bottom of my heart,” he pleaded.
The Athletics took to Twitter to express their disappointment and determination to correct the mistake. In addition to expressing his disapproval of the incident, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) president Bob Kendrick also extended his desire to forgive, saying, “I hope all of you will find it in yourselves to do the same!”
Kendrick said he “had the pleasure of seeing Glen yesterday,” and it was clear that he was overjoyed to be at the NLBM. He said the term is offensive and has no place in modern society.
He said he could make no claims to understanding Glen’s motives but is confident that his own heart can forgive. He hoped that everyone could do the same.
Kuiper has been the announcer for A’s games in the Bay Area for nearly two decades.
Duane Kuiper is his older brother, a former big leaguer and current Giants play-by-play announcer.
