Changing the subject; classy Boston hockey fans, booing a Canadiens player that took a hard shoulder shot to the jaw and had to be helped off the ice…real nice
There is no lawsuit. The fan is not seeking anything out of it.
Yes, I know, and that is to the family’s credit. Of course, there is still plenty of time to file a suit. I think it’s interesting that there was not been any denial issued along with the apology.
James: Thanks for providing the link to the video. Prior to watching that I was of the opinion that Roger had been in the wrong for whatever reason, but in seeing the complete lack of regard for the (2) nine year olds sitting there listening and watching this trash makes me much more suspect of the father’s motives. If he was truly “protecting” his daughters from inappropriate language and gestures why would he now find it ok to make them center stage to such a (vulgar in its own right) media circus? Something is not right here.
All I can say is, if it’s true — and it doesn’t look good, folks — then I’m extremely disappointed in Roger (whom I think is a terrific pitching coach). There’s no excuse. None.
And I’m more than a little disappointed by the (fortunately relatively few) posts on this blog expressing slurs about San Francisco (which is an incredible city, if you’ve never been there) and about gay people in general. I guess it’s to be expected on a sports-related blog, but… disappointing nonetheless. Several of my best friends and co-workers are gay or lesbian. One of them, who stood up with me at my wedding, is the biggest Braves fan I know besides myself. How do you think he feels right now?
Sigh. Shameful stuff, when we ought to be able to focus on baseball and the great trip our team just finished.
SeATLite, let’s not rush to judgement on Roger. Does he not merit the benefit of the doubt until evidence is presented. I lived in San Francisco for years and while the natural beauty is unrivaled by any other city, the people are mostly disgraceful. SF is known as the “Land of Misfit Toys.”
I have never lived any place so intolerant of what most folks would consider “normal” behavior. As long as you worship crystals and enjoy beastiality, you are a hero. Reality is upside down there.
Several of my friends and relatives are gay and lesbian, but I would expect them not to be so sensitive to an alledged minor reference. Grow up and get a thicker skin.
Ah crap…I kept thinking the bad parts of the storm would be to the north of us, but I just checked the radar and it looks like there’s a big strand of red that can’t miss us. It’s in Alabama right now.
well the weather scaring machine is working at my house…other 1/2 wants us to go downstairs now…storms aren’t projected to come here at all and even the rain isnt forecast to get here for 2 1/2 more hours
I think McDowell deserves the benefit of the doubt in why he hasn’t gone more in depth with his “apology.” Being on a cross-country flight and all.
But if he doesn’t come out tomorrow and attack the validity of these claims immediately, if he stands behind his two-sentence press release and refuses to address it again? Well, then, his silence will say everything that needs to be said.
northbeach Scott and Bigwheel (especially Bigwheel):
Which part of the first words in my post — “All I can say is, if it’s true…” — was unclear? I’m the second or third poster who expressed similar sentiments and CLEARLY qualified them, then was unfairly harangued for judging Roger before he’d had his day in court. Knee-jerk responses aren’t helpful, folks.
(And northbeach Scott, I don’t entirely disagree with your characterization of San Franciscans as a group, whom I’ve found to be pretty insufferable, mostly about the fact that they live in such a beautiful place. But I don’t think that’s relevant here at all, personally.)
On his long double off the right-center wall, missed a homer but at least you got your first double
“Yeah, that’s all I’ve been wanting.” [sarcasm.]. “It took me 85 plate appearances. Everybody was getting on me for not having a double, so actually I was glad it didn’t go out of the yard. This is a big yard. You’ve got to hit it pretty good.”
Okay, folks, devoting my laptop to staying informed on this massive storm. We are still under tornado watch. They are talking about Amicola State Park – that’s about 30 miles from me. I do live in a valley, and usually we are somewhat protected from the worst of the storms. Even so, we’re making plans (blowing up the air mattress) incase we have to sleep in the basement tonight. Will check in when I can. For all of us in North Georgia right now – STAY SAFE!!!
I wonder why any type of slur made always goes back to Blacks? Does gay slurs involve anything related to Blacks?
Leo told stories on 680TheFan about how he and his pitchers were called some of the worst names in the world. He said Philadelphia and Chicago were the worse but it happened all the time. Leo said it was funny to him because it never quite made sense that people did not know him could harbor such awful and hateful things. That my friends is consider the source type things.
I agree that IF Roger did all the things alleged he should be fired. That would seem to be a reasonable response to such behavior. However does anyone REALLY think he did EVERYTHING that they alleged? Far too many of these allegations just do not pass the smell test. The AP reported “Quinn alleged that the coach replied that kids don’t belong at a baseball park, picked up a bat, walked up to Quinn and asked him, “How much are your teeth worth?”” An important point in this allegation is that he “picked up a bat.” That shows intent which there is NO WAY that both the Giants and SF police would have ignored. If the complaint he allegedly filed included that the police would have arrested him or at least issued a warrant for his arrest. That should tell you something about the most serious of the allegations.
