Update: NBC Sports California has announced an indefinite suspension of A’s play-by-play announcer Glen Kupier. The station said in a statement Kupier will remain off the air until a review of what happened during Friday night’s broadcast is completed.
An Oakland A’s baseball announcer apologized following the apparent use of a racial slur during Friday’s broadcast between the A’s and the Kansas City Royals.
Play-by-play announcer Glen Kuiper, who is calling his 20th season with the team, appeared to say a slur on the NBC Sports California broadcast after describing an apparent visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum before Friday’s game in Kansas City.
Kupier apologized before the start of the sixth inning.
“Welcome back to Kauffman Stadium. I just want to … a little earlier in the show, I said something that didn’t come out quite the way I wanted it to,” Kuiper said. “And I just wanted to apologize if it sounded different than I meant it to be said. And like I said, I just wanted to apologize for that.”
It appeared that Kuiper mispronounced the word “Negro,” making it sound instead like a slur.
The president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum revealed on Saturday he invited the longtime A’s broadcaster to the museum.
“I’m aware of the unfortunate slur made by Glen Kulper. I welcomed Glen to the NLBM yesterday and know how he was genuinely excited to be here,” said Bob Kendrick. “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!
The baseball franchise said Kuiper’s pre-game language was “unacceptable.”
“The Oakland Athletics do not condone such language. We are working to address the situation,” the statement said.
