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
H Ford
April 27th, 2011
11:02 pm
(Other than being a loud-mouth, obnoxious friend of the no talented Nancy Grace, what is Gloria Allred “famous” for?)
Oh, and nothing was mentioned in this story as to why this is being classified as slur against gays…. I think the Commissioner has probably already made up his mind, and Mr. McDowell will be removed from on field duties, and public contact, if not outright fired, within 10 days.
Observer
April 27th, 2011
11:07 pm
The Braves would be wise to act swift and part ways with him. The Braves need to protect their identity. They have done well to establish their organization as nothing but a class act. Failing to act will only blemish their standing.
gumbylovespokey
April 27th, 2011
11:08 pm
Agree rmf, I get uncomfortable listening to Leo on the radio, his language and attitude frequently seem inappropriate to me and I think the Braves were glad to be rid of him because of these same type of issues. My brother once heard him dress down Jason Schmidt with language that would have made a sailor blush within listening distance of everyone nearby at the ballpark. These people need to behave professionally, I was very glad to see the Braves introduce a program this year to train these highly paid individuals how to do so with the media and in public. These folks having Gloria Allred present so quickly is highly suspicious; certainly not how the “average” fan would have reacted to this and I certainly wouldn’t be grandstanding my children for a PR photo op afterward. Roger McDowell may very well need disciplining or dismissal, but the Braves need to do some due diligence first and conduct their own investigation of whether this was a setup or another shakedown. Remember certain groups a few years ago didn’t consider Andruw Jones or other players from the Carribean to be reqresentative of their “under represented” group in MLB and attempted to embark on a shakedown here in Atlanta with John Schuerholtz a few years ago.
fred
April 27th, 2011
11:10 pm
Blemish their standing with who…gays?
Dayman
April 27th, 2011
11:10 pm
Baseball’s history is riddled with incidents 10x worse than this, he should not lose his job, I mean it was stupid, but come on. Those calling for his job should just move to San Francisco and be Giant fans.
zongwriter
April 27th, 2011
11:10 pm
He should be fired. Period.
Wes Covington
April 27th, 2011
11:11 pm
I believe he should be fired………………
Reality
April 27th, 2011
11:11 pm
Give the man a break. Otherwise lets have equal justice. Go find all the heckling fans and give
them the same punishment you give Roger.
PMC
April 27th, 2011
11:13 pm
Do we know what the fans said to Roger yet? Can we ban them for life?
admiral
April 27th, 2011
11:14 pm
No joke, I’m equally appalled (for different reasons) by the gay slurs as I am by the “kids don’t belong” line.
The gay slurs are reprehensible. The kids line is just sad, and says a lot about the state of baseball in America right now and moving forward.
coldcocky
April 27th, 2011
11:15 pm
When he is fired later this week, it will primarily be made for the threats he made…if he indeed made them.
Kenshin Kawakimi
April 27th, 2011
11:15 pm
Great pitching coach, really? lol
Facts, Facts, Facts, what are the facts. I am a born again christian, can i still say that? But i think if these actions are true then ol rodger dodger needs to get out of dodge. No one should represent themselves this way no matter their views on the homosexual life.
fred
April 27th, 2011
11:16 pm
Yes fire Roger and you will have fans in every park giving players hell to get them fire and sue for $$ over nothing..what a sick country.
jerry
April 27th, 2011
11:17 pm
As the father of a daughter, I would be the one wielding the baseball bat against that foul mouthed scum bag.
Danny Turner
April 27th, 2011
11:17 pm
Is it just me or does Gloria Allred remind you of Don King standing with her clients?
relocated dawg
April 27th, 2011
11:17 pm
I see nothing wrong with what was said,and I think it was stupid for Kobe to have to say i am sorry and pay a fine.People who are this sensitive needs to buck up and grow a pair, what has happened to America.
Hire Leo
April 27th, 2011
11:18 pm
After Roger gets fired, please hire Leo so I can start listening to 680 and Braves radio again after he’s gone!