Secondly the allegation that he said “Kids don’t [expletive] belong at the baseball park.” Once again does this pass the smell test? A man with a history as both a player and coach who by the way has two daughters himself (about 8 and 11 years old) would say this? Come on. However in the world of PR not court that Allred practices, that is a headline statement and insures that MLB will take this seriously. Coach and/or player yells inappropriate and offensive things back to a heckler would be somewhere with dog bites man.
Third the supposed true victims of the slur(s) and gestures were so offended that they did not file a complaint. The true victims either were not that offended or possibly enjoyed the fact that they got under the skin off the opposing team.
Therefor once you truly examine these allegations it seems probable that he said and/or did some homophobic things that he should not have. I think Kobe taught us a lot last week when he pointed out that some words are best not used if for no other reason than simply avoiding any problems with interpretation and context. However the idea that he was threatening people and saying kids don’t belong at the ball park are too far of a stretch. Take that away and surprise there is no reason for Allred’s press conference.
Remove the threat with the bat and kids don’t belong comment and most people especially fans would think they have heard far worse. So is firing for just THAT really warranted?
Brian McCann“Yeah, that’s all I’ve been wanting.” [sarcasm.]. “It took me 85 plate appearances. Everybody was getting on me for not having a double, so actually I was glad it didn’t go out of the yard.
Aw, now who was getting on you? Gimme names! Man, some people…
Actually, I feel sort of like a butt for all that. Sorry, BMac!!
Seriously, though—the look on his face after he hit it? He looked quite relieved to me…
After listening to Ross’ comical exchanges following his 10th career multihomer game, McCann walked toward the batting cage, smiled and told a reporter, “I better be the MVP of today’s game.”
Richmond Braves Fan,
We’ll know if its true or not by McDowell’s next interview. If he doesn’t vehemently defend himself against those allegation, if he doesn’t call it nonsense and the dad a liar, well, then he did it. It’s pretty simple.
saying ugly things about gay people is not what “homophobic” means. definition of that word seems to have been stretched quite a bit. just a side note there.
chili – if his boss tells him stay mum or we will terminate your contract and sue you for breach of code of conduct within your contract I’ll bet he would keep his mouth shut (at least I would).
tiger297 … give me a break. Why in the world would the Braves NOT want McDowell to defend himself? They’d rather it appear that he did this? What rationale would they have for that?
bat – buddy of mine just asked if I wanted to join him at marco island for a couple of days…he has the tarpon charter booked in 2 weeks. Its a shame I won’t be able to make it.
April 27th, 2011
9:46 pm
I bet McDowell is in the closet like that weirdo dad in American Beauty.
Cris Cooper has starred in some of my favorite movies The Bourne Identity, and before that in Matewan with James Earl Jones and Pharaoh’s Army with Kris Kristofferson.
…“Quinn alleged that the coach replied that kids don’t belong at a baseball park, picked up a bat, walked up to Quinn and asked him, “How much are your teeth worth?”” An important point in this allegation is that he “picked up a bat.” That shows intent which there is NO WAY that both the Giants and SF police would have ignored….
Here we have more magical reasoning. The flaw in this “logic” is that if something criminal really happened, then McDowell would have been arrested and taken away.Unless the cops actually witnessed the incident, there is not enough evidence for them to arrest McDowell. Had he knocked the dad’s teeth out, or there if was some other physical evidence, then the cops would be on more solid footing to arrest him.
Secondly, McDowell can still be arrested if the local authorities so desired.If some If the alleged incident was captured on video by a fan or stadium cameras, then the D.A. might still file. McDowell has status. People with status and resources are tougher to prosecute because of the legal assistance they can employ.
I feel sorry for the Braves as this puts a cloud over the team and organization.
chili – do you think gloria flew the family to LA with no idea of a financial return on this thing? Regardless of guilt I would bet Liberty Media is willing to pay a solid amount for this to disappear. Truth of the allegations is irrelevant and McDowell’s personal desires are even more irrelevant. The question is what is the potential risk to Liberty Media’s investment and can they settle now and mitigate that risk.
Guys, make sure you check out the video of the news conference. _ James
Well that was bad. Seems they could have handled that without the kids there. I mean ask them to step out, or something, when when they get started. The little kid on the left seemed a little pleased/ amused, of course that means nothing, she’s a little kid.
I began to suspect early on, and was completely convinced by the bat scene, that Gloria whatever her name is, is an idiot. The father………. man, who knows. It would be easy to pass some judgement here and cast aspersions, but I’ll pass.
DOB do you have no comment on Mcdowell story??? — omg
What do you want me to comment on? I have no idea how much of what is alleged actually occured, though I also haven’t heard anything yet from McDowell or the Braves to suggest the comments were inaccurate. None of us heard anything about this, on that day or since, until the presser at attorney Allred’s office today, which happened while the game I was covering was being played.
I’ve read the comments from the father and his children. If those things were said — I’ve got no reason to believe otherwise, since Roger hasn’t said anything other than a generic apology via statement issued through team — then it’s clearly a bad situation. For now, we don’t know what, if anything, provoked it. Not that those things, if actually said, would be an appropriate response in any situation.
