Glen Kuiper suspended from broadcasting A's games after on-air racial slur

[radiofan2023]

Glen Kuiper has been suspended pending a review of his use of the n-word in the pregame A's broadcast. He was attempting to talk about the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City:

A's broadcaster Glen Kuiper suspended indefinitely after on-air racial slur

The longtime A's play-by-play announcer apologized after appearing to accidentally say the slur during a pregame show.

sports.yahoo.com

Do you all think he's ultimately going to be fired? He apologized later in the broadcast for what he said, and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President, Bob Kendrick, has forgiven him:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1654934654057603074

 

[Mikey Radio]

Glen Kuiper has been suspended pending a review of his use of the n-word in the pregame A's broadcast. He was attempting to talk about the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City:

Do you all think he's ultimately going to be fired? He apologized later in the broadcast for what he said, and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President, Bob Kendrick, has forgiven him:

It watching the clip below, he clearly says the "N" word. That said, it's my opinion (only) that he meant to say "Negro Leauge" and instead said the "N" word. It truly does seem like the guy made a mistake / used the wrong word rather than any malice or something that would require "cultural sensitivity training". As you stated above, the Negro League Museum President has forgiven the guy.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1654679569117372416

 

[tbolt909]

It watching the clip below, he clearly says the "N" word. That said, it's my opinion (only) that he meant to say "Negro Leauge" and instead said the "N" word. It truly does seem like the guy made a mistake / used the wrong word rather than any malice or something that would require "cultural sensitivity training". As you stated above, the Negro League Museum President has forgiven the guy.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1654679569117372416

It sounds like he slurred the word he meant to use, not as a deliberate "slur". Unfortunately, that's a mistake that can't happen. Some people think it was no mistake. It's hard to believe he could have done it on purpose unless he wants to lose his gig. The A's are painfully bad this year...

 

[tbolt909]

A's broadcaster Glen Kuiper fired after using racial slur on air

Oakland Athletics broadcaster Glen Kuiper was fired by NBC Sports California after using a racial slur during a telecast while describing a trip to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

www.espn.com

Kuiper terminated for his comments. I don't know if what he said was intentional or not. Rush Limbaugh spewed hate and vitriol for years. He got rich for doing it. The lines are blurred on what is acceptable...

 

[michael hagerty]

A's broadcaster Glen Kuiper fired after using racial slur on air

Oakland Athletics broadcaster Glen Kuiper was fired by NBC Sports California after using a racial slur during a telecast while describing a trip to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

www.espn.com

Kuiper terminated for his comments. I don't know if what he said was intentional or not. Rush Limbaugh spewed hate and vitriol for years. He got rich for doing it. The lines are blurred on what is acceptable...

You're right about Rush, but he never used the "N" word on the air.

Nothing has blurred the lines to the point where the "N" word is acceptable.

I don't for a moment think Glen meant to say that word on the air. The issue is that most of us are able to say "Negro League" without it coming out the way it did for Glen, and that raises questions.

 

[tbolt909]

You're right about Rush, but he never used the "N" word on the air.

Nothing has blurred the lines to the point where the "N" word is acceptable.

I don't for a moment think Glen meant to say that word on the air. The issue is that most of us are able to say "Negro League" without it coming out the way it did for Glen, and that raises questions.

I agree, but if he did it deliberately he would know he would be fired. It's inexplicable that he tried to slip the word in casually and hope nobody would notice...

 

[michael hagerty]

I agree, but if he did it deliberately he would know he would be fired. It's inexplicable that he tried to slip the word in casually and hope nobody would notice...

The question that I've seen raised is this---if you're trying to say "Negro" and the other word comes out of your mouth, is that an indicator of a comfort with and a private use of the other word? And the only person that can answer that would be Glen or people who've heard whether or not he uses the "N" word in private.

There have been several alleged slips in the last few years where a white broadcaster said the "N" word. One would expect any after the first to provoke extremely careful pronunciation and enunciation.

 

[tbolt909]

The question that I've seen raised is this---if you're trying to say "Negro" and the other word comes out of your mouth, is that an indicator of a comfort with and a private use of the other word? And the only person that can answer that would be Glen or people who've heard whether or not he uses the "N" word in private.

There have been several alleged slips in the last few years where a white broadcaster said the "N" word. One would expect any after the first to provoke extremely careful pronunciation and enunciation.

It's interesting how words change over time. Coloured and Negro are antiquated words, although the NAACP still uses those letters. Oriental is another one that is used to describe a rug, but not a person anymore. The NFL had the Washington Redskins for a long time. I remember CBS would not use the name for a few years before it was finally changed.

Archie Bunker may have been a fictional character, but the real life versions are still around...

 

[Mikey Radio]

Archie Bunker may have been a fictional character, but the real life versions are still around...

