Miami Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson was believed to be subject to racism on Sunday at Coors Field before later learning, along with everyone else, it was all a misunderstanding involving the Rockies’ mascot’s name, “Dinger.”
But Brinson, who spoke about the misunderstanding on Monday, thinks that maybe the Rockies’ mascot’s name is a little too close to sounding like an awful slur.
“Maybe change the mascot’s name,” Brinson said before Monday’s game. “It sounds a little similar, especially on video.”
Brinson said he did not hear the fan during the game, but when he watched the video he believed he was hearing the N-word uttered.
“I watched the video at least 50 times in the past 15-16 hours,” Brinson said. “I watched it a lot … I personally — this is again my personal opinion — I personally keep hearing the N-word. It’s not that I want to hear it, I never want to hear it.
“Personally, I’ve never been called that in person to my face on the baseball field, outside the baseball field, ever, so I don’t know what my reaction would be if I got called that.”
The Rockies investigated the matter and determined that no racist slur was used and that the fan was attempting to get the attention of the mascot, “Dinger,” for a picture with his family.
While Brinson still believes he is hearing the N-word, he did say that if the fan really was calling for the mascot he is sorry for all the backlash but wants everyone to know that this stuff does happen.
“I’m a human. I have sympathy,” Brinson said. “If he was yelling for the mascot, I am sorry for any backlash or any unnecessary attention he is getting right now."
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