Given the severity of the allegations, it’d be irresponsible for me to comment other than that. I don’t know all the facts. Right now, it doesn’t look good.
bat – not sure I would define gloria as an idiot. I may not like what she does but she uses todays societal pressures and media to make a ton of money.
Roger McDowell’s personal desires are not irrelevant to Roger McDowell. His very livelihood is on the line. I imagine he not only wants to keep his job in MLB, but he probably doesn’t want his entire career – pitching and coaching – to come down to a sex act with a bat and then a verbal assault on a dad in front of his two daughters.
It just defies real-life logic. No. 1. You honestly think Liberty Media would fire him for denying an allegation. What right would they have for terminating one of their employees – who is a public figure – for publicly defending himself? You want to talk about a lawsuit? There is absolutely no way that would happen.
Like i said, if he comes out and vehemently attacks these allegations, then I’d believe him. If he doesn’t, then I’ll believe the dad’s story.
Chipper Jones is now second all-time in switch-hitter RBI’s as noted by David O’Brien. Jones is also second at the moment in career batting average [.306] behind only Frankie Frisch at .316. Lance Berkman is third at .304.
bat – buddy of mine just asked if I wanted to join him at marco island for a couple of days…he has the tarpon charter booked in 2 weeks. tiger
tiger, yeah it’s a shame you can’t go. Such is life, eh.
Quick tarpon story. I was down in nolie’s neck of the woods, as I often am, Tarpon fishing in a pass out of Pine Island Sound. Drifting along I hooked up a monster, 25 lb test line on a bait caster, saw her jump, wow…….. so I fought her for an hour, had the leader in the boat three times, and she would kick back off again.
The third time she did it a big bull shark hit here about twenty feet off. We were in a flats boat, (lake and bay),they rolled around some and she broke away and I was still hooked up. Chased her out into deep water, she sounded and died. I can’t be sure but she had to be very close to seven feet and 200 lbs. Biggest tarpon any of us had ever seen before or since.
You people wanting Roger fired should grow a pair…………you think those Giants fans sitting around Mr. Innocent and his twin daughters wasn’t shouting obsenties also………he needs a bat side the head as well
bat – not sure I would define gloria as an idiot. I may not like what she does but she uses todays societal pressures and media to make a ton of money.
tiger_
I did not really mean that literally. I don’t think she is stupid, more that she is willing to appear the idiot to many of us to do as you expressed in your second sentence.
Bigwheel, I’m not “taking credibility” from anyone. (I’m not even 100% sure what that means. I’m assuming you mean I’m taking their word for it.) I hate TMZ and I’m no fan of Gloria Allred; I tend to see her as a bit of a glorified ambulance-chaser, as someone else said.
However, as DOB said, the element that seems to imply most that there’s substance to the allegations is that Roger’s statement makes no attempt to suggest otherwise. Others have discussed how that may reflect legal counseling, and, indeed, in my limited experience with such matters, that’s the sort of statement civil suit lawyers counsel you to make when the complainant’s got you dead to rights.
But whatever. It doesn’t matter what you or I perceive to be the truth. The truth will come out, one way or the other. I return to my original point, which was that mostly it saddens me to see people becoming reflexive apologists for alleged homophobia and threats of violence and, in some cases, making pretty inflammatory and offensive slurs of their own, from behind the protection of a mask of anonymity provided by a blog handle.
And that one I ain’t backing down from. “Sensitive” or not.
Something clicked in Hanson a few starts back, something good, and JJ looks like the ‘09 pitcher to me. Hudson and Lowe should keep doing what they’ve pretty much always done. I’m a happy fan these days.
Roger if you reading the blog……….”nobody talks…….everybody walks”…..no matter what happened……these clowns can’t stand up in a legitimate court of law with this…………..they are hunting a payday and I don’t mean a candy bar.
Chili, My own opinion is he is in big trouble with the team. I personally dont believe this family of 4 (including 9 year old twins) would spend most of their day making foolish accusations, BUT we shall see how it plays out. Just my opinion is all; gonna be a long flight home.
Atlanta has a large gay community, so look for lots of protests at the Ted starting Friday. This will snowball very quickly, and will become a much larger issue than the Cox incident with his wife. Minimum of suspension, and probably 50-50 chance he is gone. No way Braves and/or MLB can take that publicity hit. Of course, should the story prove to be false or exaggerrated, then thats a different story.
Trey, let’s put it this way, here in Chattanooga we don’t see many tornadoes and we had a few hit the city today from what I heard. Stepdad saw from his house one from a pretty short distance and thought it was birds flying around. It was tons of debris. I stood outisde earlier as another storm was approaching and felt that creepy ass silence. Thought something was about to go down, but luckily just lightening and rain.
2,192 comments Add your comment
Bigwheel
April 27th, 2011
9:19 pm
Well… Never a dull moment on operation repo
cabravesfan
April 27th, 2011
9:20 pm
Changing the subject; classy Boston hockey fans, booing a Canadiens player that took a hard shoulder shot to the jaw and had to be helped off the ice…real nice
TRB
April 27th, 2011
9:22 pm
That’s a good point @ 9:08, cabravesfan.
Jake W.