Dayman
April 27th, 2011
11:18 pm
Okay “Braves fans,” lets fire Roger who has done a great job with this staff over the past few years and risk blowing a very promising season over something that will be forgotten in two weeks. That sounds like a good idea I hope all of you feel really moral when you’re not watching the Braves in October.
jerry
April 27th, 2011
11:19 pm
Give that dirt bag a medal. The nerve of little girls going to a baseball game.
MightyQuinn
April 27th, 2011
11:20 pm
Fined and suspended, I imagine. And for the record, I am not knowingly related to the family! Us Quinns are southerners, no Californians we.
jerry
April 27th, 2011
11:23 pm
Pitching coach is a fairly high profile position. Too high for one that has such a low regard for the fans to remain on the team.
gumbylovespokey
April 27th, 2011
11:24 pm
Agree with rmf. I doubt the Braves will bring back Leo Mazzone for the same type of reasons. Frankly I find his language and attitude on the radio often inappropriate. My brother once heard him dress down Jason Schmidt with language that would have made a sailor blush in listening distance of everyone near the bullpen at the ballpark. I was glad to see the Braves introduce a program this year to train these highly paid individuals representing their organization how to conduct themselves with the media and in public. This has been sorely needed in MLB for some time and reflects organizational common sense.
Having Gloria Allred instantly out front is highly suspicious and certainly not how the “average” fan would have reacted. I also would certainly not have been parading my children in front of the media for PR photo ops. Roger McDowell may well need to be disciplined or dismissed but the Braves need to do their due diligence on this and investigate to be sure this was not a setup or shakedown. Remember the little boy in the balloon? Remember a few years ago a certain group that does not even consider Andruw Jones and other similar players from the Caribbean to be part of their “under represented” group attempted to begin a shakedown with John Schuerholz and the Braves.
RosGator
April 27th, 2011
11:26 pm
If allegations are true, particularly the comment regarding children, he’s got to go. He has been around long enought to know heckling byy fans is part of the deal. The mgt has to be held to higher standared than players and he’s got have repsect of players. Apology won’t cut it/
Luv 2 Hate Me
April 27th, 2011
11:26 pm
Theres 2 sides 2 every story and I bet he was one of the fans heckling. Last what makes this guy so damn special out of the entire crowd. Just another buster looking for a pay out.
what a joke
April 27th, 2011
11:28 pm
way to go Judge Jerry…..fans? what kind of fans, the ones that were drunk giving Roger hell are the non-drinking fans..who watch the game and don’t heckle the players. This family should have stayed out of it.
John
April 27th, 2011
11:28 pm
Bring back Leo!
Brave 1
April 27th, 2011
11:29 pm
Is it me or is Leo warming up in the bull pen?
Time
April 27th, 2011
11:29 pm
I’d bet that some of these “Braves fans” aren’t really Braves fans but people with a obvious PC agenda.
So what, let’s stop the world for the freaking drama queens who can’t keep their sexual perversions in the bedroom where it belongs. Sleep with who you want to, I could care less. But quit acting like you’re the only people in the world who have problems, or ever get made fun of. IN FACT, I’m pretty sure that if I were to hang out with a bunch of gay folks, I’d hear plenty of straight slurs and jokes.
Of course, I’m sure to the people all angry about this that’s ok. It’s ok for them to slur straights, but just don’t do it to them. Same old leftist double standards and hypocrisy at work as always.
Bill
April 27th, 2011
11:32 pm
anybody in Cobb Co right now know anything about storm in that area.
JEB
April 27th, 2011
11:34 pm
Hold the presses!
I know Roger McD apologized, BUT… something must have been said to have riled him up, and we don’t KNOW what he really said (no video proof, no recordings presented – yet)!
Right now it is “they said – he said”!
I won’t judge this (neither should any of us) until all of the evidence comes in.
Right now Roger has said he said something (though we do not know what that is) and he should have been more professional and walked away.
The other side is making accusations with no proof presented yet.
