Following his use of a racial slur during the opening of an Oakland Athletics live game broadcast on NBC Sports California, Glen Kuiper has been terminated from his position as the team’s play-by-play announcer.
“Following an internal review, the decision has been made for NBC Sports California to end its relationship with Glen Kuiper, effective immediately,” a spokesperson from the regional sports network said in a statement. “We thank Glen for his dedication to Bay Area baseball over the years.”
Kuiper, 60, was describing a visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo. and used a derogatory term when describing the experience. He later apologized for his actions in the sixth inning of the game, and was promptly suspended by the team pending an internal investigation.
“A little bit earlier in the show, I said something, didn’t come out quite the way I wanted it to,” Kuiper said on the broadcast. “I just wanted to apologize if it sounded different than I meant it to be said. I just wanted to apologize for that.”
“The language used by Glen Kuiper during today’s pregame broadcast is unacceptable,” the Oakland Athletics organization said in a statement following the incident. “The Oakland Athletics do not condone such language. We are working to address the situation.”
A source with knowledge of the situation told Barrett Sports Media that the decision was based on a variety of factors, including information that was uncovered in the internal review. Ultimately, the decision was made to part ways with Kuiper after 19 years with the team. Both color commenator Dallas Braden and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick issued statements pertaining to the situation, with Kendrick asking people to find forgiveness in their hearts.
“I welcomed Glen to the NLBM yesterday and know he was genuinely excited to be here,” Kendrick said in a tweet. “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!”
In a recent guest appearance on KNBR’s Murph & Mac, Kuiper’s brother and San Francisco Giants television play-by-play announcer Duane Kuiper declined to go into depth about the situation.
“It’s really a delicate and stressful time for Glen,” Duane Kuiper said. “It trickles down to every member of your family. I just don’t think it would be appropriate for me to talk about it or discuss it at this time, but there will come a time when I’d be more than happy to talk about it.”
Glen Kuiper has appeared on television broadcasts for the Athletics since 2004, and was named the team’s play-by-play announcer in 2006. Over the years, he was on the call for a variety of memorable moments, including his partner Dallas Braden’s perfect game in 2010. Now, Braden will continue working with the team with play-by-play announcers Vince Controneo and Johnny Doskow as the team looks for his permanent replacement.
