Astros Owner Drayton McLane says the week that has
followed the controversy over his alleged remarks about
Hispanics has been "painful," according to John Lopez of the
HOUSTON CHRONICLE. McLane: "This is an issue. This has
become a great, huge issue, and it's painful to me that it
has. I'm not mad; I'm hurting. I don't want to argue about
who said what. I want to change what people think about the
Astros for whatever reason they think it." McLane said he
would invite numerous Hispanic leaders "to suggest ideas
about where the club should go in its relationship with the
Hispanic community." McLane: "My job now is to put a bridge
between all of this. We have to get the Hispanic community
back." Lopez: "It might be impossible. Resentment and
questions remain regarding the fateful words McLane spoke"
(HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/11). Astros P Jose Lima supports his
owner: "I don't know if he said it, because we weren't
there, but I can tell you he (McLane) is a great man. He is
unbelievable." Astros SS Ricky Gutierrez: "If he says he
didn't say those things, you have to believe him to a
certain extent" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/11).
