Okay, so this class blog is all about discussing sports related topics right? Well, what happens when other issues became part of the mix?An example of what I'm talking about would be the incident involving Don Imus and the Tennessee/Rutgers women's basketball championship.
After the women's basketball game, Don was conducting an over the phone interview on his morning show, when his input became a little too open for what audiences were ready for. He proceeded to talk about the Rutger's team, and decided it would be okay to call them "Nappy Headed Hoes." This led to a complete media disaster, and he later apologized for his words, and insisted (during the Al Sharpton interview) that at the time, he did not see it as a racist comment, and he wished he had never said it. But as we all know, once its put out there, its out there.
So my question to you is, do you think if a person of color had said the same thing, he have received such scrutiny? Or a better question, what's up with the double standards when it comes to freedom of speech?
When it comes to sports commentating, when do you draw the line?
just a thought.
5 comments:
Good topic - Two posts to answer one of your questions, and comment on another position who stated:
If a person of color had issued the same comments, outside of maybe a fringe feminist group (the comments were more gender based than race based) the ears would have been deaf to it. How could one think otherwise when people of color constantly use the most harsh language to describe their peers at will, and without remorse.
The bottom line is, it was fake outrage. Sharpton, Jackson, and the rest of their ilk, do not protest BET, MTV, or other media avenues when significantly worse language is used. It was fake, they just wanted to find a reason to stay relevant in the Obama era.
As far as the "media disaster" - the media ignored the comments and would have if weren't for a George Soros backed entity called Media Matters.
Media Matters (MM) targets those individuals/celebs that disagree with the quasi socialist agenda of George Soros, then use everything at their disposal to attack them and bring them down.
MM heard and recorded the comments then started sending out press faxes to all media outlets and special interest groups to drum up outrage. When no one cared (probably due to ratings) it applied further pressure on NBC (who is in the tank for MM and the socialist views)and NBC buckled to the threats - then it became the media frenzy.
Otherwise it would have been a non issue, same old Imus, being the same old jerk with declining ratings and trophy wife.
To your your final question in regards to drawing the line on sports commentating:
Most in the sports commentating industry seem to be harder on pro's than amateurs as far as criticism goes.
And, depending on your gender or race the line is drawn a lot closer than other demographic groups.
In the perfect world, nobody would be saying such offensive things anywhere. Not in music, nor the radio, nor in real life or wherever. But being that we live in a quite polluted world w/ much dirt, we must deal.
I don't think what Imus said was that extraordinary or offensive in the context of the talk radio atmosphere. These people constantly make extreme name-calling on various groups. It is part of the whole radio talk show atmosphere. Does that make it right? Not in my book, but quite frankly that is the reality we live in.
So therefore, I think the hype was unnecessary and this could have passed by w/ minor damage. Yet these people wanted to make a big deal about it, which they had every right to since it was directed at them. But for him to get fired, that is rediculous. He has said worse things before and so do his colleagues all the time. If the networks really wanted to do justice, they would have to remove talk radio from the air altogether.
RG totally agree -
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