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NBC Sports California has fired Oakland Athletics TV broadcaster Glen Kuiper two weeks after the veteran broadcaster used a racial slur on air.
“Following an internal review, the decision has been made for NBC Sports California to end its relationship with Glen Kuiper, effective immediately,” the network said in a statement Monday. “We thank Glen for his dedication to Bay Area baseball over the years.”
Kuiper, 60 and in his 17th season as the A’s play-by-play announcer, hasn’t been on air since May 5, when he used the slur before a game between the A’s and Royals.
While discussing his visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City during a pregame segment, Kuiper said “we had a phenomenal day today at (N-word) museum and Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue.”
OPINION:No, it’s not time to forgive A’s broadcaster for use of racial slur. Not yet.
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Kuiper apologized later in the game, but not until the sixth inning. He did not get into specifics, noting he said something that “didn’t come out quite the way I wanted it to.” He later issued a statement through the network when he was suspended, saying: “I could not be more sorry and horrified by what I said. I hope you will accept my sincerest apologies.”
A person familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press “the decision was based on a variety of factors, including information uncovered in the internal review.” The person spoke on condition of anonymity and didn’t divulge specific details because the network had not publicly disclosed the results of the investigation.
Video of the incident, which contains the offensive term, quickly went viral online. The A’s issued a statement later that night calling Kuiper’s language “unacceptable.”
Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, released his own statement on Twitter, writing, “I’m aware of the unfortunate slur made by Glen Kuiper. I welcomed Glen to the NLBM yesterday and know he was genuinely excited to be here. 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!”
Kuiper is the younger brother of former major leaguer and Giants announcer Duane Kuiper.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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