Longtime Oakland Athletics broadcaster Glen Kuiper has been suspended after he said a racial slur in an apparent slip of the tongue during Friday’s NBC Sports California broadcast.
Kuiper will remain off the air until a review of what happened Friday is completed, NBC Sports California said in a statement.
“I could not be more sorry and horrified by what I said,” Kuiper said Saturday in a statement released by NBC Sports California. “I hope you will accept my sincerest apologies.”
The broadcaster, who has been calling A’s games for about 20 years and has been their main play-by-play man on TV since 2006, began the top of the sixth inning of Friday night’s game against the Kansas City Royals with an apology.
“A little bit earlier in the show, I said something, didn’t come out quite the way I wanted it to and I just wanted to apologize if it sounded different than I meant it to be said. I just wanted to apologize for that,” Kuiper said.
His apology appeared to be in reference to remarks he made pregame while discussing what he and broadcast partner Dallas Braden did earlier Friday.
Kuiper mentioned that they visited the Negro Leagues Museum, which is in Kansas City, but he appeared to say the racial slur instead.
“The language used by Glen Kuiper during today’s pregame broadcast is unacceptable,” the A’s said in a statement late Friday night following the team’s 12-8 win over the Royals.
“The Oakland Athletics do not condone such language. We are working to address the situation,” the team added.
Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, put out the following statement on Saturday: “I’m aware of the unfortunate slur made by Glen Kuiper. I welcomed Glen to the NLBM yesterday and know he was genuinely excited to be here. The word is painful and has no place in our society. And while I don’t pretend to know Glen’s heart I do know that my heart is one of forgiveness. I hope all of you will find in yourselves to do the same!”
Contributing: Associated Press
