Yunel Escobar, a 29-year-old Cuban baseball star who plays for the Toronto Blue Jays, wore eye black during Saturday’s game against the Boston Red Sox that had a homophobic message written on it: “TU ERE MARICON.”
Commonly translated: “You are a faggot.”
Gay Star News reports that the slur went unnoticed until a photo, seen below, was posted online by season ticket holder James Greenhalgh in which the offensive message was clearly visible.
Escobar did not play in Sunday’s game, citing “flu-like symptoms.” He and team officials are expected to address the media in New York at a press conference this afternoon.
Last year, Major League Baseball suspended Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell for two weeks without pay after he made homophobic comments and lewd gestures to fans in San Francisco. What do you think: does Escobar deserve a similar punishment for his use of an anti-gay slur?
Photo by James Greenhalgh
even worse punishment…after all, the idiot put it in writing. Thats not a passionate outburst, that took malice and forethought.
Maricon has multiple meanings though they’re all derogatory. It likely depends on how he meant it.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/article/1258218–was-yunel-escobar-s-face-painted-with-a-homophobic-slur-not-so-fast
Romeo, the most widely-understood meaning of the phrase is the homophobic one. If Escobar hides behind the “yeah, but it *could* have meant something else” defense, it’d be pretty pathetic, no?
If he had written a phrase that included a racially offensive term, or a term offensive to women or to a particular religion, there would be no question that sanctions should and would be imposed. This is no different. As as Gene pointed out, this was not an impassioned utterance, this was a thought-out deliberate act, and should receive a higher level of punishment.
What I’d like to know is, who was this directed at? The opposing team? The umpires? The fans and TV viewers who keep this guy’s sub-.500 ballclub in the black?
Send him back to Cuba!
[...] Here’s the article right here: [...]
Seems good ole Buster Wilson saw this and seems to think now that TWO is advocating taking away the guy’s free speech rights. Funny, I didn’t see they anywhere in this post. Legally, I suppose Escobar can be an a-hole if he wants. The Blue Jays can also punish him for hurting their image and fan base, which they have done with a 3-game suspension. Just funny how simply reporting of the facts can turn into “stifling free speech” in Wilson’s world. If this man had written an anti-Christian message, they’d have no problem with suspension. I thought the AFA was all about employer freedom to hire/fire/discipline employees based on “morals.” Clearly, there’s a double standard, and a basic lack of fundamental reading comprehension skills there somewhere.
The free speech angle is total b.s. I couldn’t paint that on my face at my job and expect not to be fired.