MrRant 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 CLEVELAND -- Indians minor leaguer Kazuhito Tadano is asking for forgiveness for what he called a one-time mistake -- his appearance in a gay porn video in which he engaged in a homosexual act. Tadano took part in the video three years ago when he was a college student. Sitting in the Cleveland clubhouse Tuesday, the pitcher said he hoped to put his actions in the past. "All of us have made mistakes in our lives," Tadano said, reading a statement in English. "Hopefully, you learn from them and move on." Shunned by Japanese baseball teams, the 23-year-old Tadano signed with the Indians last March. They think he can make their club this spring. Tadano gave few details about the video, which he made after his sophomore year at Rikkyo University. "I did participate in a video and I regret it very much," he said. "It was a one-time incident that showed bad judgment and will never be repeated. I was young, playing baseball, and going to college and my teammates and I needed money. "Frankly, if I were more mature and had really thought about the implications of what I did, it never would have happened." Through an interpreter, Tadano added: "I'm not gay. I'd like to clear that fact up right now." Tadano's admission will certainly draw attention to homosexuality in baseball, a sensitive issue that most players prefer to not even discuss. There are no openly gay players in the big leagues today. The same is true in the NFL, NHL and NBA. Tadano was one of Japan's top college pitchers and expected to be a high first-round pick in 2002. But after a Japanese tabloid published photos of him in the video a month before the draft, pro teams in Japan did not select him. "The commissioner of Japanese baseball came out and said, 'You will not draft Tadano,''' asserted the pitcher's agent, Alan Nero. "But this kid didn't assault anybody. He didn't commit murder. If anything, he is guilty of being naive." Twice in the minor leagues last season, Tadano stood before his teammates and confessed to his participation in the video, which Nero said can only be obtained on the black market in Japan. Tadano received overwhelming support from players at Kinston, N.C., where he started the season and later at Akron, the Indians' Double-A affiliate. "I wanted to tell the truth to my teammates," he said. A former starter, he pitched in all three levels of the minors last season, going 6-2 with a 1.55 ERA and three saves. At Akron, he didn't allow a run in his first 28 innings and struck out 78 in 72 2-3 innings. Outfielder Grady Sizemore said Tadano's speech last year was well received in the clubhouse. "You could tell he was nervous," said Sizemore, a top prospect who lived with Tadano this winter. "But I don't think it changed anybody's opinion of him. After it was said and done, nobody thought anything more of it. He's a great guy and a great pitcher." If he pitches well during spring training, Tadano could win a spot in Cleveland's bullpen. Whenever he joins the Indians, pitcher C.C. Sabathia says Tadano will be welcomed. "This is the right team and the right organization for him," Sabathia said. "We have good guys here. Everybody has done something that they regret in their lives. He's a person just like everyone else." Tadano tried out for several major league teams last spring in Arizona. Coming off an elbow injury, he didn't get any offers. Nero said some teams were turned off by what he called "the scandal." "He didn't pitch well enough for them to ignore it," Nero said. "I also think they were afraid of the baggage that would come with it." Not the Indians. They liked Tadano enough to invite him to work out at their spring training facility in Winter Haven, Fla. Eventually, they signed him to a minor league contract that included a $67,500 bonus. General manager Mark Shapiro said the team decided to sign Tadano despite knowing there could be backlash. "We thought the upside was well worth the risk, energy and time to support him," Shapiro said. Tadano knows he may face fan abuse in major league parks such as Yankee Stadium, where heckling the visitors is part of the pageantry. He joked that he's ready for it. "I don't understand English, so it doesn't really matter," he said. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1720362 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Must be a slow news day at ESPN. I remember this story making the rounds some time ago. Reports that Mike Piazza is angling for a trade are unconfirmed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Who does he want to go to? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted January 28, 2004 well I got the joke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Well at least we know he's a pitcher. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Who does he want to go to? The Indians. There have been persistant, completely unsubstantiated rumors that Piazza is gay, stemming from comments Bobby Valentine made concerning the acceptance of possible gay players in the major leagues. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 well I got the joke Make that two of us. So I wonder now if the PC ESPN anchors will accuse fans that boo this guy of committing a hate crime... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted January 28, 2004 well I got the joke Make that two of us. So I wonder now if the PC ESPN anchors will accuse fans that boo this guy of committing a hate crime... Mr. Tom Jackson, is it ok for gay people to play QB? