Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger
McDowell was placed on administrative leave Friday amid allegations
he hurled anti-gay slurs towards fans in San Francisco, the
Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.
Los Angeles-based attorney Gloria
Allred announced the claims at a press conference on Wednesday.
At the conference, Justin Quinn, 33, of
Fresno, accused McDowell of yelling to three male fans sitting in the
left field seats at ATT Park during a game against the Giants on
Saturday: “Are you a homo couple or a threesome?”
He used a bat to simulate gay sex and
then asked, “Are you three giving it to each other in the ass?”
Quinn, who was attending the game with
his 9-year-old twin daughters, claims he told McDowell to watch his
language in front of children.
“Kids don't fucking belong at the
baseball park,” McDowell replied, then threatened Quinn with a
baseball bat. “How much are your teeth worth?” he asked.
In a statement McDowell didn't deny the
charges.
“I am deeply sorry that I responded
to the heckling fans in San Francisco on Saturday. I apologize to
everyone for my actions,” he said.
Gay media watchdog the Gay &
Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) called on the Braves to
discipline McDowell.
“McDowell's apology is a start but
the Atlanta Braves and Major League Baseball must take real
disciplinary action and send the message that anti-gay slurs have no
place in sports,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios in a
statement. “Professional sporting events should be an environment
that all fans and families can enjoy, not a place where children are
exposed to violent threats and discriminatory language.”
After Wednesday's conference, the
Braves released a statement saying they do not condone McDowell's
actions: “We are concerned by these allegations and the behavior
described by a witness today. This in no way represents the Braves
organization and the conduct we expect of our employees.”
On Friday, Braves general manager Frank
Wren said he hopes to have the situation resolved in “the next day
or so.”