The Chicago Cubs completed their investigation on Wednesday of a fan who flashed a circle/OK sign in the background as Doug Glanville spoke on TV during a live report on NBC Sports Chicago the day before. The team decided to ban the fan from Wrigley Field for life for flashing the symbol, which is associated with white supremacists but also used as part of a juvenile punching game.
The Cubs’ severe punishment was met with controversy as some feel it was an overreaction. The Cubs feel it is appropriate because their investigation led them to conclude the gesture was done in a racist way.
Team president of business operations Crane Kenney shared the team’s perspective during an interview on 670 The Score in Chicago Wednesday.
“We reached the conclusion that it’s more likely than not that this person was using that hand signal as a racist way of interfering with everyone’s enjoyment of the game,” Kenney said via the Chicago Sun-Times. “That investigation has almost reached its conclusion. We’ll have more to say about that in a little bit.”
This is the reason for their punishment. The team wants to keep the environment free of such “ignorant and repulsive behavior.”
“Such ignorant and repulsive behavior is not tolerated at Wrigley Field. We are reviewing the incident thoroughly because no one should be subjected to this type of offensive behavior,” Kenney said in a statement.
Glanville, a former MLB player, said he appreciated the Cubs’ response.
“I applaud the responsiveness of both the Chicago Cubs organization and NBC Sports in investigating this matter. They have reached out to me and are supportive of my role in the broadcast and continue to have a desire to uphold an inclusive environment at Wrigley Field. They have displayed sensitivity as to how the implications of this would affect me as a person of color.”