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 And to think we just had a topic about Paris Hilton and Julis Erving. I think this tops that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Well at least we know he's a pitcher. That's definitely worth a pizza trophy, man. Nice one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Bottled Black Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Who does he want to go to? The Indians. There have been persistant, completely unsubstantiated rumors that Piazza is gay, stemming from comments Bobby Valentine made concerning the acceptance of possible gay players in the major leagues. I got it also.. A joke like that seriously loses its luster when you have to explain it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Well at least we know he's a pitcher. That's definitely worth a pizza trophy, man. Nice one. The Piazza joke is getting all the press, yet your pitcher joke is twice as funny and more original. I can't believe how much hell this guy is going to go through when the Indians are on the road. All of us classy fans in Boston, and NYC, and Chicago, will have a field day with this story. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DerangedHermit 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Let's get these jokes out of the way: - he's a switch-hitter - he plays for both teams - has a good eye for spotting balls Another article really did say "Pitchers and catchers must report by February 26." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HarleyQuinn 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 He's probably mastered the art of changing speeds as well Couldn't resist it. Anybody know if he's any good? Has he pitched prior or did he get ousted from the Japanese teams before he could even play? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldSchoolWrestling 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 He's probably mastered the art of changing speeds as well Couldn't resist it. Anybody know if he's any good? Has he pitched prior or did he get ousted from the Japanese teams before he could even play? A former starter, he pitched in all three levels of the minors last season, going 6-2 with a 1.55 ERA and three saves. At Akron, he didn't allow a run in his first 28 innings and struck out 78 in 72 2/3 innings. from cbs.sportsline.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted January 28, 2004 What I want to know is why the hell is he apologizing? He doesn't owe anyone an apology over something legal he did while in college. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldSchoolWrestling 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Making even a straight porno would be considered embarrassing to family, the owners and the community. A gay porn makes it worse. A regular porn would probably make him famous with the boys in the lockerroom and some male fans, but for the most part it doesn't look good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted January 28, 2004 He still doesn't owe anyone an public apology. He's done nothing to the community, so they don't deserve an apology. No one should have to apology over something legal they did in college. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HarleyQuinn 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Making even a straight porno would be considered embarrassing to family, the owners and the community. A gay porn makes it worse. A regular porn would probably make him famous with the boys in the lockerroom and some male fans, but for the most part it doesn't look good. While it may be immoral to some, they don't need to have this guy apologize for something he did while in college just because they don't agree with it. It's stupid and immoral but no way does it deserve an apology just because it embarasses everybody else. The only people he should apologize to is his family and even then, he doesn't NEED to do that. You might do something that is IMO immoral and stupid but I'm not going to go up to you and demand an apology because it makes me feel uncomfortable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jimbo Report post Posted January 29, 2004 Um, what would he NEED to aplogize for anyway? Being Gay or having Gay sex? Yeah, that'll fly...yeesh, I can practically hear the protesters banging on my door for even suggesting something like that now... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted January 29, 2004 I believe that this falls under the same category that the newswoman stripping for a wet t-shirt contest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lomasmoney 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2004 is this guy actually openly gay, bi, or a straight guy who needed to earn money, because i know Peter North, yes that Peter North, started out in gay porn, and well he gets more ass that i ever will Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mindless_Aggression Report post Posted January 29, 2004 He's straight and supposedly did it for the money. I saw it more as the Indians defusing a bomb before the news got over here. Not making the guy apologizing for being in porn. It just seemed like an excuse to reveal it to the world before some outside source did. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Markme123 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2004 "But I'm not gay" Yeah right. *looks at classifies* "'Looking for someone to star in gay porn.' I'm straight, but I'm willing to stick anything in my cornhole for cash. " Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drury37 0 Report post Posted January 30, 2004 Through an interpreter, Tadano added: "I'm not gay. I'd like to clear that fact up right now." Greatest line ever. Thanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Richard 0 Report post Posted February 3, 2004 I hear he can only drive his car 68 mph. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
