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The Spectacle Blog
Detroit Tigers outfielder Delmon Young was arrested in front of a hotel on Sixth Avenue in New York City this morning for allegedly assaulting a man while shouting anti-Semitic slurs and has been charged with an aggravated harassment hate crime, a misdemeanor. Young, 26, was apparently intoxicated at the time of the incident.
The Tigers are in New York to play a three game series against the Yankees starting tonight. As of this writing, the Tigers nor MLB have taken any disciplinary action against Young. However, I would be shocked if Young were in the lineup tonight especially in front of a crowd with more than its share of Jewish fans.
This isn’t the first time Young’s temper has got the better of him. In April 2006 (in fact, it was six years ago yesterday), when Young was playing with the Durham Bulls (the Triple A team for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as they were then known), he was suspended for 50 games for throwing his bat at a the home plate umpire after being ejected for arguing balls and strikes after he was called on out strikes during a game against the Pawtucket Red Sox.
Young was brought up to the bigs later that season and had his first full season with the Devil Rays in 2007. Despite finishing runner up in the AL Rookie of the Year balloting behind Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox, the rechristened Rays dealt Young along with infielder Brendan Harris and outfielder Jason Pridie to the Minnesota Twins for pitcher Matt Garza and infielder Jason Bartlett. Garza and Bartlett, of course, were key members of the Rays’ 2008 AL championship team.
After adequate seasons in 2008 and 2009, Young had a breakout season with the Twins in 2010 hitting .298 with 21 homeruns and 112 RBI finishing 10th in the AL MVP balloting. However, Young (along with almost every other Twin) took a step back in 2011. Last August, the Twins dealt Young to the Detroit Tigers for minor league pitcher Cole Nelson. Young helped the Tigers win the AL Central and played well in the post-season.
However, Phil Mackey, an ESPN reporter based in the Twin Cities, was relieved the Twins had dealt him because he and his fellow reporters never knew what they were going to get with Young. Mackey summed up Young this way, “Sometimes surly. Sometimes charming and engaging.”
Well, it would appear that Delmon Young’s surly side was on full display this morning.
Naturally, I am disturbed about these accusations of anti-Semitism. Are they true? If it is true then how long has he harbored these feelings? Does his older brother Dmitri, himself a former big leaguer, also afflicted with the world’s oldest hatred? I am hardly the one who is bothered by this development. Consider the thoughts of Rabbi Jason Miller, who is also a loyal Tigers fan:
When I read the news about Young, my heart sank to the floor. My oldest son is 8. In the past year he has become a die hard Detroit Tigers fan. He knows all the players by name. He knows their uniform number and their statistics (just like I did when I was a Tigers fan at that age). How am I supposed to explain to my son that Delmon Young was drunk, got into a street fight, yelled an anti-Semitic slur and got arrested? To my son, Delmon Young is a hero. He cheers for him. He prays that Young will hit a home run when he comes up to bat. I don’t think that it ever occurred to my son (or to me for that matter) that Delmon Young hates Jews in an inebbriated, full-of-rage Mel Gibson sort of way.
I know there’s a lot left to be desired about humanity and human beings. But when Delmon Young or anyone steps up to the plate the last thing I ask myself, “Is he an anti-Semite?” But consider the numbers. At any given moment, there are 750 men who are on the rosters of a major league team. If you took 750 random men between the ages of 18 to 49 there would be invariably be a few bigots amongst them. So chances are there’s someone in a big league clubhouse who doesn’t like Jews or other religious, racial or ethnic groups, drunk or sober. Like poverty, hatred will always be amongst us. However, that doesn’t make it any less disappointing when that hatred comes to the surface in all its ugliness.
UPDATE: The Tigers have removed Young from their active roster and have placed him on the restricted list pending further information.
View all comments (23) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/04/27/is-delmon-young-anti-semitic
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MikeN| 4.27.12 @ 4:27PM
I think this man is misinformed about Mel Gibson. Saying that Jews start all the wars is not anti-Semitic. More importantly, if that's the best Mel Gibson can say while he's drunk, with all his history, then he is definitely not anti-Semitic.
Occam's Tool| 4.27.12 @ 6:03PM
Mike: he rants about Jews when he's NOT drunk. He also is a beater.
What was the responsibility of the Jews in the Malvinas conflict going on between Argentina and the UK?
In short, shut up, Jack.
As for this guy, let's see what he does when he's not drunk off his ass. Mel did his action after tormenting the crap out of the Jews, and with a daddy who is a Holocaust denier. He's a philosemite like Jack in Wisonsin is a philosemite.
Occam's Tool| 4.27.12 @ 6:04PM
Sorry. Misspelled Wisconsin.
Jack in Wi.| 4.27.12 @ 7:17PM
What's the matter Occam? Not calling for your usual genocidal attacks on Tehren tonight? This is only some poor drunken goyim who got in a fight. He will lose his livelyhood and be blackballed for life. Isn't that good enough for you?
Occam's Tool| 4.29.12 @ 11:10PM
I was discussing Mel Gibson. My comment about the ballplayer was that I wanted to see what he did when he was sober.
