Roger McDowell: A good pitching coach is in deep trouble
McDowell's accusers: The Quinn family of Fresno, Calif., and attorney Gloria Allred. (AP photo)
Roger McDowell, who’s a very good pitching coach, is in deep trouble because he engaged a round of verbal volleying at AT&T Park over the weekend. Four days later, McDowell has been forced to apologize and the Braves have been moved to offer a statement expressing “concern” and even Bud Selig has weighed in.
At the heart of McDowell’s side of the repartee is, according to a family being advised by the famous attorney Gloria Allred, a volley of anti-gay sentiment. The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant was just fined $100,000 by the NBA for directing a gay slur at a referee during a game, but McDowell’s alleged outburst doesn’t seem a heat-of-the-moment thing.
For one thing, it apparently took place before Saturday’s game. For another, it doesn’t appear to have been a one-time salvo. The Quinn family of Fresno, Calif., alleges that McDowell’s side of the dialogue went on for a while and involved physical threats and even the suggestive use of a bat.
Lest we forget, the Braves have been forced to answer for expressed intolerance before — after John Rocker’s infamous Sports Illustrated rant of December 1999. Bad as that was, it was basically just one loudmouth venting. These allegations are worse: At best they involve unprofessional behavior toward paying customers, and at worst they leave this organization open to the charge that its has a homophobe wearing its uniform.
In his apology, McDowell expressed his regret for responding “to the heckling fans” but offered no clue as to what bit of heckling might have served as a trigger. But what could anyone have said to warrant the sort of response the Quinns maintain McDowell offered?
Selig, the commissioner of baseball, released a statement saying “the allegations are very troubling to me.” Also, and ominously, he said: “After I have all the facts, I will make a determination of how to proceed.”
McDowell is alleged to have said: “Kids don’t belong at the [censored] ballpark.” That alone would be enough to make Selig spit out his soda. Hasn’t baseball spent the past century positioning itself as the game for families?
McDowell has done well in following the illustrious Leo Mazzone, and he’s considered a major asset by the Braves. That status is in peril. If these allegations are found to have merit, McDowell will be lucky to keep his job.
By Mark Bradley
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351 comments Add your comment
Braves Fan80
April 27th, 2011
10:25 pm
Is that $$$$ signs floating above Allreds head ?
John
April 27th, 2011
10:25 pm
Forget what he said about gay people. Do you know he also allegedly said “kids don’t belong at a ballpark.” He is basically admitting this by apologizing. And this happened in San Francisco, the tech capital of the world. You have to believe someone with a smart phone recorded video.
He’s toast.
dawg4u
April 27th, 2011
10:26 pm
It is disappointing that Roger made these comments and very surprising that so many are ready to “pack his bags” and throw him under the bus. He needs to have a press conference and make a sincere public apology and definitely show remorse for these awful comments. I have opened my mouth at times exposing some prejudices and really felt ashamed for having uttered the words and later changed my wrongful thinking. If Roger McDowell is truly remorseful for saying this and apoligizes then he should be forgiven and keep his job. If he doesn’t address this situation further, however, then he should be fired.
James Dean
April 27th, 2011
10:26 pm
Aww… In the picture, the little girl on the right is STILL praying for forgiveness for all the horrible things she saw… And Allred is back there counting up money…
In Fredi I Am Trusting A Little
April 27th, 2011
10:28 pm
Bring back Leo Mazzone or try to get Smoltz or Glavine in as PC. The Braves don’t need this negative attention to their team.
In all honesty, I never liked Roger McDowell, so I hope that he gets fired and we get another PC in here. What a hack if this is true. The thing here is that multiple people are stating that all of this was done, so things don’t look good for Roger.
Braves Fan80
April 27th, 2011
10:30 pm
So Gloria stages a press conference and espn writes a story about it.The bigger she can make this story the bigger the $$$ she will get to shut her up.
Poorbrave
April 27th, 2011
10:31 pm
He who is without sin…cast the first stone. Get all the facts before hanging the man. If quilty he still shouldn’t lose his job. There is other ways to punish him. Looks like someone trying to get alot of money for nothing. For give and forget.
I would still love to see Leo back………
D A DoubleU G
April 27th, 2011
10:31 pm
I thought about Smoltz too,
But he is enjoying his golf too much right no, and he deserves to do so more than anybody.
I do believe Smoltz will be the pitching coach, just not until 2015 at the earliest.
Braves 2011
April 27th, 2011
10:33 pm
After Rocker, we don’t need this.
The smartest people on television laugh off insults.
Ron Paul did that on CNBC this morning instead of taking offense with a questioner trying to get under his skin.
The additional problem for the Braves is once hecklers know they can get to you, you’ve guaranteed yourself more of the same treatment.
WTF
April 27th, 2011
10:34 pm
So you can say publicity whore, but not whore?