April 27th, 2011
9:22 pm
But Boston fans are some of the best in the game. They waited all of 10 minutes to boo Smoltz in his debut for them.
Soph
April 27th, 2011
9:22 pm
Hmm, AJC says tornado sirens in Woodstock which would be Ease’s part of town.
bravesgrl4life
April 27th, 2011
9:22 pm
Out here in Dawson County, they are sounding the tornado sirens.
kirkinga
April 27th, 2011
9:23 pm
There is no lawsuit. The fan is not seeking anything out of it.
Yes, I know, and that is to the family’s credit. Of course, there is still plenty of time to file a suit. I think it’s interesting that there was not been any denial issued along with the apology.
Brave New World
April 27th, 2011
9:24 pm
James: Thanks for providing the link to the video. Prior to watching that I was of the opinion that Roger had been in the wrong for whatever reason, but in seeing the complete lack of regard for the (2) nine year olds sitting there listening and watching this trash makes me much more suspect of the father’s motives. If he was truly “protecting” his daughters from inappropriate language and gestures why would he now find it ok to make them center stage to such a (vulgar in its own right) media circus? Something is not right here.
SeATLite
April 27th, 2011
9:24 pm
All I can say is, if it’s true — and it doesn’t look good, folks — then I’m extremely disappointed in Roger (whom I think is a terrific pitching coach). There’s no excuse. None.
And I’m more than a little disappointed by the (fortunately relatively few) posts on this blog expressing slurs about San Francisco (which is an incredible city, if you’ve never been there) and about gay people in general. I guess it’s to be expected on a sports-related blog, but… disappointing nonetheless. Several of my best friends and co-workers are gay or lesbian. One of them, who stood up with me at my wedding, is the biggest Braves fan I know besides myself. How do you think he feels right now?
Sigh. Shameful stuff, when we ought to be able to focus on baseball and the great trip our team just finished.
T for Texas
April 27th, 2011
9:25 pm
she demonstrated McDowell’s alleged use of the bat for far too long.
Cue the clowns, acrobats, and elephants! Jeffrey D, get that midway set up out front, we got us a circus.
Kat
April 27th, 2011
9:25 pm
I hope all of those out there in the tornado warning areas across the country stay safe!
jeffrey d
April 27th, 2011
9:26 pm
I’ll get the dunk tank ready!
T for Texas
April 27th, 2011
9:31 pm
Great idea jd, they should just put Roger in a dunk tank, and let the family have all the throws they want until they feel justice has been served.
northbeach Scott
April 27th, 2011
9:31 pm
SeATLite, let’s not rush to judgement on Roger. Does he not merit the benefit of the doubt until evidence is presented. I lived in San Francisco for years and while the natural beauty is unrivaled by any other city, the people are mostly disgraceful. SF is known as the “Land of Misfit Toys.”
I have never lived any place so intolerant of what most folks would consider “normal” behavior. As long as you worship crystals and enjoy beastiality, you are a hero. Reality is upside down there.
Several of my friends and relatives are gay and lesbian, but I would expect them not to be so sensitive to an alledged minor reference. Grow up and get a thicker skin.
Bigwheel
April 27th, 2011
9:32 pm
seATLite- why dont you wait until you hear from mcdowell, rather than use your jump to conclusion mat. Sorry for your sensitivity
Couch Tater
April 27th, 2011
9:33 pm
Even if the allegations are false, this story will follow Roger and the heckling will be worse.
jeffrey d
April 27th, 2011
9:33 pm
Ah crap…I kept thinking the bad parts of the storm would be to the north of us, but I just checked the radar and it looks like there’s a big strand of red that can’t miss us. It’s in Alabama right now.
tiger297
April 27th, 2011
9:33 pm
well the weather scaring machine is working at my house…other 1/2 wants us to go downstairs now…storms aren’t projected to come here at all and even the rain isnt forecast to get here for 2 1/2 more hours
Trey
April 27th, 2011
9:35 pm
I hope Ease is alright. The other week there were apparently 60 some tornadoes up in North Carolina.
tiger297
April 27th, 2011
9:36 pm
jeffrey d – go to weather underground and on the nextrad page you can put storm tracks on them…don’t think gwinett will get the bad stuff
T for Texas
April 27th, 2011
9:36 pm
Ease was on here today, Trey.
chilidog75
April 27th, 2011
9:39 pm
I think McDowell deserves the benefit of the doubt in why he hasn’t gone more in depth with his “apology.” Being on a cross-country flight and all.
But if he doesn’t come out tomorrow and attack the validity of these claims immediately, if he stands behind his two-sentence press release and refuses to address it again? Well, then, his silence will say everything that needs to be said.
SeATLite
April 27th, 2011
9:40 pm
northbeach Scott and Bigwheel (especially Bigwheel):
Which part of the first words in my post — “All I can say is, if it’s true…” — was unclear? I’m the second or third poster who expressed similar sentiments and CLEARLY qualified them, then was unfairly harangued for judging Roger before he’d had his day in court. Knee-jerk responses aren’t helpful, folks.
