Posted on 11/27/2006 1:56:07 PM PST by RedCell
ESPN broadcaster Michael Irvin apologized on Monday for comments last week which said that Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo's athletic ability must be the result of an African-American heritage.
"I do want to apologize for those comments," Irvin said on the Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio. It was on the Patrick show last week that Irvin made the comments on Romo's athleticism.
"They were inappropriate and insensitive. My whole thing, what I always try to do, is give people a first-hand knowledge of what it's like in the locker room and how we as players joke around with one another.
"This is how I joke around with Romo when we're playing basketball … certainly, there's a difference from me the player and me the broadcaster. We may joke around like that in the locker room, and I'm trying to bring them in the locker room.
"I certainly have to know where to draw the line and certainly I needed to draw the line last week and I did not, so I apologize for that."
Irvin told Patrick he was joking. He said the same thing in an interview with USA Today.
"I was joking, as you could tell, saying it then," Irvin said. "I've read it, and when it's been written, it comes off in a different tone. Certainly, we were joking there ... the last thing I want to do is offend anybody."
"Generalizations about heritage are inappropriate even in jest, and what Michael said was wrong," ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys told USA Today. "We have spoken to Michael about it."
Huge (or Hugh, if you prefer) discusion on WEEI right now (streaming audio available) about the hipocrisy going on. http://www.weei.com/home.asp
I forgot to add that there's some question as to why this was left to fester for a week before surfacing and is being buried within ESPN.com. Go figure.
Why ESPN has this drug-addled blowhard on the air is beyond me. Their pregame show with Irvin and Sharpe is unwatchable.
Did he attend John Kerry's Standup School?
I must be missing something here: Tony Romo isn't African-American, is he?
Far less PC stuff goes on in the locker room among the machismo communities of pro athletes. The more attention we pay to this stuff the worse it gets.
I would be surprised if Romo was even mildly offended.
Hey Michael, put down your crack pipe, or your friend's crack pipe, or whatever.
No, Kramer's.
so kramer was joking hell he said it at the laugh factory
Mike - you're the owner of the NFL ping list, I believe. Does this warrant going out?
Reminds me of the praise heaped upon Ted Nugent early on that he's remained extremely proud of his whole life.
As a skinny young guitarist just leaving the stage, a famous old black blues musician (I can't remember which) pulls him aside and says, 'Son if you keep playing like that, you're going to be a ****** when you grow up.'
Irvins words, as inappropriate as they might have be perceived, were intended as endearing praise. Even though Irvin often irks me, I'm not holding this one against him.
Just how brainless does one have to be not to recognize this as a joke? And I can't stand Michael Irvin.
What ever became of the rule Sticks and Stones my break my bones but words will never hurt me
Can't believe this is still an issue.
I think it's true and have no problem with the statement from Irvin. It doesn't offend me at all.
Yawn. The pundits must have too much time on their hands.
Hadn't heard this line before, but I think it's kind of funny. Not a big deal. Incidentallly, I believe that Romo is Mexican. I'm surprised there haven't been any feeble cracks at illegals vis-a-vis him.
If Michael had any Caucasian-American in his background he'd already be fired
The double standard bothers me more than what he said. A white guy saying a black QB has to be white to play the game that smart would be gone instantly.
This a-hole is junkie racist moron. Exactly how does ESPN put on an announcer that can't speak the english language??? This guy has rubber lips and mouthful of marbles. Patrick ought to be ashamed of inviting him on! I can't believe anyone could even understand what he said!
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