Dutch Speed Skating Coach Slams ‘Foolish’ American Football on CNBC

Newsbusters.org ^ | February 20, 2014 | Sean Long

[Kaslin]

Attacks against football might be okay for some, but not for CNBC host Joe Kernen.

When a Dutch Olympic coach blamed American losses in speed skating on football, Kernen responded by passionately attacking speed skating. The Dutch coach, Jillert Anema claimed that football essentially wastes American athletic talent “in a sport that sucks.”

Joe Kernen responded by saying that he had recently tried to watch speed skating, but was distracted by some paint drying on his wall. Given the choice, he quickly “settled on the paint, just watching the paint dry.”

Anema told CNBC reporter Michelle Caruso-Cabrera that football was “meant to kill each other, to injure each other.” He also suggested that the United States would not be able to win speed skating in the future because Americans are “so narrow-minded.”

Kernen sarcastically asked if the Dutch “have Sunday night speed skating” where they just watch people “go around and around and around.” Perhaps, he mused, the Dutch just didn’t “understand football.”

Kernen is well known for his outspoken conservative views. He and compared him to Bernie Madoff and former Enron executive Ken Lay, calling him a “charlatan” and a “villain.”

Joe Kernan Defends Football

[Paladin2]

Watching vs. Doing.

Which camp do you fall into?

[Milton Miteybad]

Aren't the Dutch some of the people we had to expend blood and treasure in WWII for the express purpose of handing back to them the very sovereignty they were unable to defend themselves?

Why, yes...I believe they were.

On that basis, I believe we can dismiss this lackwit's comments out of hand, with prejudice.

[dhs12345]

“Joe Kernen responded by saying that he had recently tried to watch speed skating, but was distracted by some paint drying on his wall.”

Lol.

[AppyPappy]

I never got interested in skating because I am a heterosexual.

[Dan(9698)]

So - he can change the channel.

[dhs12345]

I was in Germany a couple of years back and the customs lady was getting a little snippy. And then she said something about dumb Americans. I was so tempted to remind her that we kicked her country's arse but I didn't. Probably a wise decision.

[A message]

“Joe Kernen responded by saying that he had recently tried to watch speed skating, but was distracted by some paint drying on his wall.”

Great response.

[dhs12345]

Unless, his wife want to watch figure skating. ;)

[dhs12345]

Exactly. Short, sweet, and to the point. Those are the best comebacks.

[Mastador1]

I never got interested in skating because I am a heterosexual.

Oh I don't know there have been some women figure skaters I could get into, but I'll leave the men to the Dutch.

[CommerceComet]

I’m never in the mood to be lectured by a bunch of European snobs.

[TalBlack]

You might have pointed out to her that the largest ethnic group in America has traditionally been...ah...well GERMANS...

[Dan(9698)]

Go to the other room with a TV.

[VanDeKoik]

I guess it it was winter 1940, the Dutch would have been able to skate away from the Germans?

[AppyPappy]

The women are too skinny.

[Billthedrill]

Kernen sarcastically asked if the Dutch “have Sunday night speed skating” where they just watch people “go around and around and around.”

Americans haven't the slightest interest in sports where they just watch people go around and around and around.

Oh, NASCAR. Never mind.

[cherry]

look....the difference is that in America we WATCH while a few athletes play football or baseball or basketball....

we're a nation of watchers.....can't get a whole lot of Olympic caliber athletes when you have that...

I'm sure if some of these football players trained solely for speed skating or boxing or hockey, we'd win every Olympic medal count....

[dhs12345]

Exactly.

And, yes my ancestors were German.

[dhs12345]

Lol. Exactly.

My wife is a big fan of figure skating and was complaining that men were just not as graceful as the women. And then I reminded her of the gay skaters which there are a high percentage of. They can be rather effeminate. She laughed.