Final week, we mourned the passing of outfielder Billy Bean, who got here out as homosexual after his retirement from skilled baseball in 1999. And on Sunday, we had been reminded why Bean’s work as Main League Baseball’s senior vice chairman of variety, fairness and inclusion was so invaluable in making an attempt to assist individuals perceive the significance of acceptance and inclusion.
On Sunday, we had been reminded why Bean’s work as Main League Baseball’s senior vice chairman of variety, fairness and inclusion was so invaluable.
Had he nonetheless been alive, Bean would little question be on the cellphone at present with the Boston Crimson Sox, and extra to the purpose, outfielder Jarren Duran. The Sox handed Duran a two-game suspension on Monday after he was caught yelling a homophobic slur within the course of a heckling fan throughout a 10-2 loss on Sunday at Fenway Park. After a fan behind house plate complained about his hitting, the Crimson Sox All-Star stepped out of the batter’s field and mentioned” “Shut up you f——– f—–”. The homophobic slur could possibly be heard clearly from the standard discipline mics positioned behind house plate.
Following the sport, the Crimson Sox put out a statement from Duran. “Throughout tonight’s recreation, I used a really horrific phrase when responding to a fan. I really feel terrible understanding how many individuals I offended and disillusioned,” it learn, partly. Then the staff put out an extra assertion criticizing the 27-year-old’s hurtful remark:
The Crimson Sox addressed this incident with Jarren instantly following at present’s recreation. We echo Jarren’s apology to our followers, particularly to the LGBTQ neighborhood. We try to be a company that welcomes all followers to Fenway Park, and we are going to proceed to teach our staff, gamers, coaches and workers on the significance of inclusivity.
Lower than 24 hours later, the Crimson Sox, along with Main League Baseball, introduced that Duran had been suspended for 2 video games with out pay. His pay for these two video games shall be donated to LGBTQ advocacy group PFLAG.
Whereas Duran did take the time to face the native media on Monday afternoon contained in the Crimson Sox clubhouse, I’m not satisfied that this punishment suits the offense. It feels extra like a slap on the wrist, particularly given Main League Baseball’s previous struggles with homophobia and anti-LGBTQ sentiment.
Duran’s suspension is per earlier league punishments meted out for homophobic slurs. In Might 2017, then-Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar was suspended two video games after hurling a homophobic slur at opposing pitcher Jason Motte following a strikeout. Simply three months later, then-A’s outfielder Matt Joyce was suspended for two games for yelling a homophobic slur at a fan. Like Duran, Joyce’s two recreation checks had been donated to PFLAG. (However, Emmy Award-winning Cincinnati Reds play-by-play announcer Thom Brennaman was fired almost four years to the day for uttering the identical slur utilized by Duran on a scorching mic throughout a recreation broadcast.)
The month of June sees a proliferation of “Satisfaction Nights,” however simply two years in the past 5 Tampa Bay Rays gamers refused to put on their rainbow-colored Pride jerseys, citing spiritual objections.
The powers that be inside Main League Baseball proceed to deal with the signs of a bigger sickness. However I worry the sickness itself is being ignored.
The league’s common season has 162 video games; a two-game suspension barely scratches the floor of accountability. And naturally there may be the truth that there has by no means been an energetic participant who felt snug sufficient to come back out as homosexual. The NFL’s first brazenly homosexual participant Carl Nassib got here out in 2021; Jason Collins grew to become the primary energetic brazenly homosexual NBA participant again in 2013.
Main League Baseball shouldn’t be precisely identified for its progressive politics extra broadly, both. Whereas athletes within the NBA and NFL advocated for change after the high-profile killings of Black males by police, MLB and its athletes stayed principally quiet. And MLB’s deep-pocketed billionaire owners skew conservative, contributing 3 times as a lot cash to Republicans than Democrats between 2016 and 2020.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred sends the incorrect message by not strengthening the punishments for bigoted language — each to followers, present gamers and the following technology of athletes, a few of whom could even be questioning if their skilled desires could possibly be doomed by their sexual orientation. Having a Satisfaction evening and getting cash off the LGBTQ+ neighborhood with rainbow-themed hats or jerseys doesn’t make you inclusive. Letting followers and closeted gamers (present, previous and future) know that you just perceive the damaging ripple results of hurtful language does.
Jason Web page is the host of the nationally syndicated day by day TV present “SportsWrap w/Jason Web page.”