...And it's always interesting when someone posts an Archie Bunker meme on Facebook or Instagram to try and make their point, or when someone quotes that character, and you explain that both Carroll O'Connor who played Bunker, and Norman Lear who masterminded and produced that show, were both liberals. All in the Family was meant to highlight the stupidity of bigotry, racism, anti-LGBTA+ attitudes, etc. The characters like Edith, Mike Stivic (Rob Reiner), Maude, The Jeffersons and others on that show were there to counter Bunker's bigotry and shine a light on how silly it was. Also, at his core, Bunker had a soft heart and nearly always wanted to do the right thing. Taking a Bunker quote completely out of context to fight against drag queens or to support the Proud Boys does that show and everyone involved in that work, a great disservice IMO.

 

[tbolt909]

Bunker and the George Jefferson characters were like opposite sides of the same coin. They represented the absurdity of bigotry. It's impossible to do that show today. We have a Republican party that wants to turn the clock back 200 years.

Kuiper joins a long list of broadcasters who have screwed up. It sounds like the investigation revealed more than just a "slip of the tongue". Al Campanis of the Dodgers once said Blacks lacked the mental skills to be managers. History is filled with examples of bias...

 

[DOB]

Robert Byrd used the word deliberately on air and every Democrat clapped like a seal.
Joe Biden was applauded for saying you are not Black unless you vote for him and his party.
As for Rush, he never said a thing more hateful and divisive than when President Obama said in 2010, that every American who doesn't vote for the Democrat party is the enemy and must be punished.
See, facts based on actual words spoken, no b.s about 200 years that means nothing beyond I hate people who don't think like me.

 

[michael hagerty]

Robert Byrd used the word deliberately on air and every Democrat clapped like a seal.
Joe Biden was applauded for saying you are not Black unless you vote for him and his party.
As for Rush, he never said a thing more hateful and divisive than when President Obama said in 2010, that every American who doesn't vote for the Democrat party is the enemy and must be punished.
See, facts based on actual words spoken, no b.s about 200 years that means nothing beyond I hate people who don't think like me.

Well, not facts and not actual words.

Byrd did use the word in 2001 in a FOX News broadcast interview. "Every Democrat" did not "clap like a seal". There was outrage and Byrd made a public apology the following day.

Biden's quote was "If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or for Trump, then you ain't black." Far from being applauded, it was regarded within the party as a major gaffe and Biden within hours was walking it back---"“I was making the point that I never take the vote for granted and in fact I know in order to win the presidency, I need the African American vote,” Biden said. “I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy. I shouldn’t have been so cavalier.”

And Obama's quote, made on a popular radio show (Piolin) was “if Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, ‘We’re going to punish our enemies and we’re going to reward our friends’ … then I think it’s gonna be harder.” Obama pulled back from that statement after being called on it, saying he should have said “opponents.”

When you say "facts" and "actual words", the same machine you use to type can be used to look up whether what you typed was true. If it's not, it either means you didn't do that, or you didn't care whether it was or not.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Archie Bunker may have been a fictional character, but the real life versions are still around...

The Archie Bunker character was a teddy bear compared to many real life people of that generation. Those of us who are old enough to have watched AITF when it was new had to deal with those types firsthand.

While completely unfair to paint that entire cohort with the same brush—most were good, decent people—they nonetheless had more than their fair share of complete S.O.B’s, constantly spewing all sorts of racist, misogynist, bigoted invective, complete with an ever present foul temper and boorish behavior. Many were still stuck in the 1940s, and had a hard time grasping that the world was changing, and that the old attitudes had no place in an evolving society.

That’s why the Boomer generation tended to be rebellious—we weren’t going to allow that crap to continue.

This is also why many of us cringe when we see that type of mindset and behavior making a return, goaded on by self-serving political, business and religious figures.

 

[davideduardo]

And Obama's quote, made on a popular radio show (Piolin) was “if Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, ‘We’re going to punish our enemies and we’re going to reward our friends’ … then I think it’s gonna be harder.” Obama pulled back from that statement after being called on it, saying he should have said “opponents.”

There were several things that Obama said on that particular Piolín interview that were criticized based on vocabulary and terminology. The real issue was that He (Obama) was aware that he was speaking English to an audience that was almost entirely Spanish dominant. So he was conscious of the need to use easily understood language and to avoid idiomatic expressions.

As someone who was "in the building" on those occasions, I think that Obama did a very fine job of dealing with the situation and with a show host who was no at all well versed in American politics and government.

 

[Mikey Radio]

Many were still stuck in the 1940s, and had a hard time grasping that the world was changing, and that the old attitudes had no place in an evolving society.

