Colorado Rockies say fan did not shout racial slur at game

The Colorado Rockies have determined a fan did not shout a racial slur during the team’s game against the Miami Marlins on Sunday. 

The club found no evidence that a racial slur was directed at Miami Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson during the game at Coors Field in Denver, team sources told The Athletic. The result of the team’s investigation into the matter was also confirmed by a number of local media outlets in Denver.  

The fan in question was instead shouting the name of the team’s mascot “dinger” — a shorthand baseball jargon word for a home run — when his voice was captured on a television broadcast of the game. 

On Sunday afternoon, video of the man shouting was widely circulated on social media. Many listening to and watching the video thought the man had shouted a racial slur at Brinson, a Black player in the batter’s box at the time of the shouting. 

The video promoted the Rockies to issue a statement on Sunday evening. 

“The Rockies have zero tolerance for any form of racism or discrimination, and any fan using derogatory language of any kind will be ejected and banned from Coors Field,” the team said in the statement. 

The Marlins’s play-by-play commentator Paul Severino, along with several past and current players, also issued scathing rebukes based on the viral video and the Rockies’ public condemnation. 

On Monday, several of them apologized for weighing in on the matter before an investigation into the incident was complete. 

I personally apologize for jumping to conclusions. I felt, and many heard something vile and nasty. It’s not the case. So I apologize to him and his family. Know when you’re wrong and apologize. https://t.co/EJETcUVlTU

— 10 (@SimplyAJ10) August 9, 2021

I apologize for any anger I may have caused from my retweet. If these are the facts then Im sorry for the misunderstanding. If he doesn’t have any of those feelings in his heart then all is good. We live, we learn https://t.co/OGGFGBrSfX

— Jay Jackson (@Jaxland58) August 9, 2021

I’m absolutely disgusted at the language that was picked up by the mics late in the game today.

The level of hate that was displayed has no place in this world. Unfortunately it’s still far too prevalent. We need to be better. And soon.

Awful.

— Paul Severino (@SeverinoMLB) August 8, 2021