Report: Upton says racial abuse common
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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder B.J. Upton has revealed it is not unusual for him to receive racial abuse from the stands, MLB.com reported Monday.
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Rays manager Joe Maddon had a fan removed from the team's spring training facility in Port Charlotte, Fla., Sunday for allegedly making racist comments to Upton during a game against the Baltimore Orioles, but Upton said it happens quite a lot.
"Yeah, it's not the first time," Upton said. "A lot of the times, it happens when I'm in the outfield of a visiting stadium. Even I've heard it at home, too. I think it was just a situation where everyone heard it [on Sunday].
"Put it this way -- it's not too far-fetched to hear it," he added.
Upton, 26, has played his entire professional career with the Rays since the club drafted him in the 2002 amateur draft.
He said he was grateful for the actions of Maddon and the team Sunday.
"When I got to the dugout, I pretty much saw the whole coaching staff and a couple of players saying something to [the fan]," Upton said. "That's pretty comforting, knowing the coaches, the manager and my teammates have my back."
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Upton said while he felt fans should be entitled to say whatever they want, they often took it too far.
"Some of them definitely take it to the next level," Upton said. "I think they fail to understand we're people like everybody else. I know a lot of us wouldn't go to other people's jobs and say some of the things they say. But they pay their money for the ticket."
Maddon, 57, is entering his sixth season as the Rays' skipper. He has lead the Rays to two AL East titles and one World Series appearance during his tenure.
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