I think this is generational and still continues. On a slightly different front, think of how many older male actors were caught off guard and even perplexed by the "Me Too Movement". A few actors continued to make headlines and be removed from shows and movie sets as recently as the last year or so, as they still think it's OK to show up and make the same lewd, flirtatious, pandering and sexist comments they used to make back in "their day. They recall when it was completely accepted and even got laughs. Now it gets them reported to HR. Some struggle to understand that the world and attitudes about what is commonly acceptable have changed and evolved.

I recall about 15 years ago I was at a performance where they presented an old-school comedian as "One of the last true greats..A titan of comedy". When he launched into his act, it was a bunch of lowbrow, semi-racist shtick that appealed to the lowest common denominator of society. While he did attack nearly every race, religion, nationality and spoken accent equally, several moments were cringe-worthy. What got this guy laughs and standing ovations and was his meal ticket for years, now got groans, head-shakes and agape mouths from the audience, and before his act was through, there was a line of people in the aisle, trying to exit the venue.

 

[ILOVERADIO]

Well, not facts and not actual words.

Byrd did use the word in 2001 in a FOX News broadcast interview. "Every Democrat" did not "clap like a seal". There was outrage and Byrd made a public apology the following day.

Biden's quote was "If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or for Trump, then you ain't black." Far from being applauded, it was regarded within the party as a major gaffe and Biden within hours was walking it back---"“I was making the point that I never take the vote for granted and in fact I know in order to win the presidency, I need the African American vote,” Biden said. “I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy. I shouldn’t have been so cavalier.”

And Obama's quote, made on a popular radio show (Piolin) was “if Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, ‘We’re going to punish our enemies and we’re going to reward our friends’ … then I think it’s gonna be harder.” Obama pulled back from that statement after being called on it, saying he should have said “opponents.”

When you say "facts" and "actual words", the same machine you use to type can be used to look up whether what you typed was true. If it's not, it either means you didn't do that, or you didn't care whether it was or not.

I'm interested if Michael can give a couple examples of Rush's

Well, not facts and not actual words.

Byrd did use the word in 2001 in a FOX News broadcast interview. "Every Democrat" did not "clap like a seal". There was outrage and Byrd made a public apology the following day.

Biden's quote was "If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or for Trump, then you ain't black." Far from being applauded, it was regarded within the party as a major gaffe and Biden within hours was walking it back---"“I was making the point that I never take the vote for granted and in fact I know in order to win the presidency, I need the African American vote,” Biden said. “I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy. I shouldn’t have been so cavalier.”

And Obama's quote, made on a popular radio show (Piolin) was “if Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, ‘We’re going to punish our enemies and we’re going to reward our friends’ … then I think it’s gonna be harder.” Obama pulled back from that statement after being called on it, saying he should have said “opponents.”

When you say "facts" and "actual words", the same machine you use to type can be used to look up whether what you typed was true. If it's not, it either means you didn't do that, or you didn't care whether it was or not.

I think it's important to note that Byrd was the Grand Wizard of the Klu Klux Klan, a truly racist and horrible organization. His racism was not one slip of the tongue. I think hate speech is often in the eye of the individual, not usually clearly defined. Both parties practice hate speech according to recipients of these attacks. Many conservatives feel calling Clarence Thomas an Uncle Tom or calling Tim Scott an Uncle Tim are racist and arguably hate speech. Similarly Rush angered many liberals when he called them liars and hypocrites. I think most Americans agree that US politics has gotten much more divisive in the last decade or 2 and that this is a bad and sad trend. Leaders of both parties practice hate speech. We can come up with hundreds of painful examples.

 

[Mikey Radio]

I'm interested if Michael can give a couple examples of Rush's

Respectfully, I don't think @michael hagerty was giving general examples of things those other men had said, but rather, giving exact quotes in response to some claims that another poster had made about words they'd supposedly said, to prove what the earlier poster had claimed wasn't entirely accurate or factual. If you want to find old Limbaugh quotes, I'm sure there are plenty of examples available via a simple internet search.

I think most Americans agree that US politics has gotten much more divisive in the last decade or 2 and that this is a bad and sad trend. Leaders of both parties practice hate speech. We can come up with hundreds of painful examples.

Agreed. Interestingly, I saw an older C-SPAN round table discussion from 2007 just yesterday, and all were in agreement that they'd never seen politics as divisive as it was then and that we needed to come together as a country or it would only lead to bad things. Again, that was 2007 and the political divisions were child's play compared to what we're experiencing now. Part of the issue is that all the centrists, those who truly cared about the good of the country rather than partisan politics and those who were willing to reach out to the other party to get things done, have been voted out or are long gone. There are tons of examples from the past - Trent Lott (R) actually had a fairly close relationship with Bill Clinton (D). Even Gingrich and Clinton communicated more often than anyone realized. Years ago, Tip O'Neill (D) and Reagan (R) truly appreciated each other and senators and congressmen from both parties used to have dinner together and commute to/from Washington on weekends. I'm guessing little of that happens in 2023.

