September 17, 2012, Yunel Escobar took the field for what should have been a meaningless game between two non-playoff clubs, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston RedSox. The storyline that came out of this matchup, one perpetrated by Escobar, can only be described as idiotic.

What Escobar did was use the black stickers under eyes, that are supposed to be used to cut down on the sun’s glare, to extend his own personal greeting to all those watching the game. Now for those of you who have seen Escobar play in the past, and aren’t just Googling him for the first time, he often writes things in his eye black. Only on this occasion he wrote “Tu Ere Marican.” This little gem translates to “You are a fa**ot.”

Well, in conjunction with one another; MLB and the Toronto Blue Jays have suspended the Cuban short-stop for three games without pay. Some feel this punishment doesn’t fit the crime. In other cases where athletes have spewed racial slurs, they have come in the heat of a game or arguing with an umpire. Not that there is any excuse for any situation letting fly with the ol’ fag bomb.

This case is different as the actions were premeditated by Yunel; this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment, I-got-caught-up-in-a-fit-of-anger situation. Escobar purposefully wrote this homophobic slur on his eye black and then took the field as a representative of the City of Toronto and of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Escobar held a press conference and, with the help of an interpreter, stated the following: that the comments were not directed towards anyone in particular and that the words were without meaning. Escobar went on to say that he has nothing against homosexuals as his home decorator and his hair stylist are gay. Just because you hire gays, Yunel, doesn’t let you sling around the fa**ot slur!

In the real world these words have meaning. If a man were to approach you and state to your face “You are a fa**ot,” that is guy speak for “It’s go time.” Ring the bell and prepare to throw down ‘cause those are fighting words. I don’t care what country you are from or what language you speak.

Now this isn’t the first time we have seen a player make such comments. Good old Ozzie Guillen once called a Chicago-based sports-radio personality a fag. At the time, this comment did not earn Guillen a suspension from MLB, nor was an apology even issued.

Guillen backed off the comment by saying that he has gay friends, he attends WNBA games and even went to a Madonna concert. Oh well then. Thanks, Ozzie, you didn’t say you were a Madonna fan, you are excused. Yunel Escobar tried to play the same card Ozzie Guillen pulled out in 2006. He stated that the term is not derogatory; it is meant to question courage not sexual orientation. Really? Then why did you defend yourself by declaring you associate with gays; why not tell us that you hang around with brave people?

Look, this incident isn’t on the same scale as say a Marge Schott circa 1992, or even a John Rocker of 2000, in that infamous Sports Illustrated article. But Schott was suspended for years and ultimately was forced to sell the Reds; John Rocker was suspended for all of the spring training and 14 regular season games.

The punishment for Escobar is not severe enough. MLB and the Toronto Blue Jays should have gotten together and suspended Yunel Escobar for the remainder of the season. His forfeited salary should be donated, and Escobar should consider himself lucky if he gets to wear the Blue Jays uniform again next season.