Posted on 04/30/2005 1:16:18 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
Friday, April 29, 2005 Baseball coach Cochell hasn't been suspended ESPN.com news services
The University of Oklahoma is conducting an investigation after ESPN informed the school of racially-insensitive comments made to the network by OU's head baseball coach Larry Cochell.
Although Cochell remains head coach, assistant coach Sunny Golloway will serve on an interim basis until the matter is resolved, according to a statement released by the school. Golloway coached the Sooners in their 8-1 loss to Nebraska Friday night.
Tuesday, before the telecast of the Oklahoma-Wichita State game on ESPN2 and ESPNU, Cochell used a racially-insensitive term in off-camera interviews with ESPN to describe Sooners freshman outfielder Joe Dunigan, an African-American.
Cochell was speaking with play-by-play announcer Gary Thorne when he called Dunigan over to praise him for staying in school. When the freshman returned to the field, Cochell told Thorne, "There's no n----- in him." The network informed the school that Cochell used similar language in an interview with ESPN analyst Kyle Peterson.
University officials weren't informed of the remarks until 4 p.m. Friday, when they were contacted by ESPN, according to school's statement.
"It is widely known that one of the most important values of the University of Oklahoma and its leadership is to celebrate diversity as a strength," athletic director Joe Castiglione said. "This university is a place where everyone is respected. Clearly, if these comments were made they run contrary to the core values of this institution and we will treat them very seriously."
Cochell, who has been head coach since 1991 and led the Sooners to a College World Series title in 1994, couldn't immediately be reached Friday night for comment.
In a statement released by the university, Cochell apologized for his remarks.
"I am deeply sorry for any pain or embarrassment I have caused for any individual or the university. Our university family is totally committed to equality and mutual respect," he said. "I personally hold those values and will always regret that my careless use of language did not reflect my own values, and it certainly did not reflect the values of the University of Oklahoma."
Cochell was in the dugout Thursday night when Oklahoma beat Nebraska 5-1 in Big 12 Conference play.
He coached at Oral Roberts, where he took the team to seven NCAA regional appearances and a trip to the College World Series in 1978.
It was very wrong for the coach to use such language.
But I was struck by the fact that the coach got into trouble "after ESPN informed the school of racially-insensitive comments" he made.
Aren't journalists usually highly protective of their sources? Yet here, ESPN went out of its way to get a source into trouble. I wonder why?
HA!
So he used the N word---so what? he's human,he goofed.
He probably swears,spits,farts,and scrathes his butt too.
We all slip up once in a while.
From Mears,a thick Mick!
This wasn't a case where the coach was a source. This guy made a comment to a reporter. It was on the record.
Trumped up charges.
good question.
True, he was on the record, but still a source. In any case, are journalists normally in the business of reporting inappropriate comments made by sources, on or off the record, to their employers?
Say what you like about this man, he is incredibly stupid.
Agreed. Frankly, I was shocked that in this day and age someone would say something like that, particularly to a reporter.
It's not like it was his first day on the job. He's a professional, he's being paid as a professional--he should have known better, and I think he did.
what a stupid thing for them to report....
and to add, I think most people think that off-camera means off the record......
If its newsworthy, yes.
I agree that news organizations are in the business of reporting inappropriate comments when they are newsworthy.
But here, ESPN specifically states that it reported the comments to the coach's employer. I don't think that's a common practice for news organizations.
"The coach should resign right after KKK Byrd resigns from the Senate."
I didn't say he should resign, I just said he was stupid. As for "Sheets" Byrd, well, don't ask me to explain that! But old and stupid seems to go a lot further than plain stupid does, most days.
It's amazing what Blacks put up with from the dems though, isn't it?
Aren't journalists usually highly protective of their sources? Yet here, ESPN went out of its way to get a source into trouble. I wonder why?
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Cause they're a bunch of rats. As bad as the racial slur is, ESPN could have exhorted the coach about what he was doing, but now it looks like they're just a bunch of childish tattletales.
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