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627 comments Add your comment
Kaygeeone
April 28th, 2011
11:54 am
If Roger said what he said and did what he did in front of kids, he should be fired. I like the guy but, if he did those things….he should be fired.
Braves Country
April 28th, 2011
11:54 am
mike – so true.
I mean, people take time to record a Tsunami coming at them while their grandmas are screaming and crying before uploading to CNN’s iReport . Yet, there’s no video of this alleged McDowell rant? Fishy, fishy.
reckingball
April 28th, 2011
11:54 am
Uncle Bud(Selig) or Liberty Media, will probably have the last say.
Tom
April 28th, 2011
11:54 am
AMY – How silly of you, do you really think a professional athlete or coach would say”kids do not belong in a baseball park”? Sounds completely made up to me!! Never in my life heard the term baseball park, athletes and coaches and even knowledgeable fans would never use that term. Use your head for something other than a hat-rack. Unless you are from SF(land of fruits and nuts), my pappy used to say!
mathman
April 28th, 2011
11:55 am
For the poster who wanted to know why McDowell would have a bat: obviously, he was down there before the game to watch his starting pitcher warm up. So, there should be some witnesses: starting pitcher, catcher who warmed him up, and probably Eddie Perez.
McDowell would have had a bat because often during warmups, he stands there acting as a batter simulating a batter in the box. What in the heck is “hectoring” as the man claimed McDowell was doing to the 3 gentlemen?
Choppinmama
April 28th, 2011
11:56 am
EG@10:13 – now that’s a mature, reasoned reaction to the situation. *as sarcasm drips from every word*
Coach13
April 28th, 2011
11:58 am
Good grief who peed in his corn flakes that morning!! How stupid can you be???? He’s as good as gone. The Braves have prided themselves on being a professional organization, he’s as good as gone.
MFG
April 28th, 2011
11:58 am
fire the bum! Marty Reed for replacement!
TuckerFan
April 28th, 2011
11:58 am
I don’t think homophobia is the issue. If the story is true, his behavior was unacceptable whether he used gay slurs or not. The guy who hired a lawyer sounds like a jerk but nothing he or his family members did or said justify threatening behavior from a Braves employee. The Braves need to cut McDowell loose. Very sad.
Jimmy
April 28th, 2011
11:58 am
To the person who said they were at the game…..
I doubt it.
You happened to be at the ball park Saturday night, you happened to be in the area this took place, you happened to have heard the conversation, and then, you happened to by on the AJC blog?
Come on.
Matt
April 28th, 2011
11:58 am
Was he drunk?? Geez! Way to commit professional suicide there Rog!!!
Ron Swanson
April 28th, 2011
11:58 am
extremus, why must you introduce politics and religion where they don’t belong? I love living in the south (born and raised) but this happens far to often. Life isnt a pulpit.
As for RM, I’ll wait on more facts, but this doesnt look good.
Leo as PC? I’m not to sure about that, but it would be a great way for 680 to rid themselves of him. Awful on radio.
extremus
April 28th, 2011
11:58 am
@joop,
The world will be what we make the effort to make it become. A world where kids can’t hold onto their innocence for at least awhile shouldn’t have to be a fantasy. While yes, we are adults, we owe it to set certain examples for our kids; it’s our responsibility before God to do so as parents and as elders. I personally remember a time when neighbors looked out for each other and total strangers would wave as you walked by; that’s not a fantasy world, it’s one I remember fondly and feel sad every time I think back on. For all we’ve gained technologically we’ve sure lost a whole lot in other equally tangible areas.
Braves Country
April 28th, 2011
11:59 am
Replacing McDowell with Smoltz might be a sound move baseball-wise but if the Braves don’t want more anti-gay rants…
Just sayin’
Richard Simmons Sandwich
April 28th, 2011
11:59 am
A threesome, since you asked.
