Commentator Colin Cowherd sacked after racist comment is followed up with awful apology

THIS American radio host sent the baseball world into a spin with some inexplicable racism.

Colin Cowherd of ESPN Radio hosts The Herd from the Super Bowl XL Media Center at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan on January 30, 2006. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

A DAY after Colin Cowherd insulted an entire country, saying baseball can’t be too complicated because so many Dominicans are able to play, ESPN announced he was being sacked from the network.

“Colin Cowherd’s comments over the past two days do not reflect the values of ESPN or our employees,” ESPN said in a statement. “Colin will no longer appear on ESPN.”

“I did not intend to offend anyone with my comments,” Cowherd tweeted on Friday. “I realise my choice of words was poor and not reflective of who I am. I am sorry.”

Earlier on Friday, an outraged MLB population forced the radio jock into a hasty — and some say insufficient — apology.

“It’s too complex? I’ve never bought into that ‘baseball is too complex.’ Really? A third of the sport is from the Dominican Republic,’’ Cowherd said on his ESPN radio show, The Herd.

The reaction was immediate and visceral. Dominican-born Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista led the players’ contingent, using some vivid imagery in asking Cowherd to explain himself.

Dear Mr. @ESPN_Colin before i rip you a new one i would like for you to explain what u meant to say about baseball and dominicans, please

— Jose Bautista (@JoeyBats19) July 23, 2015

MLB joined the chorus, and USA Today reported the rank and file of the players’ union was seeking a formal apology. Dominican players make up approximately 10 per cent of MLB rosters.

Cowherd led his last show with an apology and an attempted explanation.

“I hope I wasn’t out of line with that whole, ‘Dominicans are dumb’ quip.”

“I could have made the point without using one country, and there’s all sorts of smart people from the Dominican Republic,” Cowherd said. “I could have said a third of baseball’s talent is being furnished from countries with economic hardships.

“I understand that when you mention a specific country, they get offended. I get it. I do. And for that, I feel bad. I do…I’m not saying there’s not intelligent, educated people from the Dominican Republic. I cringe at the data, too.’’

ESPN, in the midst of a split with the well-compensated Cowherd, followed his on-air apology with a rather vanilla statement.

“Some of Colin’s comments yesterday referencing the Dominican Republic were inappropriate and do not reflect ESPN’s values of respect for all communities,’’ ESPN said in its statement. “Colin’s on-air response today addressed the importance of making sure his opinions are fact-based and responsible for all people.’’

Cowherd did at least attempt — clumsily — to touch on that aspect when he said: “The Dominican Republic has not been known in my lifetime as having world-class academic abilities. A lot of those kids come from rough backgrounds and have not had opportunities academically that other kids from other countries have.”

But that understandably got lost in the shock of his initial comments, after which nobody wanted to hear any softening or backtracking or explaining.

Originally published as Commentator Colin Cowherd sacked after racist comment is followed up with awful apology