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TORONTO (AP)—Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios(notes) apologized Friday after he was caught on video yelling profanities at a fan.

The incident, which was posted on YouTube, happened Thursday night as Rios was leaving a gala dinner for the Blue Jays’ charity.

Rios is seen walking to his car along with a woman after the event when he appears to ignore an autograph request from a young fan. An older man yells at Rios, saying “The way you played today Alex, you should be lucky somebody wants your autograph.”

Rios responds with a profanity, then swears again after the fan calls him “a bum.”

Rios struck out five times in five at-bats in a 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. He matched a club record by striking out in seven consecutive at-bats and is 0 for his last 10.

GenshiYagyu wrote:I'm a Tigers fan. I came in here assuming people would be in line with the media's perspective that Rios went on some tirade. I'm glad you're all more level headed than that. I don't have any sort of affinity toward Alex Rios, but he is being mischaracterized here (or correctly characterized on the wrong basis).

But yeah, not knowing anything about Rios' personality, he was the 2nd most culpable person in the video. Was the "You're a bum!" guy also seeking autographs? Because he seems like one of those types who has a table at a convention. I think he's just trying to use the kid as guilt bait to get Alex to sign his autograph.

What's with people wanting autographs, anyway? If you want to meet a baseball player because you respect him, shake his hand, or say hello. That's quicker for both of you and the athlete doesn't end up with an indentation on his middle finger. An illegible name on paper. What's the intrigue? Even when I was a kid, I got Steve Smith's autograph at elementary school. He's a great basketball player, local "hero", and I respect him, but the autograph just got shoved in a drawer. It's something I'll never understand.

"Don't forget where you came from!"

Anyone notice that ambiguous line thrown in there? It could mean, "Don't forget you used to be normal autograph-lusting folk like us", or it could have had racial overtones. I hope it's the former.

Lastly, I like the kid's attempt at adding his own insult to the mix. "You're batting average...." Yeah, think it out in your head before you say it, kid.

Again, I'm not saying Rios is not a pompous jerk, as has been intimated in this thread, I'm just saying this video isn't necessarily evidence of it, and it speaks more to the "you're a bum!" guy than Rios.

GswStorm3 wrote:Thank god Sabean wasn't dumb enough to trade Lincecum for him. How immature can he be for responding to that guy and treating that kid like crap.

Mustard_Tiger wrote:I don't blame Rios for doing what anybody else would have done (especially with the guy throwing out slightly racist barbs). I also don't think his words are anything that most kids wouldn't hear on a playground every day.