Dawgso55
April 28th, 2011
11:59 am
Has anyone checked to see what the hecklers were saying about Roger? And thuis clown ask them to watch their language around his kids??? And Gloria Allred….loks to me like this clown is looking for some free money and or publicity….his 15 minutes of fame…..give me a break..
JC Boscan III
April 28th, 2011
12:00 pm
So, our country has become so full of pansies — oh, sorry, that could be misinterpreted, uuhhh — full of daisies that an attention-seeking (and money seeking!) lawyer like Gloria “Where’s the TV Camera” Allred is hired to defend this family’s honor!?!!? If McDowell threatened them or made a sexual gesture, that’s totally wrong. But, if the “anti-gay slur” is the word “homo”, why should that be a big deal? Isn’t it the first part of the word “homosexual”…!?!?!? If we can’t say “homo” without being labeled a bigot, why should any American be allowed to say “homosexual” without being condemned to death (or public flogging, at a minimum….)….!?!?!? To paraphrase Tom Hanks, “There’re no lawyers in BASEBALL!”. If the French invaded us now, they might have a chance at victory for the first time in over 200 years………….!
nerf
April 28th, 2011
12:00 pm
Yes, Gloria Allred is a scumbag attorney, But when he said “children don’t belong at a f***king” ballpark,” that’s when he crossed the line. And the people on this board who are acting like this is what all Braves fans are like are wong. You are in the minority. Most Braves fans do not condone McDowell’s behavior.
o-me
April 28th, 2011
12:02 pm
Smoltz would solve alot of problems…hire Smoltz
One million in Alabama with out power and we worry about this crap.
Mike
April 28th, 2011
12:02 pm
Not sure Smoltz is the answer. He said the next step to gay marriage is marrying animals.
Braves Country
April 28th, 2011
12:03 pm
o-me
How many of those usually have power?
nerf
April 28th, 2011
12:04 pm
Braves fan has a point. San Francisco Bay Area is the tech capital of the world. APPLE, Twitter, Google, Facebook, and Yahoo are based there. Everyone there has a smartphone. You’d think someone would have video of this…
Mediator
April 28th, 2011
12:04 pm
I am in no way supporting what McDowell may have said, but we should reserve judgement until his story comes out. He obviously said something because he apologized, but I don’t think that the entire story sounds very legit. And true, with the amount of technology on every electronic device out there, SOMEBODY would have recorded at least part of the altercation. It sounds fishy…but Tommy G would make a great pitching coach. I don’t care
Jimmy
April 28th, 2011
12:04 pm
JC Boscan – Who and what you are determine what words you can use.
Check out BET when the rap videos are on.
Larvell Blanks
April 28th, 2011
12:04 pm
“I thought that Keith Hernandez, was the guy that spit on Kramer and Newman.”
That’s what they thought too, until they talked to Hernandez — he told them McDowell was the spitter. I don’t know, though — that would have been one magic loogie. There must have been a second spitter!
extremus
April 28th, 2011
12:04 pm
@Ron Swanson,
I’m certain you wouldn’t have mentioned the “politics and religion” thing if you agreed with what I said. It’s an open forum and what I said IS relevant to the discussion, whether or not you or anyone else happens to agree with it.
Relic of the 70's
April 28th, 2011
12:05 pm
So the new criteria for hiring a pitching coach will be whether or not they are gay-friendly.
I misses me the good old days.
Chris
April 28th, 2011
12:05 pm
I heard Leo called the Braves and said he loves homosexuals, and can he have his job back.
Choppinmama
April 28th, 2011
12:05 pm
Smoltz is too busy playing golf, waiting to be old enough to qualify for the Senior Circuit. He’s not willing to trade his golf time for baseball time.
Been there, did that.
Luckydawg
April 28th, 2011
12:06 pm
If even only half of the story is true, it’s despicable behavior. Safe or Out? He is OUT!!
