Houston Columnist Criticized Over Carlos Gomez Quote
By Ty Duffy
Houston Chronicle columnist Brian T. Smith wrote a column about Houston Astros centerfielder Carlos Gomez’ poor start. He included the following direct quote from Gomez.
"“For the last year and this year, I not really do much for this team. The fans be angry. They be disappointed,” said Gomez as he roamed center field against the team with which he spent 2008-09."
Gomez, a Dominican, speaks English as a second language. Some felt Smith’s use of his incorrect grammar read as exploitative, especially in a column ripping him. Gomez shared that assessment.
This seems to be more ignorance than malice on Smith’s part. MLB sought to address these sorts of situations this season by providing translators for Latin American players.
While accuracy is a concern for a journalist, so is fairness to those covered, whatever their ethnicity. Smith easily could have paraphrased that or used brackets to get Gomez’s meaning across.