Baseball coach suspended over racist Facebook rant against Whitney Houston

London, Feb 25 (ANI): A youth baseball coach in Chicago was suspended for using the 'n' word to describe Whitney Houston on his Facebook account.

Known locally as a family man, small business owner John Kelly has been suspended as president of his Westside Baseball club team amid denials that he is racist.

He had used the racially offensive term in a Facebook rant about Houston's death.

"I'm so sick of reading about this dumb stupid N - - - - - Whitney Houston," the Daily Mail quoted his post as saying.

"She's the dumb ass that decided to do drugs n kill herself stay with that woman beater ... she blew more $$ up her nose than most of ye will make in yer lifetime ...

"There are kids dying real fathers n mothers fighting for their lives...grow up ye dumb assess...think she'd give a flying f--- about u???? Just saying," he said.

Terrified for his children's safety following his racist post, Kelly claims he has many black friends.

"I didn't even realise I put it in until after I sent it," the Chicago Sun-Times quoted him as saying.

Kelly said his Facebook page is restricted to friends and family only and a black former player's mother saw the comment and re-posted it on her and the league's page.

"I don't need this drama in my life. It's going to affect me hugely, and my business," he said.

Suspended from coaching for a year, he is unrepentant about the sentiments expressed in his controversial comment.

The tradesman said he was personally appalled that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie lowered flags to half-staff at state buildings on the day of Houston's funeral.

The former youth figurehead said that as a known drug addict Whitney Houston should not be promoted as a role model for kids.

"I do stand behind everything I said except the 'n'-word. I regret using that adjective.

"Does that make me a racist? Are you kidding me? It was the farthest thing from my mind. I have some amazing friends who are black," he said.

The mother who exposed Kelly's rant asked not to be identified publicly.

"John and I had been cordial because our kids are close friends," she said

"He would make implications, post a picture of something, but he never used the n-word.

"If this is the way he talks, what is he thinking when he has a black kid in the field?" she added. (ANI)