By the way, cussing is not “adult” language. It’s profanity, period!! There are no excuses for that type of language. It’s diappointing to read other comments condoning profanity, just because it’s a ball park. Come on folks! Don’t make excuses for someone else, just because it makes you feel better about your own vocabulary.
Choices
April 28th, 2011
12:06 pm
Yea, im sick of kids at parks too. I pay for season tickets, sit in my seat and the whole game I am up and down with Mom and Dad taking kids to bathroom, taking kids to eat, taking kids to drink coke, back to bathroom, again and again. People with kids need to be put in a parent/kids section where they can all tramp on feet of other parents with kids and leave the adult sports watcher alone. We can sit for 3 hours without having to pee…..
As for Roger, did he, didnt he. Was the fans drunk, wheres the youtube on this? Just because a fan who may or maynot be drunk says something????? Wheres the bat and why did a pitching coach have a bat in the outfield? Oh yea, to see if he could hit his pitchers? Maybe a catching glove but a bat? I really want the youtube on Roger going off please. Dont tell me theres not one fan who was taping this because I know you are all wrong. Im sick of people trying to get money off professional athlets. Lets let them prove the facts first, then I will make my decision as to my comments on Roger McDowell. Until then, I will wait on the Braves to look into it. I know they will.
Jimmy
April 28th, 2011
12:07 pm
o-me: You are right! Alot of people lost their lives in these storms.
o-me
April 28th, 2011
12:07 pm
Mike whats that got to do with Pitching Coach……..
braves country..I don’t know but over 75 homes gone etc.. Glad you can make jokes.
arlene
April 28th, 2011
12:07 pm
The Braves don’t need that kind of publicity. Get rid of that jerk, or Family Day at the stadium will be history. Hmmm…he seems to be a little too homophobic and combative; methinks the man doth protest too much!
mojo
April 28th, 2011
12:08 pm
I want to suggest a new rally song – Lawyers, Guns and Money by Warren Zevon — the @#$% has hit the fan –
I Respectfully Disagree
April 28th, 2011
12:09 pm
All this because Roger McDowell rubbed people the wrong way, talking about people who rub each other the wrong way.
Mike
April 28th, 2011
12:11 pm
@Relic, I wouldn’t say a replacement needs to be gay friendly, but certainly could not be vocal about their anti-gay sentiments. Gay folks spend lots of money at the ballpark and the Braves don’t want to lose out on that.
Braves fans relate other graphic Roger McDowell stories | Off the Bench
April 28th, 2011
12:11 pm
[...] Braves are still “investigating” the Roger McDowell incident, in which the Atlanta pitching coach got into it with some fans at a Giants game at AT&T Park [...]
Pastor Butt
April 28th, 2011
12:13 pm
I suppose the issue of the location of the visitors’ bullpen may need a second look in Frisco.
Also, Coach McDowell should consider not getting sloppy drunk at the ballpark if he can’t handle a few hecklers without blowing his top.
That’s what I love about Leo; his nose gets a little red, he rocks a little faster, but he never makes it obvious that he’s got a serious buzz worked up by the 6th inning.
Mike
April 28th, 2011
12:14 pm
Speaking of Pitching and Catching…
extremus
April 28th, 2011
12:14 pm
Oh, by the way, a vast line of storms tore through the South last night and killed over 200 people, including some in my area. I confess I feel guilty for having wasted my time on this discussion when there are certainly more immediate and important issues out there all around us at the moment than somebody saying bad words and behaving like a jackass. It’s kind of humbling to suddenly realize how misplaced our priorities have become.
Tron5000
April 28th, 2011
12:14 pm
I’ve said worse. So have most people here. I wouldn’t be so quick to judge the guy unless you were sitting there and heard and saw the entire exchange. And this poor family is so traumatized they got Gloria Allred as their attorney? Give me a break.
