Giants Manager Calls Radio Host's 'Illegal Alien' Comment 'Racist'‏

Illegal aliens are a race?

America's favorite past-time is once again getting thrown into the political hardball debate over immigration. Giants manager Bruce Bochy has criticized a nationally syndicated radio host for what he says is a "racist" comment about San Francisco reliever Ramon Ramírez.

Radio host Tony Bruno referred to Ramírez as an "illegal alien." He also called Bochy a "coward" in a Twitter post following Friday night's benches-clearing brawl between the Phillies and Giants.

Ramírez is from the Dominican Republic. He has declined to discuss the brawl but said Sunday he is in the U.S. legally and wouldn't be able to work in the major leagues otherwise.

Bruno's show is broadcast on local station KNBR 1050 AM. He later deleted his tweet and apologized on his Facebook page.

Bruno explains that his post was more about the concept of baseball's "unwritten rules." "What I posted was reaction to something that goes beyond Giants-Phillies rivalry baseball. Managers who order a pitcher to throw at someone to "send a message" for whatever the infraction, is an act of cowardice," he wrote in the letter.

"Since when did "illegal alien" become a obscene swear word? It is Not offensive to say or to hear but IS an insult to anyone who has a right to be in the U.S....You don't [owe] anyone an apology except Mr. Ramirez," Matthew Beggs posted on Bruno's Facebook.

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