(And northbeach Scott, I don’t entirely disagree with your characterization of San Franciscans as a group, whom I’ve found to be pretty insufferable, mostly about the fact that they live in such a beautiful place. But I don’t think that’s relevant here at all, personally.)
flange1
April 27th, 2011
9:41 pm
It’s been awhile since we have heard from DOB……
JerseyGil
April 27th, 2011
9:41 pm
My Kids live in Woodstock….any news ,tried to call my daughter…no answer..
Trey
April 27th, 2011
9:42 pm
T, I thought the sirens just started going off in Woodstock.
jeffrey d
April 27th, 2011
9:43 pm
I think he’s on a cross country flight, flange
Snotboogie
April 27th, 2011
9:43 pm
It’s been awhile since we have heard from DOB……
He’s been busy filing mini-blogs and game reports.
cabravesfan
April 27th, 2011
9:43 pm
JerseyGil-
Is Woodstock in Alabama or West Georgia? RHR lost power in Alabama a while back- same thing probably with your kids.
Venice Jim
April 27th, 2011
9:44 pm
On his long double off the right-center wall, missed a homer but at least you got your first double
“Yeah, that’s all I’ve been wanting.” [sarcasm.]. “It took me 85 plate appearances. Everybody was getting on me for not having a double, so actually I was glad it didn’t go out of the yard. This is a big yard. You’ve got to hit it pretty good.”
Glad Mac listens to McFann…
jeffrey d
April 27th, 2011
9:44 pm
Trey – T thinks you were implying that Ease lives in North Carolina
T – Trey meant that he had 60 some tornadoes in North Carolina
Confusion averted.
T for Texas
April 27th, 2011
9:44 pm
Sorry, I misunderstood you earlier, Trey.
David O'Brien
April 27th, 2011
9:44 pm
Link to QUOTAGE:
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/04/27/braves-quotes-after-wednesday-win-over-padres/
cabravesfan
April 27th, 2011
9:45 pm
Jeffrey-
DOB not flying out until later- he posted quotes on twitter but they have not found their way here yet…
NO MORE BOBBY
April 27th, 2011
9:45 pm
Kids don’t belong at a baseball park – Roger McDowell
What the? He is now officially the biggest A-hole on this team (maybe in baseball).
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AnsBN.4DT2_5safagNJzbA8RvLYF?slug=ap-bravescoach-fan
cabravesfan
April 27th, 2011
9:45 pm
Nevermind
JerseyGil
April 27th, 2011
9:45 pm
cabravesfan ,,,,North of Atlanta…off 575 hwy 92
chilidog75
April 27th, 2011
9:46 pm
And being in North Florida, looks like the brunt of this storm is going to miss it. For any of you in its path, please be safe.
Trey
April 27th, 2011
9:46 pm
cab, Woodstock is in Georgia.
NO MORE BOBBY
April 27th, 2011
9:46 pm
I bet McDowell is in the closet like that weirdo dad in American Beauty.
cabravesfan
April 27th, 2011
9:46 pm
add another name to the “guilty before the facts are known” group
David O'Brien
April 27th, 2011
9:47 pm
Link to GAME STORY: http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/hanson-dominant-as-braves-927632.html
Trey
April 27th, 2011
9:47 pm
Jeffrey, I didn’t even know there were any until after the fact. I was asleep through out the whole storm.
cabravesfan
April 27th, 2011
9:47 pm
Thanks all- VJ just pointed that out to me also.
bravesgrl4life
April 27th, 2011
9:49 pm
Okay, folks, devoting my laptop to staying informed on this massive storm. We are still under tornado watch. They are talking about Amicola State Park – that’s about 30 miles from me. I do live in a valley, and usually we are somewhat protected from the worst of the storms. Even so, we’re making plans (blowing up the air mattress) incase we have to sleep in the basement tonight. Will check in when I can. For all of us in North Georgia right now – STAY SAFE!!!
jeffrey d
April 27th, 2011
9:52 pm
CAB – Woodstock is in Georgia.
Pameee
April 27th, 2011
9:55 pm
I wonder why any type of slur made always goes back to Blacks? Does gay slurs involve anything related to Blacks?
Leo told stories on 680TheFan about how he and his pitchers were called some of the worst names in the world. He said Philadelphia and Chicago were the worse but it happened all the time. Leo said it was funny to him because it never quite made sense that people did not know him could harbor such awful and hateful things. That my friends is consider the source type things.
Richmond Braves Fan
April 27th, 2011
9:55 pm
I agree that IF Roger did all the things alleged he should be fired. That would seem to be a reasonable response to such behavior. However does anyone REALLY think he did EVERYTHING that they alleged? Far too many of these allegations just do not pass the smell test. The AP reported “Quinn alleged that the coach replied that kids don’t belong at a baseball park, picked up a bat, walked up to Quinn and asked him, “How much are your teeth worth?”” An important point in this allegation is that he “picked up a bat.” That shows intent which there is NO WAY that both the Giants and SF police would have ignored. If the complaint he allegedly filed included that the police would have arrested him or at least issued a warrant for his arrest. That should tell you something about the most serious of the allegations.
