The Red Sox are "conducting a review of what occurred" last night at Fenway Park after Orioles CF Adam Jones claims a bag of peanuts were "thrown at him and he was the victim of racial slurs from a person or people in the stands," according to Matt Pepin of the BOSTON GLOBE. Red Sox President Sam Kennedy in a statement apologized to Jones and the Orioles organization "for what occurred at Fenway Park Monday night." Kennedy: "No player should have an object thrown at him on the playing field, nor be subjected to any kind of racism at Fenway Park. The Red Sox have zero tolerance for such inexcusable behavior" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 5/2). USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale notes Jones, who has "played as a visiting player for 12 years at Fenway Park," has been "subject to racial epithets in the past." However, he described last night as "one of the worst experiences he's ever endured." Jones: "I was called the N-word a handful of times . ... Just part of the job right?" Jones was "told there were 59 or 60 people ejected from Fenway Park for various incidents," though Red Sox officials "believe it was closer to half that total." Jones said, "What they need to do is that instead of kicking them out of the stadium, they need to fine them 10 grand, 20 grand, 30 grand. Something that really hurts somebody. Make them pay in full. And if they don’t, take it out of their check. That’s how you hurt somebody. You suspend them from the stadium, what does that mean? It’s a slap on the wrist" (USATODAY.com, 5/2). In Boston, Nick Cafardo notes Red Sox P David Price has "indicated that he had heard the same racial taunts while a member" of the team, while former Red Sox LF Carl Crawford "said the same" during his stint with the team (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/2).
MISPLACED ATTENTION? ESPN's Pedro Gomez talked to a retired African-American player, who claims part of the problem "is that it seems like Major League Baseball cares more about the fans than the actual players, who are the product." The former player said that MLB officials are "more worried about the safety and security of the fans than they are of the actual players" and feels there "should be more security" at games. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith noted MLB cannot be held accountable for the fans' actions, but said, "You can eject them from the game immediately. You can ban them for life. You can exercise a stiff fine, if you so choose. ... As a private industry, which Major League Baseball is, you don't have to allow somebody like that into a ballpark” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 5/2).
NOT JUST A BOSTON PROBLEM: USA Today's Nightengale believes racial slurs can be heard at other ballparks and not just Fenway Park, though he said with fans "being so close here, you can probably hear a lot more." He noted Jones is "outspoken and he'll say what's on his mind," while other players might keep quiet. Nightengale: "I just don't think people bring it to light and they'd rather speak about it off the record, quietly, just not to bring attention to it" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 5/2). In Baltimore, Peter Schmuck writes Jones handles this type of adversity the way Jackie Robinson did, as he "answers with his performance" and the "work he does with inner-city kids in Baltimore and in his hometown of San Diego." Schmuck: "He's certainly not the first black athlete to deal with this sort of thing and, unfortunately, he will not be the last" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 5/2). ESPN's Bomani Jones said, "People have to stop pretending like these things don't happen. They do. Part of why they happen is the people who are sitting around, who probably have the most power in the situation to make a stop, are either too busy feeling uncomfortable or too lazy to do anything about it” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 5/2).
DIGGING DEEPER: SI.com's Gabriel Baumgaertner writes the Jones incident "unveils a nastier underlying problem for baseball," which already is "failing to attract enough African-American players or representatives at the managerial or front office level." MLB now has to "manage a crisis that echoed the abuse" Jackie Robinson endured when he broke the color barrier, and this latest incident will "snatch headlines in a sport that gasps for them in competition with sports far more friendly to the African-American community." Baumgaertner: "An intractable problem resurfaced on Monday night, bringing ugly realities back to the forefront, and baseball will further suffer as a result" (SI.com, 5/2).
TWITTER REAX: WEEI-FM's Lou Merloni tweeted, "The guy that used the N-word towards Adam Jones is a disgrace. He does not represent Boston. Some will try to say he does." Sports journalist Evan Moore: "Remember last year when Adam Jones explained why black baseball players are reluctant to speak out?" Raycom Sports' Stan Norfleet: "Thanks #AdamJones for speaking-up! Being a pro athlete doesn't warrant disrespectful/derogatory comments/actions by fans!" TBLDaily.com's Dan Clark: "Would love to see @RedSox fans in attendance tonight give Adam Jones a big cheer. Show us it was a once-off and #StandUpToRacism." AvidBoston.com's Terry Cushman: "I hate how Boston is tied to racism right now. If there were racist fans taunting Adam Jones, why did everyone seated near him tolerate it?"