Jack, learn to spell. "Teheran."
Occam's Tool| 4.29.12 @ 11:12PM
I was discussing what an antisemitic scumbag you are, 4-F.
Jack in Wi.| 4.27.12 @ 7:11PM
Another ball player falls into the clutches of my old neighbor Bud Selig. Expect the Marge Shott, Pete Rose, and John Rocker treatment. Of course his soul brother Ryan Braun gets the kid glove treatment. I actully like Ryan Braun, who is a good player. But there is no way I think he was innocent. Ryan and his father had the good sense to flee Israel , as have another million Israeli Jews. Soon the place will be integrated into the neighborhood or most Jews will have left. The sooner the better.
Bill| 4.27.12 @ 4:35PM
Veep short list:
1. Bob McDonald: the South
2. Jeb Bush: Sunshine Guru
3. kelly Ayotte: Women votes
4. Mitch Daniel: Rush-Belt fiscal hawk
5. Chris Chritie: Straight talker, no apology
Rob Portman, Pat Toomey, macro Rubio do not want the VP job.
My pick: Kelly Ayotte
Why: GOP must win the women votes.
Vern Crisler| 4.27.12 @ 4:53PM
I think a handful of the posters here may fit the category.
C Bowen | 4.27.12 @ 6:21PM
Recent Rabbi Jason Miller blog title:
Jesus, We Can Finally Talk About Jesus.
"I've always said that the only times Jewish people mention Jesus are when they stub their toe, miss the bus or tell you about their theater tickets to a certain Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera. "
So sober Jews are allowed to slander our Lord as a curse word, but he wonders what to tell his children?
Please.
Clint| 4.27.12 @ 6:32PM
Remind The Rabbi That Jesus Is The First Jew For Jesus.
albert constantine jr.| 4.27.12 @ 11:10PM
What ever happened to John Rocker, anyway (and if anyone remembers the Chris Rock routine regarding baby killer Brian Peterson and Mr. Rocker, please join me in a guffaw before we shed a tear)?
Aaron Goldstein| 4.27.12 @ 11:34PM
You can check out Rocker's website here:
http://johnrocker.net/index.shtml
witz| 4.29.12 @ 4:40PM
Aaron, re "a crowd with more than its share of Jewish fans, " what is Yankees' share of Jewish fans? How many are they allotted? Before I go back to the article, tell me if there are any other cliches coming. And BTW, what is your share of those?
Bob S| 4.28.12 @ 1:46AM
Jim Leyland's clubhouse is, at best, dysfunctional. At worst, it's out of control. It seems that every offseason Miguel Cabrera gets into some run-in with the law while drunk, and now Delmon Young goes on an anti-semitic tirade while drunk. And this is in a clubhouse that has the reigning AL MVP and Cy Young winner.
The Tigers are gonna need to get their house in order if they expect to do anything this season.
BSmith| 4.28.12 @ 11:38AM
Mr. Goldstein, I am unable to discern the meaning and implication of your statement, "I would be shocked if Young were in the lineup tonight especially in front of a crowd with more than its share of Jewish fans."
I think "more than its share" is an idiomatic expression that translates to "more than would be expected based on population or abundance." Is it your belief that Jews who would not normally attend a Yankees' game would show up primarily to harass Young? Or are you saying that there are just a lot of Jews at Yankees' games and MLB should be especially mindful of their sensibilities?
I perceive that you are a fan of the Red Sox, and this comment makes me wonder if you are subconsciously taking a swipe at Yankees' fans for their legendary intolerance to peculiarities of players on other MLB teams.
Aaron Goldstein| 4.28.12 @ 11:55PM
You are reading way too much into things. New York has a significant Jewish population (my Dad was born and raised in the Bronx) and many in that population are Yankees fans. It thus would not be surprising for those Yankees fans not to be particularly enamored with Young.
With that said, the Tigers probably would have put Young on the restricted list if they were playing in New York or Kansas City.
Becky | 4.28.12 @ 1:10PM
What a weak and irrational man you are, Mr Delmon Young! I don't care how talented you are, anti-semitism and any other form of bigotry should not be tolerated and you should be kicked off the team. Sports players are often seen as a role model for young people to look up to and when they behave like this it's a big disappointment. Nil points!
Cpm| 4.28.12 @ 5:27PM
He's an anti-semitic drunk.
Oldefarte| 4.29.12 @ 1:20PM
Does Delmon Young have a cousin named CLINT??????????
Occam's Tool| 4.29.12 @ 11:11PM
Again. Guy was drunk. Gibson had done his best to make things more dangerous for Jews. Young may have just been drunk. He does have a history of siciopathic behavior, however.
Jack, it really was too bad the USSS didn't blow yuour head off when you threatened Johnson.
Occam's Tool| 4.29.12 @ 11:12PM
Sorry, "your."
Jack in Wi.| 4.30.12 @ 7:00PM
Occam remember the USSLiberty and work for justice for the crew. Try to get rid of those racist fanticies where millions of people are murdered. You should see another psychiatrist to help you return to sanity. The one you are seeing now isn't doing much good. Remember to take all your meds. You need them badly.