Play-by-play announcer for the Oakland Athletics and broadcasting veteran Glen Kuiper was suspended Saturday for allegedly uttering the n-word on air.
According to a statement released by NBC Sports California on Saturday, Kuiper will not return on air until an investigation into the events of Friday night’s program has been concluded.
Play-by-play duties in Kuiper’s absence will be shared by Vince Cotroneo and Johnny Doskow.
At the beginning of the sixth inning of the California Angels’ game against the Kansas City Royals, the announcer of 20 years sincerely apologized to the audience, saying that his words “didn’t come out quite the way I wanted it to.”
During the pregame coverage, Kuiper and broadcast partner Dallas Braden reflected on their “phenomenal day” in Kansas City in the lead-up to the game.
Kuiper seemed to substitute the initial word with the racially inflammatory slur when he mentioned the two went to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
After the A’s 12-8 victory, the team issued a Twitter statement in which they criticized the former minor leaguer’s error and promised to rectify the problem.
The head of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Bob Kendrick, who had seen Kuiper and Braden hours before the gaffe, issued a statement on Saturday condemning the situation.
My Official Statement on the Glen Kuiper incident is below. pic.twitter.com/txAmPH9ulI
— Bob Kendrick (@nlbmprez) May 6, 2023
“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!” Kendrick wrote.
Former A’s pitcher Dave Stewart agreed with Kendrick’s sentiment: “Bob it could not have been said any better. I know Glen, have worked with him over the years. I believe it was an unfortunate mistake. He, as we all deserve a second chance.”
For the past two decades, Kuiper has been the voice of the Oakland Athletics in the Bay Area. He is the younger sibling of Giants broadcaster and former big leaguer Duane Kuiper.
