Posted on 06/09/2005 6:34:51 PM PDT by LouAvul
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The San Francisco 49ers are teaming up with the city's Human Rights Commission to improve their diversity and anti-harassment training in response to the release of an offensive video made by the team's former public relations director.
The 15-minute film provided anonymously last week to the San Francisco Chronicle features racist jokes, lesbian soft-porn and topless blondes - and even former PR director Kirk Reynolds impersonating San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom officiating at a mock lesbian wedding.
"While we believed that we had a good diversity awareness program that reached each and every person in this organization, we understand now that this is clearly not the case," team owners John and Denise York said in a statement Thursday. "We will work closely with the city's Human Rights Commission to develop and establish new diversity and sensitivity awareness programs and protocols incorporating creative, meaningful and alternative training methods. These methods will be tailored for the unique dynamics of a professional football team."
Reynolds, who resigned last week, said he made the video to coach players on handling media questions in diverse San Francisco - and never meant it for public consumption.
But the public airing of the film - as well as a similar one from 2003 shown by television station KRON earlier this week - prompted intense criticism from Newsom and leaders of some of the minority communities mocked in the video.
Thursday's announcement came a day after the Yorks and other team officials met with city leaders to discuss how to deal with the controversy.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
I see the Niners are headed towards another 2-14 season.
They'll be the first to throw you in a slave labor camp for looking less than liberal.
This dude got zotted.
How come N. California has two NFL teams and S. California has none. Not that I'm much of a football fan anyway...
l.a.'s 2 professional teams went away, and nobody compained!
how come? for one thing, nothing's blacked out; you can watch all the pro football you want.
Based on SF and Oakland's win-loss records last year, I'd say California doesn't have ANY pro football teams. USC and Cal had all the football talent in the state.
They sound like perfectly normal men to me. Not a "dandy lion" amongst them, but I must reserve my thoughts till I see the video.
Popcorn, sodas, rewind at the ready!
San Diego Chargers.
This is a joke...right?
Are you kidding me?
Are white males eligible for this job?
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