Secondly the allegation that he said “Kids don’t [expletive] belong at the baseball park.” Once again does this pass the smell test? A man with a history as both a player and coach who by the way has two daughters himself (about 8 and 11 years old) would say this? Come on. However in the world of PR not court that Allred practices, that is a headline statement and insures that MLB will take this seriously. Coach and/or player yells inappropriate and offensive things back to a heckler would be somewhere with dog bites man.
Third the supposed true victims of the slur(s) and gestures were so offended that they did not file a complaint. The true victims either were not that offended or possibly enjoyed the fact that they got under the skin off the opposing team.
Therefor once you truly examine these allegations it seems probable that he said and/or did some homophobic things that he should not have. I think Kobe taught us a lot last week when he pointed out that some words are best not used if for no other reason than simply avoiding any problems with interpretation and context. However the idea that he was threatening people and saying kids don’t belong at the ball park are too far of a stretch. Take that away and surprise there is no reason for Allred’s press conference.
Remove the threat with the bat and kids don’t belong comment and most people especially fans would think they have heard far worse. So is firing for just THAT really warranted?
Abwright
April 27th, 2011
9:56 pm
Good luck to those of you in Georgia who are facing these storms. We just had our bout in Arkansas and it was no fun. Stay safe.
McFann ;Ô; ;Ô;
April 27th, 2011
9:56 pm
Brian McCann “Yeah, that’s all I’ve been wanting.” [sarcasm.]. “It took me 85 plate appearances. Everybody was getting on me for not having a double, so actually I was glad it didn’t go out of the yard.
Aw, now who was getting on you? Gimme names! Man, some people…
Seriously, though—the look on his face after he hit it? He looked quite relieved to me…
McFann ;Ô; ;Ô;
April 27th, 2011
9:57 pm
V. Jim Glad Mac listens to McFann…
McFann ;Ô; ;Ô;
April 27th, 2011
9:58 pm
Yes, STAY SAFE, all in the storm’s way, including us, apparently…
DANG, though, enough with these friggin’ storms already! They’ve been extra horrid this year…
Fredi's Fu Manchu
April 27th, 2011
9:59 pm
Guilty – no mound visits for 1 week.
Bigwheel
April 27th, 2011
10:01 pm
seATLite- Youre taking credibility from Gloria F Allred, and TMZ. Obviously, youre not a golfer..
cabravesfan
April 27th, 2011
10:02 pm
Peter Moylan cursed at Logan Morgan on twitter. I read it and am offended. Anyone got Gloria’s number?
McFann ;Ô; ;Ô;
April 27th, 2011
10:04 pm
After listening to Ross’ comical exchanges following his 10th career multihomer game, McCann walked toward the batting cage, smiled and told a reporter, “I better be the MVP of today’s game.”
Richmond Braves Fan
April 27th, 2011
10:05 pm
cabraves just follow the lights of the tv cameras. She chases tv cameras not ambulances.
reckingball
April 27th, 2011
10:05 pm
That Dad in the TMZ Gloria Allred clip, looks like he is trying to keep from busting out laughing, while she is thrusting her bat into his O-ring.
chilidog75
April 27th, 2011
10:05 pm
Richmond Braves Fan,
We’ll know if its true or not by McDowell’s next interview. If he doesn’t vehemently defend himself against those allegation, if he doesn’t call it nonsense and the dad a liar, well, then he did it. It’s pretty simple.
No way he’d stay mum on a subject like this.
Bigwheel
April 27th, 2011
10:08 pm
reckingball- what an embarrassment that was. Shes an ambulance chaser
Abwright
April 27th, 2011
10:08 pm
I love America, where you’re guilty til proven innocent.
Wait.
I think I got that backward.
DAP
April 27th, 2011
10:11 pm
saying ugly things about gay people is not what “homophobic” means. definition of that word seems to have been stretched quite a bit. just a side note there.
tiger297
April 27th, 2011
10:12 pm
chili – if his boss tells him stay mum or we will terminate your contract and sue you for breach of code of conduct within your contract I’ll bet he would keep his mouth shut (at least I would).
Bat Masterson
April 27th, 2011
10:14 pm
Snotboogie – you are correct, I was appreciating the Uggla comment. _ DC Braves Fan
Okay SB & DC, that was funny.
chilidog75
April 27th, 2011
10:16 pm
tiger297 … give me a break. Why in the world would the Braves NOT want McDowell to defend himself? They’d rather it appear that he did this? What rationale would they have for that?
tiger297
April 27th, 2011
10:16 pm
bat – buddy of mine just asked if I wanted to join him at marco island for a couple of days…he has the tarpon charter booked in 2 weeks. Its a shame I won’t be able to make it.
007
April 27th, 2011
10:22 pm
NO MORE BOBBY
April 27th, 2011
9:46 pm
I bet McDowell is in the closet like that weirdo dad in American Beauty.
Cris Cooper has starred in some of my favorite movies The Bourne Identity, and before that in Matewan with James Earl Jones and Pharaoh’s Army with Kris Kristofferson.
kirkinga
April 27th, 2011
10:23 pm
…“Quinn alleged that the coach replied that kids don’t belong at a baseball park, picked up a bat, walked up to Quinn and asked him, “How much are your teeth worth?”” An important point in this allegation is that he “picked up a bat.” That shows intent which there is NO WAY that both the Giants and SF police would have ignored….
