May 1, 2003
Gfn.com News
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Todd Jones apologized to the
organization and his teammates Wednesday for his recent anti-gay remarks, but
did not apologize for the comments themselves that included the sentiment that
he "wouldn't want a gay guy being around me."
"I think my only mistake was that I made my views public," said Jones, who was teary-eyed at times during his brief statement, according to the Associated Press. "And for that, I apologize to the Rockies and I apologize to my teammates for putting them through this."
Jones, a native of Marietta, Ga., told The Denver Post on Sunday that he would not want to have a gay teammate "rubbing it in his face." The comments were part of an entertainment story about the Broadway play "Take Me Out," in which a major league baseball player announces he is gay.The article compares the story line of the play with what might happen if a real-life player announced he were gay.
"I wouldn't want a gay guy being around me," Jones told the paper. "It's got nothing to do with me being scared. That's the problem: All these people say he's got all these rights. Yeah, he's got rights or whatever, but he shouldn't walk around proud. It's like he's rubbing it in our face. 'See me, Hear me roar.' We're not trying to be close-minded, but then again, why be confrontational when you don't really have to be?"
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Mark Grace was also interviewed for the story, but he said most players probably would not be threatened by a gay teammate.
The Rockies issued a statement on the team's Web site Monday saying that the team does not share Jones's views, opinions, or attitudes.
"As an organization and as a part of this community, we are committed to providing an environment for our employees and fans that is free of discrimination and prejudice, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, or status as a veteran," team president Keli McGregor said.
"We've handled Todd's comments internally and we've turned the page," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said Wednesday.
Jones also commented in his interview that a gay player would have to be very good, "because if [the team] thinks for one minute he's disrupting the clubhouse, if he doesn't hit 50 homers or win 20 games, they're not going to put up with that."
DENVER -- Colorado Rockies pitcher Todd Jones apologized to the organization and his teammates Wednesday for his recent anti-gay remarks, but he didn't back off what he said.
"I think my only mistake was that I made my views public," said Jones, who was teary-eyed at times during his brief statement. "And for that, I apologize to the Rockies and I apologize to my teammates for putting them through this."
In an entertainment story in The Denver Post on Sunday, Jones said he would not want to have a gay teammate and that gays should not go around flaunting their sexuality.
The comments were part of a story comparing the story line of the Broadway play about a gay baseball player to what might happen if the scenario played out in real life. The play "Take Me Out" is centered on the repercussions of a major league baseball player announcing he's gay.
Jones said in the story that a gay player would cause tension within the clubhouse and that opposing pitchers likely would throw at his head.
"I wouldn't want a gay guy being
around me," Jones told the paper. "It's got nothing to do with me being scared.
That's the problem: All these people say he's got all these rights. Yeah, he's
got rights or whatever, but he shouldn't walk around proud. It's like he's
rubbing it in our face. 'See me, Hear me roar.' We're not trying to be
close-minded, but then again, why be confrontational when you don't really have
to be?"
The Rockies responded with a statement on the team Web site Monday that said Jones' comments were "unfortunate" and did not reflect the team's views.
"We've handled Todd's comments internally and we've turned the page," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said Wednesday.
Jones made it clear that his comments don't speak for the team.
"The Colorado Rockies have absolutely nothing to do with the comments I said and they shouldn't be held accountable for what I said," Jones said. "They're a top-notch organization. They have everyone's rights guarded and protected. My comments were mine and my mistake was, I think, saying them publicly."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press.
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