Reporter: 'The matter is closed'
Dodgers outfielder Milton Bradley apologized Thursday to a Los Angeles Times reporter he confronted in the clubhouse earlier this week, the newspaper is reporting.
Bradley took exception to questions posed by Times reporter Jason Reid and reportedly called him an "Uncle Tom."
The incident occurred after Bradley's first game back following a five-game suspension assessed for a bottle-throwing tantrum during a victory against Colorado in Los Angeles. The private apology apparently took place before the Cardinals defeated the Dodgers 8-3 in the second game of their NL playoff series.
"Milton and I met in the clubhouse before the game," Reid said in a statement, the Times reported. "He apologized for the slur he directed at me and we resolved to treat each other with respect and professionalism going forward. The matter is closed as far as I'm concerned."
Dwyre said the newspaper would not discipline Reid. Dwyre said they consider the matter concluded, according to the newspaper.
Club spokesman Gary Miereanu said Friday the matter was closed. A day earlier, Rich Levin, a spokesman for the commissioner's office, said Major League Baseball decided not to investigate the matter.
"My initial reaction is that this does not rise to the level of disciplining Milton,'' Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said late Thursday in St. Louis. "Having said that, I don't condone him or anybody being disrespectful to somebody else by name-calling of any kind.''
Several fans booed Bradley in each of his four plate appearances on Tuesday, when the Cardinals beat the Dodgers 8-3 in the opener of their best-of-five NL playoff series.
Reid asked Bradley on Wednesday about his treatment by St. Louis fans.
Bradley, speaking to Los Angeles' KCBS-TV on Wednesday, claimed Reid kept pushing the issue.
"He was just one of those guys who wants to keep harping on it," Bradley said. "I told him what I felt about the situation and I told him how I felt about how he was choosing to handle it."
Bradley said Reid "took offense to that and ... started getting physical with me" before being restrained as he was walking away "to leave the situation alone."
According to eyewitnesses and Reid's tape, Bradley said, "You're an Uncle Tom. You're a sellout."
Reid, who is black, took offense and began yelling at Bradley, who also is black, Dwyre said.
A Fox Sports Net Midwest television crew recorded the confrontation but erased it at the insistence of Dodgers spokesman John Olguin, FSN reporter Brent Stover said.
Bradley last week apologized for throwing the bottle and pledged to seek help for his anger problems. He was suspended for four games after tossing a bag of balls onto the field following an ejection on June 1.
He went 2-for-3 with a home run, double and walk in Thursday's game.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
