DENVER – The Colorado Rockies said late Monday morning the fan initially believed to have shouted a racial slur at a Miami player during Sunday’s game had actually been yelling for the Rockies’ mascot, Dinger.
The team said the broadcast and other stadium microphones picked up a man’s voice yelling for the purple dinosaur mascot. The team said it had spoken with the fan himself, as well as another fan who was sitting nearby, and that both confirmed that was the case.
The team further said no one on or around the field heard anyone yell a racial slur.
The Rockies said in a statement issued just after 1 p.m. Monday they concluded there was "never any racial slur that occurred."
"After a thorough investigation that included calls, emails and video clips from concerned fans, media and broadcast partners, the Colorado Rockies have concluded that the fan was indeed yelling for Rockies mascot Dinger in hopes of getting his attention for a photo, and there was never any racial slur that occurred," the team said.
"The Rockies remain dedicated to providing an inclusive environment for all fans, players and guests at Coors Field, and any fan using derogatory language of any kind will be ejected from Coors Field," the team added.
An update from the Colorado Rockies regarding the incident at the end of yesterday's game: pic.twitter.com/4cCS8peKnU
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) August 9, 2021
Video from the Bally Sports Florida broadcast of the end of the Rockies-Marlins game picked up what many believed was a fan yelling a racial slur at Lewis Brinson, a Black Marlins player, during the ninth inning.
The Rockies said Sunday night they were “disgusted” a racial slur had been used and that they were still investigating, as some had speculated the fan might indeed be yelling the mascot’s name.