(WWJ) -- Detroit Tigers Hall of Famer and Bally Sports Detroit broadcaster Jack Morris has been suspended indefinitely for an offensive comment he made during Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim while talking about two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani.
In a statement released Wednesday, Bally Sports officials said Morris will 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 the sixth inning of Tuesday’s 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.”
Morris later apologized in the ninth inning:
“Well folks, Shohei Ohtani is coming to the plate and it’s been brought to my attention and I sincerely apologize if I offended anybody, especially anybody in the Asian community for what I said about pitching and being careful,” Morris said. “Shohei Ohtani - I did not intend for any offensive thing and I apologize if I did.”
“I certainly respect and have the utmost respect for this guy, and don’t blame the pitcher for walking him,” he added.
The Asian American Journalists Association's Sports Task Force issued a statement, calling Morris' apology "insensitive and ignorant,” saying it referenced only the words he chose but not the stereotypical, racist accent he used.
Roland Huang, secretary for the Detroit Chapter of the Association of Chinese Americans, said Morris’s comments Tuesday night were “nothing new” to the Asian-American community.
“It happens so often, and so I think people in the Asian-American community can just say, ‘we’re tired of it happening from time to time,’ just the continuous march of belittling people of a certain category of American,” Huang told WWJ on Wednesday.
The Tigers also released a statement Wednesday afternoon, voicing their support in BSD’s suspension of Morris.
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"We are deeply disappointed by the comments made by Jack Morris during the broadcast last night," the club said. "We fully support Bally Sports Detroit’s decision and their on-going commitment to ensure that all personnel are held to the highest standards of personal conduct."
Ohtani has ascended to the status of MLB superstar, becoming a sensation as both an All-Star caliber hitter and pitcher. Ohtani signed with the Angels in 2018 after his two-way prowess caught the eyes of MLB scouts.
He is scheduled to start on the mound against the Tigers at Comerica Park Wednesday night.
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