Choppinmama
April 28th, 2011
12:14 pm
Choices – I had a 3-4 yr old sitting next to me at a playoff game a couple of years ago. Started whining and crying in the 4th inning that he “wanted to go home”, dad stayed for the full 9. If I’d only had a bat then……………
Matt
April 28th, 2011
12:15 pm
Look people you may not agree with other people’s personal choices but you don’t mock them publicly. Kids on the playground is one thing but adults is completely different. Making remarks like that and simulating sex acts with a bat??? Really?? Provoked or not it was completely uneccessary. You know what would’ve been a better way to retaliate?? Tell the nearest security guard to escort them out of the park.
Teach your kids right from wrong??? Take your kids to a Marilyn Manson concert and deal with the consequences. You don’t take your kids to a ballgame to hear other adults act like high school kids who think it’s fun and cool to cuss. Yelling profanity at any sporting event will get you kicked out.
The fact that McDowell has already apologized and didn’t even fight it tells me he is guilty. I can assure you I would want an apology as well and season tickets for life wouldn’t hurt either!!! I do agree that an attorney is rathe excessive.
Furman Bitcher
April 28th, 2011
12:15 pm
There is no way a former ballplayer said that children dont belong at the park. I think that part was completely made up to make the story sound worse. If Gloria Alred is involved I almost always take the word of the accused. This is BS and he should not lose his job.
reckingball
April 28th, 2011
12:16 pm
“Never in my life heard the term baseball park,” ??
Season ticketholder
April 28th, 2011
12:17 pm
Attention Braves fans: a major league ballpark is no place for anyone under the age of 16.
Please leave your ugly, dim-witted, ginger, overweight kids back at the First Baptist Church where they belong. Only Jesus can save them from your cooking and bad genes.
Mike
April 28th, 2011
12:17 pm
@Matt, Marilyn Manson does not advertise to bring in kids and have special events just to promote baseball to kids. The MLB does…
Larry
April 28th, 2011
12:18 pm
Amazing.
Many of you have him tarred and feathered, tried, convicted and sentenced, or even nailed to the cross and you have yet to hear his side of the story…the OTHER side of the story, remember.
And “estremous,” touché!
But I have the courage to not hide behind social terms and behavioral classifications. When a human mail with a fully functioning brain generates ans erection at the though or sight of another human male’s fecal filled rectum that is just loaded with harmful and potentially lethal bacteria from human waste then this male is grossly perverted.
Stop hiding behind political correctness and behavioral classifications and just say it! I’d rather one of these perverts simply say to me “I know this is perverted and deviant but I just can’t help myself” than for you weak minded sissy’s and nerds to try to justify this behavior in any was as normal or moral. I would have more respect for the pervert!
Jimmy
April 28th, 2011
12:18 pm
I don’t want Roger MC to leave, but what is Greg Olson (the former catcher) up to these days? Wasn’t he coaching in the minors or independent leagues?
Mike
April 28th, 2011
12:19 pm
@Furman, unfortunately, McDowell did not deny saying kids don’t f’n belong in his apology. At this point, I have to assume he said it…
RBraves89
April 28th, 2011
12:19 pm
The fact that people continue to defend Roger’s right to TALK that way is little more than a justification for themselves to TALK that way. Are you defending his right to threaten another citizen while holding a baseball bat, as alleged?
Larry
April 28th, 2011
12:20 pm
corrections: male, not mail; an, not ans; thought, not though; way, not was.
I was too pissed to read before submission and I’m an amateur typist.
Mike
April 28th, 2011
12:20 pm
If McDowell did not say what he is accused of, in his apology he could have said he disagrees with his accusers’ accounts of the incident and he would soon release he accounting…
Furman Bitcher
April 28th, 2011
12:21 pm
Assume what you want. He didn’t say he said it either. That doesnt make sense to say that kids dont belong at the park. To call two people homo’s in SF does make sense.