Here we have more magical reasoning. The flaw in this “logic” is that if something criminal really happened, then McDowell would have been arrested and taken away.Unless the cops actually witnessed the incident, there is not enough evidence for them to arrest McDowell. Had he knocked the dad’s teeth out, or there if was some other physical evidence, then the cops would be on more solid footing to arrest him.
Secondly, McDowell can still be arrested if the local authorities so desired.If some If the alleged incident was captured on video by a fan or stadium cameras, then the D.A. might still file. McDowell has status. People with status and resources are tougher to prosecute because of the legal assistance they can employ.
I feel sorry for the Braves as this puts a cloud over the team and organization.
David O'Brien
April 27th, 2011
10:23 pm
jeffrey d, I’ll be out there Sunday.
tiger297
April 27th, 2011
10:24 pm
chili – do you think gloria flew the family to LA with no idea of a financial return on this thing? Regardless of guilt I would bet Liberty Media is willing to pay a solid amount for this to disappear. Truth of the allegations is irrelevant and McDowell’s personal desires are even more irrelevant. The question is what is the potential risk to Liberty Media’s investment and can they settle now and mitigate that risk.
Bat Masterson
April 27th, 2011
10:29 pm
Guys, make sure you check out the video of the news conference. _ James
Well that was bad. Seems they could have handled that without the kids there. I mean ask them to step out, or something, when when they get started. The little kid on the left seemed a little pleased/ amused, of course that means nothing, she’s a little kid.
I began to suspect early on, and was completely convinced by the bat scene, that Gloria whatever her name is, is an idiot. The father………. man, who knows. It would be easy to pass some judgement here and cast aspersions, but I’ll pass.
David O'Brien
April 27th, 2011
10:32 pm
DOB do you have no comment on Mcdowell story??? — omg
What do you want me to comment on? I have no idea how much of what is alleged actually occured, though I also haven’t heard anything yet from McDowell or the Braves to suggest the comments were inaccurate. None of us heard anything about this, on that day or since, until the presser at attorney Allred’s office today, which happened while the game I was covering was being played.
I’ve read the comments from the father and his children. If those things were said — I’ve got no reason to believe otherwise, since Roger hasn’t said anything other than a generic apology via statement issued through team — then it’s clearly a bad situation. For now, we don’t know what, if anything, provoked it. Not that those things, if actually said, would be an appropriate response in any situation.
Given the severity of the allegations, it’d be irresponsible for me to comment other than that. I don’t know all the facts. Right now, it doesn’t look good.
tiger297
April 27th, 2011
10:33 pm
bat – not sure I would define gloria as an idiot. I may not like what she does but she uses todays societal pressures and media to make a ton of money.
chilidog75
April 27th, 2011
10:34 pm
Roger McDowell’s personal desires are not irrelevant to Roger McDowell. His very livelihood is on the line. I imagine he not only wants to keep his job in MLB, but he probably doesn’t want his entire career – pitching and coaching – to come down to a sex act with a bat and then a verbal assault on a dad in front of his two daughters.
It just defies real-life logic. No. 1. You honestly think Liberty Media would fire him for denying an allegation. What right would they have for terminating one of their employees – who is a public figure – for publicly defending himself? You want to talk about a lawsuit? There is absolutely no way that would happen.
Like i said, if he comes out and vehemently attacks these allegations, then I’d believe him. If he doesn’t, then I’ll believe the dad’s story.
007
April 27th, 2011
10:35 pm
Chipper Jones is now second all-time in switch-hitter RBI’s as noted by David O’Brien. Jones is also second at the moment in career batting average [.306] behind only Frankie Frisch at .316. Lance Berkman is third at .304.
Bay Area Steve
April 27th, 2011
10:43 pm
I don’t know what concerns me more…
The instant castration of our pitching coach, or the fact my favorite carney sucks at math…
Allred with the bat
April 27th, 2011
10:43 pm
This is what the world has come to. Anyone “rich or famous” has a target on their back for anything that happens.
Everyone always looking for a payday…
VaBravesFan
April 27th, 2011
10:46 pm
good Braves win today, and a much needed day off tomorrow.
BIOMASS
April 27th, 2011
10:47 pm
boy o boy, Roger is in a mess. Turn my head for one second, and this happens.
N Nine
April 27th, 2011
10:48 pm
Great week for the Braves, not so much for Roger.
Yunel's Frosted Tips
April 27th, 2011
10:48 pm
Allred needs a bat side the head………..
Bat Masterson
April 27th, 2011
10:48 pm
bat – buddy of mine just asked if I wanted to join him at marco island for a couple of days…he has the tarpon charter booked in 2 weeks. tiger
tiger, yeah it’s a shame you can’t go. Such is life, eh.
Quick tarpon story. I was down in nolie’s neck of the woods, as I often am, Tarpon fishing in a pass out of Pine Island Sound. Drifting along I hooked up a monster, 25 lb test line on a bait caster, saw her jump, wow…….. so I fought her for an hour, had the leader in the boat three times, and she would kick back off again.
