TV analyst apologizes to Canada for comment
Television broadcaster Harold Reynolds apologized on Monday and said that he didn’t mean to upset Canadians with a comment he made during Game 3 of the American League Division Series.
After a foul ball by the Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista in the fourth inning of Sunday’s 5-1 win over the Texas Rangers, the Fox commentator took a shot at Canada’s baseball ability.
“We were talking about foul balls in the stands up in Toronto, and because there’s not a lot of people that grew up playing baseball in Canada, they’re not used to catching a lot of balls in the stands ... not many people catching that one, anyway,” Reynolds said.
The Rangers won the first two games in the best-of-five series at Rogers Centre before the series moved to Globe Life Park for Games 3 and 4.
“Sorry Canada, whole country, if I offended you for that,” said Reynolds on Monday in an interview on Sportsnet during the pregame show in Canada. “I’m well aware of the baseball players that have come out of there. Dalton Pompey and Russell Martin, who will be catching tonight for the Jays, are from there. Joey Votto’s a Canadian. Justin Morneau.”
In the interview, Reynolds — who does not have Twitter or other social media accounts — said he was unaware of the controversy until former National League MVP Larry Walker of Maple Ridge, B.C., called him Monday morning.
“I do the draft every year,” said Reynolds in the televised interview. “I think Canada’s up and coming, particularly in the northwest, Vancouver area. So I’m well versed in that. It was more of a joke and the fact that most people grew up playing hockey in Canada. I didn’t think it was that offensive, so obviously I was taken different.”
Reynolds also spoke with media on Monday ahead of the TV interview and Toronto’s pivotal game in Arlington, Texas.
“I never ever want to offend people,” he said. “That’s never the nature of my heart, that’s not who I am. So it was never (meant) to be offensive, not at all. That’s it.”
His on-air comment drew the ire of many from north of the border and quickly picked up steam on social media. Walker posted his thoughts on Twitter.
“I won 7 gold gloves. I think part of winning them was cause I could catch,” he tweeted.
Baseball Canada also sent out a tweet during Game 3 with pictures of Walker, Colorado Rockies slugger Justin Morneau of New Westminster, B.C., and Toronto native Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds.
“Amazing how we produced three MVPs for a country that doesn’t play a lot of baseball! #TeamC.”