Nacho Daddy
April 28th, 2011
12:21 pm
Threatening a fan with a bat, in S.F. after a S.F.fan is beaten into a life threatening coma is just bad judgement. … as ‘The Donald’ would say, “‘you’re fired ! “
Jeff
April 28th, 2011
12:22 pm
Why are so many of you McDowell-bashers missing the real point of this??? Read this AGAIN:
“A California man accused McDowell of yelling “Are you a homo couple or a threesome?” to fans sitting in the left field seats and simulating a sex act with a bat.”
So this dumbas* father is trying to force an apology from McDowell? How about telling the “fans sitting in the left field seats and SIMULATING A SEX ACT WITH A BAT” to grow up, have some class, quit drinking, and stop acting like a bunch of perverts when there are children and other fans around????? THAT is the crux of the issue!
The fact is that these fans were acting obscene, perverted, offensive, and crass…. THEY are the ones at fault, not Roger. God only knows what they were saying… what if they’d been heckling him and his family for 3 straight hours? Roger can’t fire a couple of comments back their way?
That’s the problem with America and a bunch of panty-waist, bleeding-heart liberals… we are SO concerned to not offend a small segment of society with a comment here or there, but general decency and things that offend the MAJORITY of decent, moral people are just ignored.
I would have done exactly what Roger did, and I hope he does it again if those bat-sex clowns do something like that. Good for him. Maybe the butt-wipe fans who are simulating sex with a baseball bat will grow up and have somebody get in their face and teach them some DECENCY and some MANNERS and some CLASS.
God help our society.
War Damn Braves
April 28th, 2011
12:23 pm
Everyone knows that Mcdowell spit on Kramer and Newman… But in all seriousness, he dog cussed a friend of mine before a game in Atlanta against LA a few years ago. D. Lowe was warming up in the pen before the game and my buddy was having a conversation with Lowe until Roger came out and said some real ugly words, in front of children
Furman Bitcher
April 28th, 2011
12:24 pm
It will be a huge mistake to fire him. It will blow over in a couple of days and we will be back to baseball. Braves dont go back to San Fran this year so it really doesnt matter.
Terry McQuirk
April 28th, 2011
12:24 pm
I’d really like to give McDowell the benefit of the doubt here, but it seems like he needs to resign.
As annoying as Gloria Alred may be, she has better things to do than represent an oddball baseball fan with a made-up story. She probably saw the video before agreeing to represent this guy.
The Braves need to spin this into a McDowell problem story before it becomes a Braves management problem story.
LEEEEEEE-OOOOOOOO!!! Let’s make sure that uni still fits.
Nacho Daddy
April 28th, 2011
12:24 pm
the coach did the “bat act”
Joey
April 28th, 2011
12:26 pm
Anybody ever seen video of the Gay Day parades in San Fran? Nothing could insult those folks.
Furman Bitcher
April 28th, 2011
12:26 pm
Are you kidding Terry that Gloria Alred has better things to do?????????????? This is what she does. Frivolous law suits, stupid publicity stunts. Thats her game. She has no cred.
Mike
April 28th, 2011
12:27 pm
@Jeff, you’re skipping the part about the father’s teeth and kids don’t f’n belong in the stadium. I agree with the rest of your comment but I don’t think the two points you are missing can be glossed over.
TipYourCap
April 28th, 2011
12:27 pm
why does it have to be anti-gay slurs? why not call it foul language..some will use it try and push a pro gay agenda…It is wrong to treat anyone with disregard, but we should never use this to try and legitmize sin of any kind…
Jimmy
April 28th, 2011
12:27 pm
Here is the news conference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svXrAZKfX5k&feature=related
Check out the kids smiling as each accussation is read.
And look how much Gloria enjoys working that bat.
John Rocker
April 28th, 2011
12:28 pm
I see sensitivity training and unemployment in Roger’s future.
Perhaps Ozzie Guillen will hire him as pitching coach
Braves continue to investigate McDowell allegations | Raw Sports - Atlanta Braves
April 28th, 2011
12:28 pm
[...] Atlanta Braves [...]