The problem is that both sides are convinced their way is right, that the only way to counter a hard pull to the right by republicans is to pull even harder to the left on the democratic side, and "news" networks who blatantly report and promote false narratives and mistruths, and talk hosts who generate ratings and make ad money by keeping the pot stirred and creating drama, are only making it worse. Silence them, let people think for themselves and maybe that alone might make a difference.

 

[tbolt909]

Rush Limbaugh now has a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Here are just 20 of the outrageous things he's said

President Trump said he gave Limbaugh the nation's highest civilian honor for "decades of tireless devotion to our country."

www.cbsnews.com

There you go DOB. A "greatest hits list" of Limbaugh's racist rants. He was a charming fellow wasn't he? He was a vile caricature. Kuiper got fired for one egregious lapse in judgement. Limbaugh built his Empire spewing trash. It's good that he's gone, but the discord he helped foment lives on...

 

[Mark Roberts]

Bob Kendrick, the president of the Negro Leagues museum, stated that he forgave Kuiper for the remark. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president addresses Oakland A's broadcaster Glen Kuiper using racial slur on air
If you've never visited the museum, you should. It's awesome and gave me a real appreciation for what these men were able to do in the face of unwarranted and excessive obstacles.

 

[michael hagerty]

I'm interested if Michael can give a couple examples of Rush's

Sure. First, let's correct any misunderstandings about who said what so far.

I posted correct quotes and facts about the incidents after quotes (except Byrd's) and the facts (in all three cases) were misrepresented by DOB.

As for Rush, my comment was in response to tbolt909, who said:

Rush Limbaugh spewed hate and vitriol for years. He got rich for doing it. The lines are blurred on what is acceptable...

And my response was an agreement on hate and vitriol, but making it clear that Rush never used the "N" word on-air and that he can't be accused of making it acceptable:

You're right about Rush, but he never used the "N" word on the air.

Nothing has blurred the lines to the point where the "N" word is acceptable.

I see tbolt909 has beat me to Limbaugh's 20 terrible quotes (only a portion of which had to do with race), but there's one that's not on the list.

In September of 2009, there was a beating on a school bus in Bellville, Mo. Police said it appeared to be racially motivated, but days later, retracted that, saying it turned out to be a dispute over seating. But before the retraction, here's what Rush said on his radio show:

“You put your kids on a school bus you expect safety, but in Obama's America the White kids now get beat up with the Black kids cheering, 'Yeah, right on, right on, right on.' Of course everybody said the White kid deserved it; he was born a racist, he's White. …Now that we have a Black president, Blacks are rising up to attack White kids.”

(Ron Howard narrator voice from "Arrested Development": They weren't.)

I think it's important to note that Byrd was the Grand Wizard of the Klu Klux Klan, a truly racist and horrible organization. His racism was not one slip of the tongue.

Right. But let's be clear. Robert Byrd was not elected by anyone other than the residents of the 6th Congressional District of West Virginia (in 1952, 1954 and 1956) and to the Senate by the people of West Virginia in 1958. Byrd carried that election largely because the Republican incumbent in the race, W. Chapman Evercomb, had voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and lost in a landslide, with many Republicans voting for Byrd.

That has way more to do with West Virginia's population at the time (95% white) than either party's platform. And if you doubt West Virginia's conservative lean, despite electing a Democrat to the Senate, consult Joe Manchin's voting record.

I think hate speech is often in the eye of the individual, not usually clearly defined.

The Cambridge Dictionary managed to:

"public speech that expresses hate or encourages violence towards a person or group based on something such as race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation".

As did Merriam-Webster:

"speech that is intended to insult, offend, or intimidate a person because of some trait (as race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability)"

As did the Oxford English Dictionary:

"/ˈheɪt spiːtʃ/ [uncountable] hate speech (against somebody/something) speech or writing that attacks or threatens a particular group of people, especially on the basis of race, religion or sexual orientation."

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that our First Amendment rights would be abridged by making hate speech illegal (and this was when the court was 6-3 liberal justices).

Both parties practice hate speech according to recipients of these attacks. Many conservatives feel calling Clarence Thomas an Uncle Tom or calling Tim Scott an Uncle Tim are racist and arguably hate speech. Similarly Rush angered many liberals when he called them liars and hypocrites.

Between tbolt909's post and mine, there are 21 examples of Rush saying far worse.

I think most Americans agree that US politics has gotten much more divisive in the last decade or 2 and that this is a bad and sad trend. Leaders of both parties practice hate speech. We can come up with hundreds of painful examples.

You're welcome to do that if you want to invest the time and if the moderators are okay with it. My only entrance into this was to make sure that people understood that Limbaugh's show did not air the N-word and that he didn't make it okay to do so, and to correct erroneous examples given by a previous poster.