Delmon Young hits home plate -- before 'foul'
Delmon Young hits home plate -- before 'foul'Reuters

Detroit Tigers’ outfielder Delmon Young apologized today during a pre-game interview inside the Detroit Tigers' dugout at Comerica Park for attacking tourists while drunk and hurling anti-Semitic slurs.

"I would like to apologize to everyone that's been affected by this situation that happened in New York," Young said. "I put myself in a bad situation and have no one to blame but myself."

His seven-day suspension, stemming from the April 27 Incident in New York was lifted today (Sunday), but Young is not currently a part of the Tigers' lineup. Manager Jim Leyland said that he is available to pinch-hit and is expected to return to the lineup as the designated hitter Saturday.

Young said that he is undergoing treatment in an alcohol program through the league and that his actions did not accurately reflect his character. "I made a lapse in judgment. But I can tell you that I'm not an anti-Semite," he said.

"I just want to let everybody know that I'm not anti-Semitic," Young reiterated throughout the interview, attempting to convince his audience of the truth in is words. "I wasn't raised that way, came from a good family, and we weren't taught any of that, especially growing up in a diverse area."

"I know for a fact that I wouldn't be sitting here talking in front of you guys if I didn't have too much to drink or didn't drink at all," he continued.

"I hope that, after awhile, that they see that the person that's being portrayed wasn't who I am, and it's not what I stand for," he said. "I know it's going to take a while; I can't smooth this thing over and convince anyone after one speech, but just go out there every day and be a positive influence.”

"I got to go out there as an individual and show the community that what has transpired and what has been said about me is not me. So (it's) going to be up to me to be able to give them an opportunity to have forgiveness," he added.

He said that the worst part of this ordeal has been the hate-crime accusation.

"That's the toughest part, especially because me branded being racist or bigoted, that's not me," he said. "I have a lot of diverse friends, I live in a diverse area, that's just not me or my character."