Detroit Tigers television analyst and Baseball Hall of Famer Jack Morris apologized Tuesday night after using a mocking Asian accent while talking about Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani.
On the Bally Sports Detroit broadcast of the Angels' 8-2 win over the Tigers, lead announcer Matt Shepard was setting the scene with Ohtani set to bat in the sixth inning with a runner on second and two outs.
Shepard said to Morris, 'Now what do you do with Shohei Ohtani?'
Morris replied with an exaggerated accent: 'Be very, very careful.'
Detroit Tigers television analyst and Baseball Hall of Famer Jack Morris apologized Tuesday night after using a mocking Asian accent while talking about Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani
ESPN's Joon Lee objected to the apology in which Morris said 'sorry if you were offended'
Well sure looks like it’s time for the bi-annual firing in the @Tigers TV booth as Jack Morris 1) does some kind of mocking Asian accent while describing Ohtani; and 2) issues a pathetic “sorry if YOU were offended” non-apology apology #HitTheRoadJack pic.twitter.com/qwWk0pjKoG
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) August 18, 2021
Well sure looks like it’s time for the bi-annual firing in the @Tigers TV booth as Jack Morris 1) does some kind of mocking Asian accent while describing Ohtani; and 2) issues a pathetic “sorry if YOU were offended” non-apology apology #HitTheRoadJack pic.twitter.com/qwWk0pjKoG
Ohtani drew an intentional walk, and the Tigers escaped the inning without allowing a run.
When Ohtani came up in the ninth inning, Morris said, '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 to 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 a pitcher for walking him.'
ESPN's Joon Lee objected to the apology in which Morris said 'sorry if you were offended.'
'It's impossible for Jack Morris to play something like this off as ''sorry if you were offended'' when there's not any purpose in doing this accent other than to make a caricature of AAPI people Asian Americans and Pacific ,' Lee tweeted.
Ohtani, the major league leader with 39 homers, ended the night 1-for-3 with three walks and a run. The two-way star also boasts an impressive 2.93 earned-run average on the mound
Former ESPN broadcaster Keith Olbermann also chimed in: 'Well sure looks like it’s time for the bi-annual firing in the TV booth as Jack Morris 1) does some kind of mocking Asian accent while describing Ohtani; and 2) issues a pathetic ''sorry if YOU were offended'' non-apology apology. #HitTheRoadJack.'
Ohtani, the major league leader with 39 homers, ended the night 1-for-3 with three walks and a run.
Morris spent 14 seasons of his Hall of Fame playing career with the Tigers. A hard-nosed right-hander pitcher, he went on to play for the Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians while compiling a 254-186 record with a 3.90 ERA.
Morris, 66, led the Tigers to a World Series championship in 1984, then earned championship rings with the Twins in 1991 (capturing World Series MVP honors) and the Blue Jays in 1992.
Morris spent 14 seasons of his Hall of Fame playing career with the Tigers. A hard-nosed right-hander pitcher, he went on to play for the Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians while compiling a 254-186 record with a 3.90 ERA
