The Colorado Rockies are working to identify a fan whom microphones appeared to catch yelling racial slurs at Miami Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson during Sunday’s game, an incident the team says left it “disgusted.”
The alleged slurs came in the ninth inning at Coors Field with Brinson at the plate and seemed clearly audible on the Bally Sports Florida broadcast, to the point that Marlins play-by-play announcer Paul Severino immediately apologized to viewers for the language.
Hours after the game, the Rockies released a statement denouncing the still-unidentified fan and saying they were investigating the incident. The team indicated that any fan displaying such behavior would be banned from Coors Field.
The MLBPA also released a statement from executive director Tony Clark, saying there is work to be done in ridding racism from the sport.
Condemnation of the incident was swift on social media, with several members of the Marlins’ broadcast team affirming their support for Brinson and calling for the fan to be banned.
Brinson ended the plate appearance in question with a walk, adding to a 2-for-4 performance in a game the Rockies won 13-8. The 27-year-old outfielder is having a career year, hitting .261/.296/.445, all career highs.
Was the fan saying “Dinger”?
As discussion of the incident swirled on social media, one alternate theory on what happened emerged and seemed somewhat convincing.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed that the Rockies’ mascot, the purple dinosaur known as “Dinger,” happened to be making his way through the stands behind home plate at the time of the alleged slur. At the same time, a fan was waving toward the mascot in a way that somewhat corresponds to the yells captured on broadcast. Other Rockies fans could also be heard saying “Dinger” earlier as well.
It really has to be seen and heard to be understood. You be the judge.
Basically, we’re either talking about an infuriating use of slurs in a public setting or an incredibly sinister version of the “Yanny or Laurel” debate. The latter at least explains how the fan in question was able to leave the park unaccosted and unidentified by security and his fellow spectators, but it also provides quite a bit of benefit of the doubt.
More from Yahoo Sports:
