Set the Way-Back Machine Part III

As part of its defense of straight-talking Ozzie Guillen, today’s Chicago Tribune reminds us that a member of the Chicago Cubs once used a slur against homosexuals.

On 28 April 2001, Julian Tavarez started for the Cubs at Pacific Bell Park. Tavarez had already earned the enmity of Giants Fan by getting into a fight during a spring training game with Giants third baseman Russ Davis.

So Giant Fan was in fine form that day, letting Tavarez have it with both barrels. Here’s how Tribune writer Dan McGrath described the lead-up to Tavarez’ insult, and the insult itself:

In the third inning Tavarez came off the mound to field [Marvin] Bernard’s bouncer and made the putout himself, tagging Bernard a bit more vigorously than perhaps necessary. Bernard didn’t respond, but the crowd booed loudly and did so again after Tavarez’ knockdown pitch to Armando Rios two innings later.

Asked about the reaction, Tavarez said, “What do I care about the fans here?” and used profanity and the slur about gays to describe them. “That’s what they are.”

The immediate comparison? Well, it had been just about a year since John Rocker blasted the people of New York City in a Sports Illustrated interview. Rocker received a thirty-day suspension for his idiocy (reduced from the original sixty-day sentence). And while I don’t recall anyone wanting Tavarez to sit for that long, his detractors did call for a suspension.

Like Skip Bayless, then with the Tribune:

Tavarez deserves another five-game suspension for using an anti-gay slur to describe Giants fans while seven or eight media members interviewed him. Commissioner Bud Selig again needs to drive home the point this will not be tolerated.

No, this wasn’t John Rocker going off on a lengthy redneck rant against multiple ethnic groups as he and a Sports Illustrated reporter tooled around town in his Covertte. In fairness, this was Tavarez shortly after his pride had been battered by the Giants and their fans…

Tavarez has a right to his opinions as long as he doesn’t express them in a public forum as a member of the Cubs. But he needs to be taught the difference. Another message needs to be sent rap-song strongly to all athletes…

Bring down the hammer. Continues to show them their jock-god entitlement has its boundaries. Remind them they – unfortunately – influence kids’ opinions. As [then-Cub manager Don] Baylor said, “We still haven’t learned a lot from the Rocker situation.”

In the end, Tavarez was not suspended for his remarks. He apologized to the people of San Francisco, and the Cubs fined him (no figures released, but reportedly five figures) and sent him to sensitivity training. Baron Budhausen said he was satisfied with the team’s measures, adding:

Mr. Tavarez embarrassed himself, his team, and the game of baseball. There is no excuse for such language and there is no place in our game for bigotry.

Today, Guillen received the same punishment Tavarez did – a fine and some sensitivity training. Here's what the Baron had to say about Guillen:

Ozzie Guillen used language that is offensive and completely unacceptable. Baseball is a social institution with responsibility to set appropriate tone and example. Conduct or language that reflects otherwise will not be tolerated. The use of slurs embarrasses the individual, the club and the game.

Two more comparisons. First, the apologies:

Tavarez:

I want to apologize to the city of San Francisco and say how sorry I am for what I said. I’m a very emotional man and I don’t always mean what I say. Sometimes my emotions get the best of me. I am very sorry – very sorry.

Guillen:

I should be suspended because I called one guy that? I should have used another word. [MLB] can do whatever they want, but I’m not going to back up. I will apologize to the people I offended because I should have used another word.

Finally, reaction from Rick Garcia, spokesperson for the gay rights group Equity Illinois. Here’s what he said about the Tavarez situation:

In the past, anti-gay slurs have met with silence or acceptance. The Cubs’ organization clearly let it be known that anti-gay sentiment is not only inappropriate, it will not be tolerated in their organization.

Garcia on Guillen:

This isn’t the first time that he’s made an anti-gay slur, so I think the White Sox organization needs to look at one of their higher-profile people using slurs that are unacceptable. They need to do something about it.