Phillies Phanatic
April 28th, 2011
12:30 pm
With “Civil Rights Weekend” coming up, this must be a tremendous blemish on the white bread image the Braves have.
We don’t have such issues in Philly.
McDawg
April 28th, 2011
12:30 pm
how about a little virtual sensitivity training?
http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/2011/04/27/christians-mock-gays-at-shocking-easter-service/?singlepage=true
has anyone ever been to the old candlestick-talk about a bunch of foul-mouthed fans–these folks were not the chardonnay set
extremus
April 28th, 2011
12:31 pm
I’m beginning to wonder just how much of this story has been construed out of context. If those fans were indeed up there in the stands doing lewd gestures with the bat and McDowell made his remark angrily at them, and then the dad misunderstood what McDowell meant when he supposedly said “Kids don’t belong at the ballpark” (for instance, what if McDowell meant or even said that that ATMOSPHERE was no place for kids), then obviously it changes the picture quite a bit. Roger McDowell was still wrong to get into an argument with fans and should be fired if he physically threatened anyone with a bat, but the fact is we may never know the full and exact truth about what transpired there.
Oh, and “Larry”, it’s “extremus” (there’s a good reason I don’t give my real name on a forum like this). And I’m straight, I’m a Christian, and proud of those facts and the right to say so, even if anonymously.
Larry's Next Big Thing
April 28th, 2011
12:32 pm
Larry:
Why are you being so vulgar in describing man-love?
Do you have some suggestion for a better place for me to stick this thing?
I’m all ears, big boy.
Yours truly,
Clarence Rodman
Matt
April 28th, 2011
12:32 pm
The fan did not make the sexual gesture with the bat, McDowell did.
Mike- that is my point. You roll the dice by allowing your kid at funciton such as MM concert. MLB events are almost always kid friendly and therefore should not tolerate such acts.
Think 680 the Fan would be willing to give up Leo???
Tron5000
April 28th, 2011
12:33 pm
Hey Extremus, if you really felt guilty for having wasted time with this conversation when there are other more pressing matters in the world, you would just quit the conversation and go handle business. But since you actually spent MORE time to type out the fact that you felt guilty, I assume you don’t really feel guilty, and only want other people to think you feel guilty so they’ll think you’re some kind of good person. But it didn’t work on me, so ha.
Jeff
April 28th, 2011
12:34 pm
Mike at 12:27 — no, I stand by my comments. If the dad was SO concerned about language and behavior at the stadium, he sound have immediately found ushers and security when the perverts were making sex act simulation with a bat. THAT is MUCH more offensive than a few curse words.
Again, the action by Roger (his comments) came ONLY after the initial obscene behavior by the fans. If they had kept their mouths shut, Roger would have not had the need to comment. Yes, it’s bad what he said about the kids, etc., but he was probably hot and fed up with the pervert fans.
So if the ORIGINAL problem had been addressed, there would be no confrontation. The idiot pervert fans heckling a pitching coach are the ones to blame.
Larry
April 28th, 2011
12:34 pm
extremus,
Sorry. Again, I was typing fast and furious and didn’t bother to proof.
I agree with your comments, beliefs and standards.
Jeff
April 28th, 2011
12:34 pm
Sorry, should have said “he SHOULD have immediately found ushers and security “…
Larry
April 28th, 2011
12:35 pm
Jeff,
Touché!
Matt
April 28th, 2011
12:35 pm
Considering McDowell hasn’t tried to defend himself at all and just outright apologized for his actions I would take that as an admission of guilt.
extremus
April 28th, 2011
12:36 pm
You’re right, Tron5000. I’ve got better things to be doing. I confess I get worked up sometimes over trivial details, that’s all. Guess we all do.
