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Former '86 Mets Pitcher In Trouble For Homophobic Slurs
By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 28, 2011
Modified Apr 28, 2011
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 28, 2011
Modified Apr 28, 2011
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A former member of the World Champion '86 Mets team is in trouble today after he hurled a series of homophobic insults at fans at a ballgame. So which legally-troubled member of that storied team is it? Not Lenny Dykstra, who is still dealing with his naked rubdown job interview mess. Not Darryl Strawberry, who is too busy with Strawberry's Sports Grill in Queens. Not even Dwight Gooden, who went to rehab after he was arrested for a DUI in NJ last year. It's the magic loogie spitter himself, former pitcher Roger McDowell, who told a dad last weekend, "Kids don't f- - king belong at the baseball park."
Last weekend, McDowell, the Atlanta Braves current pitching coach, allegedly threatened Justin Quinn in front of his twin 9-year-old daughters after Quinn complained that McDowell was using inappropriate language. During batting practice before Saturday's game in San Francisco, Quinn says he overheard McDowell asking three men, "Are you three giving it to each other up the a- - ?" and “Are you guys a homo couple or a threesome?” When Quinn complained to him, he barked back about kids not belonging in the park, then picked up a bat and made a lewd gesture before threatening Quinn with it.
The incident comes only weeks after basketball star Kobe Bryant got in trouble for calling a referee a homosexual slur. McDowell issued an apology after the story got out: "I am deeply sorry that I responded to the heckling fans in San Francisco on Saturday. I apologize to everyone for my actions." But Quinn, and his lawyer Gloria Allred, want MLB to fine McDowell, and GLAAD agrees: “McDowell’s apology is a start, but the Atlanta Braves and Major League Baseball must take real disciplinary action and send the message that anti-gay slurs have no place in sports," they said in a statement.
Below, you can check out some vintage Mets action: young and sprightly McDowell and Dykstra visiting the adorable Martha Quinn on MTV. They discuss McDowell's appreciation for the band Level 42, Dykstra's appreciation for cheating ("I'm a good cheater"), and watch the Mets' ridiculous "Let's Go Mets" music video (skip to 2:34 for that gem):
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baseball
homophobic slurs
mets
mlb
roger mcdowell
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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