Posted on 08/24/2004 2:47:15 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
Tony Kornheiser, of ESPN and the Washington Post, is a self-confessed liberal.
But on Pardon the Interruption, the TV sports talk show he co-hosts on ESPN, the balding Long Island native just struck a blow against political correctness.
He said that it was newsworthy that in winning the Olympic 400 meter race, Jeremy Wariner became the first white American to win a sprint race at the Olympics since 1964. He added that when a black person wins a bobsled race, or a Chinese guy becomes a star in the NBA, that is discussed, but somehow it is taboo to mention Wariner's race.
Kornheiser's co-host Dan LeBatard (sitting in for regular co-host Mike Wilbon, who is black, and whose take on the issue would have been interesting) agreed with Kornheiser. He said that race is the most incendiary issue in America and that people are very hesitant to touch it.
I can't recall if it was LeBatard or Kornheiser, but one of them said that Matt Lauer of the Today Show blew it this morning when he interviewed the three Americans in the race (who finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd) and didn't raise the issue.
White Men Can't Run Fast bump
I don't know that this represents any kind of anti-PC trend, though. Remember, Kornheiser is a bit of an idiot.
Wariner attends Baylor University. Here's a link to his team bio page:
http://baylorbears.collegesports.com/sports/c-track/mtt/wariner_jeremy00.html
He might be an idiot, but I thought it took some guts to raise this.
I don't know about that, John Kerry seems to be running pretty fast right now. Away from things.
It didn't occur to me that the guy was white.
How things have changed!
Kornheiser will now be drawn and quartered by the PC establishment for daring to point out a noteworthy fact. RIP.
Kornheiser is a liberal's liberal. Hearing him say this is stunning to say the least.
Congrats to Jeremy Wariner! And thank you for bringing home the gold!
I'm predicting that Kornheiser will not be taken to task. Although it took some guts to say what he said, I think it would be hard to spin this into some kind of racism.
Aww, RDB, you coulda beat him!
Isn't that they way it is supposed to be?
I saw his picture in the paper today and I said to my wife: is this guy white? I cannot believe it. Then we were out shopping and a sports talk show was on in the car and the the host, who is black, said he was white. Thought: the blacks guys must be embarrassed.
Yes and no. Yes, it would be nice for the world to be color blind, but on the other hand, it is newsworthy, and you just know that if the tables had been turned, e.g., a black winning the downhill race at the Winter Olympics, it would be hyped to death.
If you're a member of the KKK and want to enter politics, follow the path paved by Robert Byrd.
Good point.
This is also an accurate assessment of the US basketball team and the teams from the rest of the world. For the most part, our team has been beaten by all-white teams. Just goes to show that the height of your vertical isn't the whole game!
I disagree. I'm sick to death of hearing about "...the first black astronaut..." or "...the first white althlete to..." every time something happens that is outside of the labels that people love to use on other people.
Heaven forgive me for saying this about the Today show....but Matt Lauer did the right thing. Jeremy Wariner's skin color had nothing to to do with getting him to the finish line first...so it should not be an issue at all in the context of athletic competition.
He is representing America, black white everyone. Just because the left is obsessed with race does not mean everyone else should be. Too much emphasis on race. The terrorists do not care what Jeremy Wariner is.
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