Jeff
April 28th, 2011
12:38 pm
And by the way, baseball fans at EVERY stadium are guilty of horribly offensive behavior. People look at it as a chance to get drunk, high, and cuss out the opposing team, fan, and coaches at every opportunity. Fans behavior these days has become obscene and offensive to the point where I would SERIOUSLY think before taking a kids to a game.
Let’s not let fans off the hook and only blame the athletes and coaches. Remember the NBA fight in Detroit was egged on by fans… some baseball stadium brawls have involved fans… and soccer riot problems are almost always fans, it’s not the TEAMS that get into a fight.
Until people start being more responsible and living up to a higher standard of behavior and decency, these problems will continue.
Steve From Dalton
April 28th, 2011
12:38 pm
I wonder what the fans were saying that made mcDowell React? All we need now is Jesse Jackson to step into the situation. Sounds like a money grab.
Jimmy
April 28th, 2011
12:38 pm
McDawg – Great post.
McDawg
April 28th, 2011
12:39 pm
Gloria and that bat -hot stuff-i didn’t think she was going to stop
Not A Political Blog
April 28th, 2011
12:40 pm
This has as much to do with homophobia as Iraq had to do with 9/11.
MaryS910
April 28th, 2011
12:40 pm
Have any of you read the Jim Bouton book, _Ball_Four_? Back in the 60s/70s, this sort of thing was commonplace. I remember a story where his manager or teammate shouted to a woman in the stands, “Hey Blondie, how’s the old tomato?” The book related all the crudeness that goes on when you have a group of overpaid testosterone driven guys together. The availability of drugs, women, anything they want… I’m no prude and believe what happens in the clubhouse should stay there. However, in the litigious society in which we live, a player or coach is just asking for trouble responding to fans with slurs and cuss words. I don’t doubt that someone caught the entire exchange on their cellphone camera. If so, McDowell is history.
Ray Ray
April 28th, 2011
12:40 pm
John Rocker is available
Joey
April 28th, 2011
12:40 pm
I just saw the youtube. So . . . it was wrong (and I agree) for Roger to do the bat thing on the field, where the girls could see, but it’s okay for Gloria and the dad to show what Roger was doing with the bat? With the daughters even closer?
nemov
April 28th, 2011
12:41 pm
My how much has changed in the United States in nearly 100 years.
How mean was Ty Cobb? On May 15, 1912, the Tigers were in New York to play the Yankees. A fan named Claude Lueker, who had lost one hand and three fingers on the other in a printing press accident, was heckling Cobb. The two traded insults for a couple of innings. After one exchange, teammate Sam Crawford asked Cobb if he was going to take that. Cobb charged into the grandstand and proceeded to beat and stomp Lueker. When somebody said he has no hands, Cobb shouted, “I don’t care if he has no feet.”
Blackberry Cobbler
April 28th, 2011
12:42 pm
When McDowell aks the 3 guys if they were gay, the odds were pretty good they were. Afterall, is there a more gay place on the planet than SF?
Michael Vick got in big trouble for doing much worse (an actual crime) and he’s back in the NFL and doing well. Fine McDowell, the Braves make a big apology for the sake of PR, and let’s move on.
Rick
April 28th, 2011
12:45 pm
I saw this comment on an article at the SF Chronicle. If it’s true, it certainly helps Roger’s case.
