Glen Kuiper may not have meant to say what he said during a broadcast, but he is still being punished for it.
Oakland A’s TV broadcaster Glen Kuiper has been suspended after he uttered a racial slur during the team’s Friday evening broadcast while discussing a visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City.
Kuiper said: “We had a phenomenal day today. (N-word) league museum. And Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue.”
Later, in the sixth inning, Kuiper issued an on-air apology.
“A little bit earlier in the show, I said something, didn’t come out quite the way I wanted it to,” Kuiper said. “I just wanted to apologize if it sounded different than I meant it to be said. I just wanted to apologize for that.”
A spokesperson for NBC Sports California said on Saturday that Kuiper will be removed from the air while the incident is reviewed.
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Kuiper will remain off the air until a review of the incident is completed.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick also commented on the incident over the weekend.
“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,” Kendrick wrote on Twitter. “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 it in yourselves to do the same!”
Other broadcasters in the past have been suspended or even terminated for similar incidents.
The 59-year-old Kuiper has served as an A’s broadcaster since 2004.
Johnny Doskow and Vince Controneo will rotate in place of Kuiper on upcoming A’s broadcasts.
Glen Kuiper won’t be missing much as the Oakland Athletics are likely already eliminated from playoff contention as they sit with a 8-27 record and sitting in fifth place in the AL West.