Let’s cool it awhile – we do not need this distraction – especially if most of this is not true (let’s hope it is not for Roger’s sake!)
Braves Fan Since "80
April 27th, 2011
11:34 pm
WOW never would have guessed Roger would be negative public situation…. we all have moments but we all have a responsibility…. I hope the facts are laid out and the appropriate steps taken…….. Not only with Roger but inappropriate fan behavior as well when it exists…
RosGator
April 27th, 2011
11:34 pm
I understand Brooks Conrad took the fans heckling an dhe didn’t loose it and he’s much younger than McDowell at 50 who should have maturiity to ignore it. Sad to say it confirms my fear many of these guys like RM have been prima donna’s their entire careers. This could me a “red flag” as to the managerial style of Freddie, i cannot inmagine this under Bobby. This has nothing to due with political correctness and everything to do with the fans. Giveme a break verbally abusing two little girls with their mom and dad.
RM gotta go if allegations are true.
Sense of humor?
April 27th, 2011
11:37 pm
Free Roger! That was hilarious. If you don’t like it then don’t go to the baseball field. I’m sick of the political correctness. Roger doesn’t hate gay people or kids. Calm down and laugh at it. The gesture with the baseball bat was awesome.
PC Forever
April 27th, 2011
11:37 pm
spot on J C B III,
Disappointed in many comments on here and proves just because we pull for the same school, all of us are not very fair or intelligent.
This man has been around baseball a long time. What provoked him? What do we know was said by others? Fans can be brutal and I am sure he has heard terrible things about his manhood, his family, etc.
I may be very disappointed in his comments, but what was actualy said and what was alleged may be quite different. The context is also very important. How many of our bloggers have never made a statement in anger that they wish they could take back? How many of us sit with family at public events and hear words that we would rather not hear? (Usually from fans).
I cannot believe we are talking about this issue in this way. This is a microcosm of what is wrong with this country. We are ruining it by being so politically correct even in the face of ignoring common sense. This country has been hamstrung by the likes of Gloria Allred and her predecessors. Our society has embraced thugs (and Roger is NOT in that category) and shown disrespect for each other. It has allowed any type of verbage from certain segments of our society and at the same time restricts other segments of our society from saying anything at all!
We should all try to be a little kinder to each other, use common sense, quit following a mob mentality with the PC garbage, hoot down the likes of Gloria Allred, and move on.
Tim
April 27th, 2011
11:37 pm
Before everyone starts jumping to conclusions, I think some investigating needs to be done. The media does a great job of distorting things. Just look at General McChrystal. Rolling Stones blames him for all sorts of things, he’s demoted, and then they find out most of the stuff in the article wasn’t true.
If Roger did in fact do it, then he should be gone, but the Braves shouldn’t jump to conclusions in a time where people will say anything to get what they want.
fred
April 27th, 2011
11:39 pm
Red flag, prima donna, mgr style, holy Mary… RosGator sounds like the PC left!
di
April 27th, 2011
11:40 pm
It’s always gray folks, not black and white. He was probably kidding around with a group of proud gay guys who were provoking him….and responded inappropriately in a joking manner…and the family man took offense as he should…and Roger didn’t handle it appropriately once he realized he offended someone. Move on….
acbwcmm
April 27th, 2011
11:40 pm
howme714 – I think you misunderstood what was actually said about “if it were racial”.
Plane Driver – I’d be willing to bet money that you are a heterosexual, white guy. You are obviously clueless. Homosexuals are the protected ones??? Get real.
Firstly, this is not about “free speech”. He was at his place of employment and that means that he should conduct himself in a certain way. If he did not, then there should be given some sort of consequence for that.
Secondly, I hope that this isn’t true, as a lesbian, as a Braves ticket holder, and as a fan of baseball. I honestly can’t say that I would be surprised, but I would be deeply disappointed.
Lastly, I don’t think we should all call for his job so fast. There is no “proof”, yet. Also, I’m a believer in giving people second chances. If he were fined, given additional training, and apologized sincerely people would move on. Unfortunately, the apology he has issued so far is not really an apology at all.
