Jays’ Yunel Escobar suspended 3 games for homophobic slur on eye-black
SUN-TIMES WIRES September 18, 2012 3:09PM
Yunel Escobar was suspended for three games Tuesday by the Toronto Blue Jays for wearing eye-black displaying a homophobic slur written in Spanish during last Saturday’s game against the Boston Red Sox.
Updated: September 18, 2012 4:44PM
NEW YORK — Yunel Escobar was suspended for three games Tuesday by the Toronto Blue Jays for wearing eye-black displaying a homophobic slur written in Spanish during last Saturday’s game against the Boston Red Sox.
Escobar made headlines on Monday when a Toronto-area photographer pointed out that Escobar had played Saturday’s game with “tu ere maricon” (sic) written on his eye black strips. The message can translate to “you are a faggot,” though one Spanish professor told the Toronto Star the term can be interpreted a few negative ways though not all of them come with a homophobic slant.
“I agree with the suspension. I don’t have any problem with that. I’m embarrassed,” said Escobar, a native of Cuba who came to the United States as a teenager. “I’m sorry for my actions of the other day. I don’t have anything against homosexuals. I have friends who are gay.”
Pictures posted online showed the Blue Jays shortstop with the message written in his eye-black, a sticker players wear under their eyes to reduce glare from the sun. The slur did not appear to be directed at any person in particular.
The Blue Jays are in New York to play the Yankees later Tuesday. The punishment was announced during a news conference at Yankee Stadium.
