Disappointing News: Yunel Escobar Only Gets A Three Game Suspension For Homophobic Anti Gay Slur!!!
(/Reuters)
ROBERT MACLEOD
The Globe and Mail
Published Tuesday, Sep. 18 2012, 3:28 PM EDT
Last updated Tuesday, Sep. 18 2012, 3:46 PM EDT
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar has been suspended for three games for displaying a gay slur written in Spanish on his face during a home game on Saturday.
The measures were announced just before a news conference at Yankee Stadium Tuesday afternoon before the Blue Jays opened a three-game series against New York on Tuesday night.
The Blue Jays also announced that the salary lost by Escobar during his suspension will be directed by the You Can Play and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
The team said that Escobar will participate in an outreach initiative to help educate society about sensitivity and tolerance to others based on their sexual orientation.
Escobar will also participate in a sensitivity training program in accordance with the Blue Jays and the MLB.
The incident stemmed from Saturday’s game at Rogers Centre against the Boston Red Sox in which Tu Ere Maricon was written on an eye black sticker that Escobar wore.
The phrase’s most common English translation is ‘You Are A Faggot’.
It went unnoticed that Escobar was displaying the slur until several pictures began being posted online Monday afternoon clearly show the player with the message written on his eye black, a black patch athletes wear under their eyes to reduce the sun’s glare.
Escobar was scratched from Sunday’s game after the team reported he had come down with “flu-like symptoms” and the Blue Jays had an off-day on Monday.
Disturbing News: Toronto Blue Jay Star Yunel Escobar Writes Anti Gay Slur On His Face.
(Getty Images)
Yunel Escobar has always been a controversial player, though the source of the public’s angst has mostly been derived from the difference between expectations and actual production.
The Toronto Blue Jays shortstop, however, finds himself in a bit of hot water as it has been pointed out that Escobar took the field on Saturday with a gay slur printed in Spanish on his eye black. The “tu ere maricon” (sic) can be translated to “you are a f—-t” and was first pointed out by@james_in_to_, a Jays fan who took a similar picture from behind the Toronto dugout.
Escobar has some explaining to do, but there is some reason to reserve judgment. Former Jays pitcher Dirk Hayhurst believes it to be a clubhouse prank — which basically just means there’s a different source for such blatant homophobia. There’s also the fact that Escobar sometimes wears eye black with funny sayings, so this would be out of character. (These, for instance, read “CHILLING”)
Here’s the thing, though: Eye black now comes in a strip or sticker form and players can write motivational sayings (think Tim Tebow) before applying themselves. There would be no need for Escobar to ask another player to write on his face. The handwriting in the “CHILLING” picture also matches the handwriting from the photo above.
No matter the explanation, it goes without saying that the Blue Jays definitely need to address this. Major League Baseball is already looking into the matter as ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports.
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