Ajc – you are part of the problem.
Braves Fan80
April 27th, 2011
10:34 pm
How horrible!!! Did he actually say kids dont belong at the park?Oh me Oh my what awfullness!!Give Gloria her money and play ball.
BornADawg
April 27th, 2011
10:35 pm
The way I read it in an earlier article was there were some words exchanged between McDowell and three others. Apparently this gentleman pictured above took exception to some of the language being used, asked McDowell to tone it down around his family and apparently it escalated from there. While I don’t agree in any way if some of the things that have been written were actually said by McDowell, I agree, let’s not throw him under the bus just yet. It’s going to be interesting to see how this finally pans out. But at this point in time, I support our pitching coach. If he is indeed found guilty of these charges, this organization has no choice but to cut ties with him.
Braves 2011
April 27th, 2011
10:36 pm
Smoltz would be great.
Great for making the Braves family friendly too as this could hurt our rep.
I bet he’d take the job if offered it.
nerf
April 27th, 2011
10:36 pm
The guys on this board defending this coach (Leroy,Mike) are not seeing what having a guy like this on the team means. Do the Braves really want to be known as the team who has a coach who offends children and gays? I’m sorry but he should know better. Gloria Allred is a scum bag attorney, true. That doesn’t change the fact that Atlanta can not have this kind of coach or the image he will now represent forever.
JC Boscan III
April 27th, 2011
10:36 pm
This is SOOOOOOOOOO ridiculous. IF McDowell was NOT provoked by some fans, his remarks would seem odd regardless of the exact line of attack he used. If he WAS provoked, it doesn’t justify him verbally assaulting the fans. BUT, what kind of pathetic people have to hire an attorney, much less Gloria Allred the Publicity Hound, to turn this into a LEGAL case!!?!?! Is this the spirit that made America great —– hiring a lawyer because someone yelled at you!?!?! What a bunch of wusses!!!! What a weak nation we are becoming………hire a lawyer and seek attention and maybe a pile of cash…………….BARF…!!!!!!!!!!!!! (note, I’m NOT saying that whatever McDowell said was “nice” or appropriate) ………….like Tom Hanks could have said in that movie – “there’re no lawsuits in BASEBALL….!!! Unless a lawyer can turn the double play or lay down a great bunt, they should stay OUT of the national pasttime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:>
BornADawg
April 27th, 2011
10:37 pm
By the way, does she remind anyone of Nancy Pelosi or is it just me? Just asking!
georgiavol
April 27th, 2011
10:37 pm
Gloria Allred is a shake down artist who would make Jesse Jackson blush. Sensitivity training? Give me a freakin’ break. Let the hypocrites crawl out from their rocks. Financial apology, anyone?
Until Proven Guilty
April 27th, 2011
10:39 pm
That family looks pathetic. Why don’t they just go out and pan-handle for money.
Asdf
April 27th, 2011
10:40 pm
Fire him immediately
Ralph
April 27th, 2011
10:40 pm
Maby a new pitching coach would get rid if those two worthless relief pitchers, Linebrink and Sherrill, it isn’t that we don’t have ample replacements.
John
April 27th, 2011
10:41 pm
georgiavol, so answer this question, why come out with the preemptive apology? I totally agree with you on Gloria, but how does that excuse the alleged statements? If he said what he is accused of saying, he needs to go.
bravesfan
April 27th, 2011
10:41 pm
nerf you never did anything wrong. You and so others need to get a life and see the real world.
Dennis Reynolds
April 27th, 2011
10:42 pm
Have you heard the feedback he has gotten from not only the younger pitchers, but from vets like Lowe?
McDowell is a very good pitching coach and I hope he doesn’t get fired.
Until Proven Guilty
April 27th, 2011
10:42 pm
It’s a big, tough world out there kids and occasionally you’ll hear a man use naughty language. Most imporantly though, make sure you hear a man with a lot of money use that language so mom and dad and their attorney can all get paid.
Braves Fan in Alaska
April 27th, 2011
10:43 pm
Could you act like Roger McDowell did at your place of employment and keep your job? I hope not. Come on Atlanta, in the rest of the country the South already has a reputation for being homophobic rednecks. If you keep McDowell around, you will just reinforce that stereotype. If the Braves are class organization (and I believe that for the most part they are) they will have to fire McDowell.
CaptainMudderland
April 27th, 2011
10:43 pm
This is a real troubling situation–obviously something was said by Roger, regardless of Ms. Allred’s involvement or motives, certainly better control and diplomacy should have been exercised. Tellingly, this is not the first time something negative has been said to a MLB player and/or coach–I would be interested in discovering why in this particular case anything was said from the field…very sad if what the fans alledge eventually is proven true.
