DETROIT (WWJ) -- It was announced yesterday that Detroit Tigers Hall of Famer and Bally Sports Detroit broadcaster Jack Morris would be suspended indefinitely for the offensive remarks he made about Los Angeles Angels all-star Shohei Ohtani.
During the sixth inning of Tuesday night's Tigers game, play-by-play announcer Matt Shepard asked, “Now what do you do with Shohei Ohtani?” to which Morris replied, with an accent: “Be very, very careful.”
Along with his comments, Morris was widely criticized for using an accent that mocks English-speaking Asians while speaking about the two-way Japanese superstar.
Now, Ohtani has responded to both the comment, and to the news of Morris’s suspension.
“I did see the footage, and I heard it on the video. Personally, I’m not offended and I didn’t take anything personally,” Ohtani said during a press conference on Wednesday. “He is a Hall of Famer. He has a big influence in the baseball world, so it’s kind of a tough spot.”
Following the comment -- for which Morris apologized in the game’s ninth inning -- Bally Sports Detroit announced Wednesday afternoon he had been suspended indefinitely from Tigers broadcasts.
Morris will also undergo bias training “to educate him on the impact of his comments and how he can be a positive influence in a diverse community.”
During Wednesday night’s game at Comerica Park, Shohei Ohtani hit his 40th homer and pitched eight sharp innings, leading the Angels to a 3-1 victory against the Detroit Tigers.
Related
