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Report: Chris Bosio says comment was not directed at Tigers employee

Former Detroit Tigers pitching coach Chris Bosio said he was fired for using the word “monkey” in a conversation that was overheard by an African-American clubhouse attendant, according to a USA Today report.

Bosio said in the report he was talking about Tigers pitcher Daniel Stumpf, who is white.

“Someone in our coaches’ room asked me about Stumpf,’’ Bosio told USA Today on Thursday. “And I said, “Oh, you mean, 'Spider Monkey.' That’s his nickname. He’s a skinny little white kid who makes all of these funny faces when he works out.

“The kid thought we were talking about him.