Ty Cobb
April 27th, 2011
10:44 pm
This isn’t, of course, McDowell’s first brush with heckling fans. He famously spit on Cosmo Kramer and Newman as they left a Mets game. Two strikes and you’re out, McDowell.
Braves 2011
April 27th, 2011
10:44 pm
I guess there is no way of knowing but it sounds to me like he showed up for work under the influence of one drug or another.
After all his experience in baseball, he ought to know better than to get into it with fans.
Rick Ankiel
April 27th, 2011
10:45 pm
Roger is a THUG! Come on now Georgians, we can apply the word to white people as well right?
haybud
April 27th, 2011
10:46 pm
@John he really needs to go over some comment like this in sports? Crap like this is said incredibly frequently, but is rarely reported. Him being fired over this is a gd kowtow by the MLB and Braves ownership.
shmoe
April 27th, 2011
10:46 pm
sorry, but unless something is on record, either on tape, audio, video, or print…it doesn’t stand up in court and is just hearsay. just another family vying for time in the spotlight. provide the evidence, then mcdowell should be let go. otherwise, everyone go on their way.
SWGADAWG
April 27th, 2011
10:46 pm
I am offended daily by Mark Bradley…can he be fired???? He shouldn’t have said it. He should be a professional and a decent human. But the fans need get over it. Every time someone is offended it’s the end of the world. Escpecially if it’s a politically correct group. Of course if you aren’t a protected group then have at em…..
Until Proven Guilty
April 27th, 2011
10:47 pm
I love when all the holier than now folks come out of the wood work.
Braves fan in Savannah
April 27th, 2011
10:48 pm
I think that McDowell’s apology and explanation didn’t go far enough and barely met the minimum requirement for contrition. Somebody in SF turned his dial past the red line and there is clearly something going on there with his response to the hecklers and then his response to the family. Roger needs to do more and say more about what provoked him in order to have any shot at keeping his job. The Braves need to get in front of this before the Comish paints them into a corner.
what a joke
April 27th, 2011
10:50 pm
Braves fan in Alaska….Homophobic rednecks in South? is that why you in Alaska?
Until Proven Guilty
April 27th, 2011
10:51 pm
Well said shmoe.
what a joke
April 27th, 2011
10:54 pm
Great Braves 2011…I’d love for you to be on my jury. Hang’em high!
GoBraves
April 27th, 2011
10:54 pm
shouldnt have acted like that but dont fire the guy. issue an apology, fine him and let it go. people have done worse. and enough with Gloria Allred. how has she not been “taken care of” yet? she loves cameras and only wants attention. i hope she dies very soon
Braves 2011
April 27th, 2011
10:55 pm
Hey maybe none of us have a life to be wasting time on this.
A chance to get in last words before the tornado hits.
TexasRose
April 27th, 2011
10:56 pm
Man, oh, man…a lot of people on here must stay slim by jumping to conclusions. Let’s wait patiently until the FACTS are in, not allegations and claims…and then see what needs to be done, if anything. I have seen references to ‘crime’ – what crime would have been committed, even given the worst reported ‘allegation?’ I see a cash grab fashioned by the alway$ pre$ent Gloria Allcash…
gumbylovespokey
April 27th, 2011
10:56 pm
Enter your comments here
rmf
April 27th, 2011
10:56 pm
I don’t where this ends up for Roger but for those of wishing for Leo — its not going to happen. His day with the Braves is over. If Roger gets the boot they already have an experienced and well respected pitching coach, Dave Wallace, in the organization — he will be the guy.
FWIW, I think Leo’s act has grown stale and he has become overly impressed with himself.
As repulsive as I find Gloria Allred and as much as I think this appears to be a money grab on the part of the family, I can’t believe McDowell would get goaded into saying stuff like that to fans no matter what they were saying to them. He has been around long enough to know to ignore this stuff.
I really hope McDowell has a better explanation for all of this.
what a joke
April 27th, 2011
10:57 pm
Stay safe anyway 2011.God Bless.
ShaunC
April 27th, 2011
10:58 pm
Huge Braves fan. Like the direction of our pitching staff has moved over the past few years. Hate to see this.
He really should lose his job. Was he drunk? I have a problem believing he’s comfortable doing this crap around the team.
Braves 2011
April 27th, 2011
10:58 pm
I agree with Braves fan in Savannah.
Why did these fans get under his skin when so many thousands of times hecklers had failed to?
MurphHOF
April 27th, 2011
10:58 pm
who really cares… grow up people
H Ford
April 27th, 2011
10:59 pm
Enter your comments here
Braves 2011
April 27th, 2011
11:00 pm
Gloria Allcash.
Good one Texas Rose.
what a joke
April 27th, 2011
11:00 pm
emf…. how the blank do you know what Leo and Braves will do?
all for one.....
April 27th, 2011
11:02 pm
Roger once a Brave always a Brave. Don’t let the Devil perverts get you down.