Hunter: Black Latino players are 'impostors'

Los Angeles Angels center fielder Torii Hunter insists he meant no harm toward Latino players when he referred to them as "impostors" while discussing the number of blacks in the major leagues.

Hunter's original comments were made two weeks ago in one of a series of USA Today roundtables about baseball and were published in Wednesday's editions.

"What troubles me most was the word 'impostors' appearing in reference to Latin American players not being black players. It was the wrong word choice, and it definitely doesn't accurately reflect how I feel and who I am," Hunter posted on his Angels-sponsored blog Wednesday afternoon.

"What I meant was they're not black players; they're Latin American players. There is a difference culturally. But on the field, we're all brothers, no matter where we come from, and that's something I've always taken pride in."

USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the article's author, said he spoke by phone with Hunter for 30 minutes after Hunter's blog update was posted.

"He said: 'I'm not going to apologize. I told the truth. I'm sorry if I used the wrong choice of words, but impostor is not a racist word,'" Nightengale said. "He's more upset by the reaction to the story."

In the report, Hunter was quoted as saying: "People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African-American. They're not us. They're impostors. ...

"As African-American players, we have a theory that baseball can go get an imitator and pass them off as us. It's like they had to get some kind of dark faces, so they go to the Dominican or Venezuela because you can get them cheaper. It's like, 'Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago and have Scott Boras represent him and pay him $5 million when you can get a Dominican guy for a bag of chips?' ... I'm telling you, it's sad," he said.

CUBS: GM Jim Hendry said Milton Bradley should stop blaming the team, manager and fans for his failure to produce during his tumultuous season in Chicago.

"I think it's time maybe Milton looked himself in the mirror," an agitated Hendry said Wednesday in response to Bradley's latest charges that he was mistreated by the Cubs.

"He just didn't swing the bat," Hendry said. "He didn't get the job done."

RED SOX: Nomar Garciaparra rejoined the team for one day and then retired, ending a 14-year career in which he won two batting titles with Boston and became a beloved player in the city.

The shortstop signed a one-day contract with his former team Wednesday before announcing he's leaving baseball at 36 to become an ESPN analyst.

Garciaparra was a six-time All-Star who captured the 1997 AL Rookie of the Year Award and won batting crowns in 1999 and 2000