The third time she did it a big bull shark hit here about twenty feet off. We were in a flats boat, (lake and bay),they rolled around some and she broke away and I was still hooked up. Chased her out into deep water, she sounded and died. I can’t be sure but she had to be very close to seven feet and 200 lbs. Biggest tarpon any of us had ever seen before or since.
Yunel's Frosted Tips
April 27th, 2011
10:50 pm
You people wanting Roger fired should grow a pair…………you think those Giants fans sitting around Mr. Innocent and his twin daughters wasn’t shouting obsenties also………he needs a bat side the head as well
BIOMASS
April 27th, 2011
10:51 pm
Gloria Allred is expecting a payday. And she will get it if there is video or enough witnesses. Roger’s apology is incriminating in itself.
VaBravesFan
April 27th, 2011
10:52 pm
Roger messed up big time…
BIOMASS
April 27th, 2011
10:56 pm
Allred isn’t all bad. She went after child molester Jackson, which was good. She represented Amber
Bat Masterson
April 27th, 2011
10:57 pm
bat – not sure I would define gloria as an idiot. I may not like what she does but she uses todays societal pressures and media to make a ton of money.
tiger_
I did not really mean that literally. I don’t think she is stupid, more that she is willing to appear the idiot to many of us to do as you expressed in your second sentence.
SeATLite
April 27th, 2011
10:57 pm
Bigwheel, I’m not “taking credibility” from anyone. (I’m not even 100% sure what that means. I’m assuming you mean I’m taking their word for it.) I hate TMZ and I’m no fan of Gloria Allred; I tend to see her as a bit of a glorified ambulance-chaser, as someone else said.
However, as DOB said, the element that seems to imply most that there’s substance to the allegations is that Roger’s statement makes no attempt to suggest otherwise. Others have discussed how that may reflect legal counseling, and, indeed, in my limited experience with such matters, that’s the sort of statement civil suit lawyers counsel you to make when the complainant’s got you dead to rights.
But whatever. It doesn’t matter what you or I perceive to be the truth. The truth will come out, one way or the other. I return to my original point, which was that mostly it saddens me to see people becoming reflexive apologists for alleged homophobia and threats of violence and, in some cases, making pretty inflammatory and offensive slurs of their own, from behind the protection of a mask of anonymity provided by a blog handle.
And that one I ain’t backing down from. “Sensitive” or not.
BIOMASS
April 27th, 2011
10:58 pm
Amber Frey
Doc Holiday
April 27th, 2011
10:59 pm
But most important………..6-4 west coast trip………..
YEAAAAAAAHH!!!!!!!
Winning road trip…..UN-believable.
uga-brave
April 27th, 2011
11:00 pm
roger was just channeling his inner larry david.
Trey
April 27th, 2011
11:01 pm
So far, around 64 were killed in the south from the tornadoes and 40 were killed in Alabama.
TnBrian
April 27th, 2011
11:02 pm
Something clicked in Hanson a few starts back, something good, and JJ looks like the ‘09 pitcher to me. Hudson and Lowe should keep doing what they’ve pretty much always done. I’m a happy fan these days.
Trey
April 27th, 2011
11:02 pm
VaBravesFan, did he mess up? We don’t have any evidence that he said any of those things. Right now it is nothing but speculation.
Yunel's Frosted Tips
April 27th, 2011
11:03 pm
Roger if you reading the blog……….”nobody talks…….everybody walks”…..no matter what happened……these clowns can’t stand up in a legitimate court of law with this…………..they are hunting a payday and I don’t mean a candy bar.
Pete*
April 27th, 2011
11:03 pm
Chili, My own opinion is he is in big trouble with the team. I personally dont believe this family of 4 (including 9 year old twins) would spend most of their day making foolish accusations, BUT we shall see how it plays out. Just my opinion is all; gonna be a long flight home.
Atlanta has a large gay community, so look for lots of protests at the Ted starting Friday. This will snowball very quickly, and will become a much larger issue than the Cox incident with his wife. Minimum of suspension, and probably 50-50 chance he is gone. No way Braves and/or MLB can take that publicity hit. Of course, should the story prove to be false or exaggerrated, then thats a different story.
Yunel's Frosted Tips
April 27th, 2011
11:06 pm
this is all about attention wh*res…………people
TnBrian
April 27th, 2011
11:06 pm
Trey, let’s put it this way, here in Chattanooga we don’t see many tornadoes and we had a few hit the city today from what I heard. Stepdad saw from his house one from a pretty short distance and thought it was birds flying around. It was tons of debris. I stood outisde earlier as another storm was approaching and felt that creepy ass silence. Thought something was about to go down, but luckily just lightening and rain.
Gregg Maddux
April 27th, 2011
11:07 pm
Hi,
I´ve heard that you have a vacant for pitching coach.
If you need me feel free to call me.
My number is 1-800-the-best
Yunel's Frosted Tips
April 27th, 2011
11:07 pm
uga brave…………….Hanson musta laid off the sauce last PM………..finally came up big in a day game..