Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones says he was the target of racial insults and had peanuts thrown at him by Red Sox fans during last night's game at Fenway Park in Boston.
According to USA Today, Jones told reporters after the game,
“A disrespectful fan threw a bag of peanuts at me,’’ Jones said, “I was called the N-word a handful of times tonight. Thanks. Pretty awesome.’’
Jones added that while he has been subject to this kind of abuse at Fenway in the past, last night was one of the worst in his 12-year career. Red Sox officials say the fan who threw the bag of peanuts at Jones in the Orioles' dugout was ejected from the stadium.
“It’s different,’’ he said. “Very unfortunate. I heard there was 59 or 60 ejections tonight in the ballpark. It is what it is, right. I just go out and play baseball. It’s unfortunate that people need to resort to those type of epithets to degrade another human being. I’m trying to make a living for myself and for my family.
“It’s unfortunate. The best thing about myself is that I continue to move on, and still play the game hard. Let people be who they are. Let them show their true colors.’’
Still, Jones wishes there were harsher punishments.
Per USA Today, Jones added,
“It’s pathetic,’’ he said. “It’s called a coward. What they need to do is that instead of kicking them out of the stadium, they need to fine them 10 grand, 20 grand, 30 grand. Something that really hurts somebody. Make them pay in full. And if they don’t, take it out of their check."
“That’s how you hurt somebody. You suspend them from the stadium, what does that mean? It’s a slap on the wrist. That guy needs to be confronted, and he needs to pay for what he’s done."
“At the end of the day, when you throw an object onto the field of play, the player has no idea what it is. What if something hit me right in the eye and I can’t play baseball anymore. Then what? I just wear it? No."
“Things like that need to be handled a little more properly, in my opinion.’’