Walt
April 27th, 2011
11:45 pm
Allred is involved??? Let’s get the facts before we condemn this guy.Why don’t any black guys get brought up on racism charges?? Something is very fishy here….
Gil in Mechanicsville
April 27th, 2011
11:46 pm
Braves Fan in Alaska Your comments showed your bias up front.
Unfortunately, all of this is a distraction that is not needed. Within a few days, the truth will be a moot point as the media whore on both sides will try this case via press conference. Likely, no apology will be sufficient for the offended and no apology will undo the incident if it prove to be true.
It is a shame that people can have their livelihood, and their legacy destroyed in a instant of poor judgement. Rightly or wrongly, McDowell is likely done as the pitching coach for the Atlanta Braves. The damage to his reputation has already been done.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
April 27th, 2011
11:49 pm
So now gays are utterly protected by law from being offended. screw that..nobody has a right not to be offended. Offending the thin skinned is one of life’s greatest pleasures.
Largo
April 27th, 2011
11:49 pm
Gays, minors, illegals can say anything they choose about anyone or to anyone. Straight white people are not allowed such freedom. I’m in your corner, Roger!
Mark Bradley
April 27th, 2011
11:54 pm
I’m going to close comments for a simple reason: I’m going to bed and can’t monitor while asleep.
msgadawg
April 28th, 2011
11:02 am
BRING BACK LEO!!! The comments about children at the ballpark make me sick. Some of my favorite memories were taking my children to Braves games when they were young. He has got to go!!
Vaughn
April 28th, 2011
11:03 am
Something smells about the story though – so this happened because the family was asking for balls during batting practice? I’ve never heard of McDowell being known for being a complete psycho for his entire career, so until I know the other side of the story, this just doesn’t sound legit.
If the allegations are true (especially the alleged “how much are your teeth worth” comment), then yeah, he’s got to be let go.
Jerry Pritikin aka The Bleacher Preacher
April 28th, 2011
11:03 am
Enter your comments here
I have known Roger McDowell for 25 years. He is a fan favorite with the fable “Bleacher Bums” of the friendly confines of Chicago’s Wrigley Field. He has apologized for his bad judgment. I urge everyone to accept his apology. I recommend that MLB have Roger Mc Dowell make a contribution to the S.F. Harvey Milk Academy and Atlanta’s Gay Community Center. Keep in mind, this was a one time case of bad judgment in his MLB career, and he apologized. If I did not know Roger, I would be the first in line to protest, as I did to MLB Baseball when 2 MLB players made anti-gay remarks. However there is a difference because Julian Taverez and Jim Rocker made poor judgment in their comments based on prejudice.
I have been involved in the Gay Rights Movement for 40 years, and have witnessed bad judgment made by gays toward gays. We all make mistakes. In my 25 years of roaming
the bleachers in Wrigley, Roger Mc Dowell has been one of, if not the best player who entertained the fans prior to the game. I never witnessed any poor judgment by him during that time.
I urge M.L.B. to accept his apology for his one time moment of stupidity.
Jerry Pritikin aka The Bleacher Preacher
reality check
April 28th, 2011
11:07 am
One of the bed rocks of America…. Free Speech isn’t so free any more. Wait until the real facts come out please.
bulldog bubba
April 28th, 2011
11:16 am
It is sad to say but this is their “fifteen minutes of fame.They will hit all the talk shows,maybe even a book deal!!!I do not condone bad behavior from a coach who has had a long career and should know better.This “family” is all about the financial aspect of this situation.Tell them to go fly a kite!
gdawginkalamazoo
April 28th, 2011
11:17 am
What’s the old saying?
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will…..pay for my kids college education, vacation cottage and new cars, ka-ching.
Paul Hewitt
April 28th, 2011
11:18 am
Watch out Roger—when M.B. of the ajc writes about you and doesn’t say 100% positive things (like any good Atlanta reporter should)–your history.