“I was there and was about 2 people away from this guy with the complaint. He was actually the one being the instigator. It all started with McDowell and David Ross being heckled by 3 guys in the bleachers because they wouldn’t throw batting practice balls into the stands. McDowell had a bat with him and was hitting the BP balls back to the infield. McDowell then turned to them and asked if they were a “gay couple” or a “threesome”. He then took the bat and made stroking motions with it and thrusting his hips and he asked the 3 hecklers if that was what they were going to do to each other later that night. Everybody in the stands were laughing. Then a few minutes later, this Quinn guy yells “hey coach, my kids want to know what that means”. Then he was saying that McDowell shouldn’t be doing that stuff in front of kids. Then Quinn yelled out “come over here and say it to me”. That is when McDowell started walking over to the wall. Quinn’s family then started to pull at him and told him to stop. Quinn then turned to his wife and said “what’s he going to do? come up here?”. Then McDowell was telling him that if he didn’t want his kids hearing stuff like that hen he should have said something to the 3 hecklers that started the whole thing. Quinn just kept going on and calling McDowell a “joke” because he should know better. McDowell told Quinn that he should tell the 3 hecklers to not say anything if he was so offended and Quinn said back “where are they?” as if he never even heard the heckling himself which would be outrageous since everyone in the bleachers heard the hecklers. Not once did Quinn look like he feared of getting harmed since he was the one that called McDowell over to him plus the fact that Quinn was in the bleachers and at least 5 ft higher than McDowell. Quinn instigated the whole thing.
Yes, McDowell was wrong doing that stuff but this guy Quinn is crying wolf about being a victim when he instigated the whole confrontation. And getting Allred to represent him and calling a press conference is a complete joke.”
Bryan
April 28th, 2011
12:47 pm
Time for Roger to go – Bring Leo back!
bostonbravo
April 28th, 2011
12:47 pm
I want to see McDowell’s birth certificate
Notewise
April 28th, 2011
12:48 pm
This is a rediculous and sad incident that reflects so very poorly on such a top notch and WELL RESPECTED organization like our Atlanta Braves. Remember, these San Fran Giants players & fans are the same ones who stopped their own National League Playoff clinching celebration last Fall to show respect and honor Bobby Cox’s final game as a manager. That ranks up there in my mind as one of the classiest gestures I have ever seen from an opposing team. I want the players and fans of this league to continue to look up to the Braves as the “best of the best” organization in baseball. If the internal investigation prooves what Roger is being alleged to have said and done, we can’t let this action slide with a simple suspension. Roger has to be shown the door.
Jimmy
April 28th, 2011
12:49 pm
Thanks Rick your the post. Bringing some balance to this story.
nemov
April 28th, 2011
12:49 pm
People asking the Braves to fire our pitching coach before we know the facts are the biggest morons or all. This will all sort itself out.
BL
April 28th, 2011
12:51 pm
Holding a press conference b/c someone said the F bomb in front of your 9 year old(s) is definitely something someone from San Fransisco would do. I am sure the kids will probably survive this “catastrophic” event in their lives. EFF’ing liberals.
Seriously doubt this guy feared for his safety IN THE STANDS because a pitching coach talked mess with a bat FROM ON THE FIELD.
Doesn’t excuse RM’s actions, but have heard numerous reports of constant hazing the San Fran fans did all series. Example: All over Brooks during BP each game.
Cajun Crap Talker
April 28th, 2011
12:53 pm
I don’t condone anything that Roger said, but what kind of nation have we become when we run to lawyers because someone says something offensive? Really? Hopefully, this only happens in San Francisco.
Jeff
April 28th, 2011
12:53 pm
Notewise — dumb comment. Read Rick’s post at 12:45…. that says it all. The FANS WERE THE INSTIGATORS AND CAUSED THE PROBLEM. Yeah, maybe Roger could have reacted better, but I blame the FANS FIRST.
And don’t feed me this crap about San Fran fans being SO classy… these are the same dolts who supported Barry Bonds even though it was OBVIOUS he was a roided-up A-hole. And I’ve been to games against the Giants, and their fans (even when they come to Atlanta) are CRUDE.
I don’t like San Fran a bit, and I’m glad we beat their a** out their last weekend. They can take their tainted Bonds legacy and their pothead pitcher Lincecum and they can go jump in the bay, for all I care.
Gay Braves' fan
April 28th, 2011
12:53 pm
If Roger would simply apologize & take some sensitivity training, he could be our guest of honor at this year’s Midtown Gay Rights Parade.