professionals a-holes

Calling Gay Umpire ‘F’ing Faggot’ Won’t Get Him to Side With Edmonton Capitals’ Manager Brent Bowers

The Edmonton Capitals, an Alberta pro baseball team not in MLB, might have a new controversy on its hands following 2006’s infamous dust-up: Manager Brent Bowers went on an on-field tirade against a gay umpire. And yep, in between threats of violence, the F-word was used.

Bowers, whose team plays in the Golden Baseball League, repeatedly called Billy Van Raaphorst “a fucking faggot” after the umpire said a hitter on the opposing Orange County Express was safe on first base; Bowsers disagreed, and started screaming. And, relays the Edmonton Sun, “at one point bent over and grabbed his own ankles.” Awesome!

Van Raaphorst says Bowers was all, “You know what I heard? I heard you are a fucking faggot. The rumor from several managers and people at the league is that you are a fag. … I ought to kick your ass, you faggot.” And it’s like, Bowers, you’re dumb: Van Raaphorst is openly gay. Those rumors you’re hearing are statements of fact, sort of like the “rumors” I heard that you’re a piece of shit.

Bowers has a history of general douchebaggery: “Earlier this season he was tossed out of a game for performing a ‘stinkfoot’ — holding up a shoe to an umpire and pinching his nose.” In another incident, Bowers was “thrown out of the game in the 7th inning for arguing with the umpire. He started by tossing his cap, then he dumped the bag of balls on home plate, and he then went to center field to demonstrate the the finner points of making a diving catch.”

So what punishment did he face for railing against the gay ump?

Sources say that when the league suspended Bowers for two games, other umpires were so outraged over the slap on the wrist that they refused to officiate GBL games. “If this sort of incident had happened in any other workplace,” said one baseball official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, “the (perpetrator) would not be working there any more.” By Friday, the official said, the league convinced the umpires to call off the boycott after promising to address their concerns. However, they were ordered not to talk to anyone about the incident or risk losing their jobs.

But Van Raaphorst’s lawyer said Friday that his client is still waiting to see what measures the league — and the Capitals organization — will take. “If (Bowers) had run up on an African-American umpire and started using the n-word in a similar derogatory derivation, there’d be a lot of controversy around it. It’s a serious matter,” said Ebby Bakhtiar. “Something needs to be done.”

For what it’s worth, Bowers’ Capitals lost all three games to the Express. Fitting.

Don't forget to share:

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated