Bob Costas offers wager to his gun critics

Politico ^ | 04/03/2014 | By TAL KOPAN

[SeekAndFind]

Sports broadcaster Bob Costas is not backing down in the face of criticism for his outspoken advocacy of gun control. In fact, he’s challenging his critics to a bet.

Costas was asked about the controversial political positions he has taken on the air, including gun control, in an interview with “Late Night” host Seth Meyers, and said it’s very much an issue in sports that deserves to be talked about.

“Here’s what I would say to anybody who any time they hear the word guns automatically goes off, like, ‘Oh, they’re going to repeal the Second Amendment,’” Costas said. “Let’s make a bet, you and me. Let’s say over the next five years we’ll do a Google search. We’ll have an independent party monitor it. You keep track of how many good and constructive things are associated with athletes having a gun, and I’ll keep track of all the tragedies and criminality and folly. And let’s see who comes out ahead or behind as the case may be.”

Costas said regardless of Americans’ positions on gun control generally, it’s undeniable that sports has a “gun culture.”

[chrisser]

I think Bob would have a point if he were advocating for guns to be banned for all athletes.

But that’s not what he’s advocating.

[RandallFlagg]

"You keep track of how many good and constructive things are associated with athletes having a gun, and I’ll keep track of all the tragedies and criminality and folly. And let’s see who comes out ahead or behind as the case may be.”

The fact that he automatically skews that bet in his favor by ONLY tracking athletes instead of ALL Americans is quite telling.

[Jagdgewehr]

You keep track of how many good and constructive things are associated with athletes having a gun...

He knows he already lost the bet going in unless he adds quantifiers or constraints that were not a part of his original rant.

[NFHale]

Hey Costas

You stick to your Pinkeye and sportscasting, and we’ll stick to our guns.

[PATRIOT1876]

How many MILLIONS, billions(?) have not been killed because a good guy has a gun and the bad guys are afraid to attack.

Keeping Socialism any should be worth at least 10 billion lives saved by the knowledge that good people have guns since it was puked out of the mind of Karl Marx.

[G Larry]

Hey Bob!

Are you a Gun Runner?!?!

Cuz, ya know, the last guy who tried banning guns....ya know, that Democrat California State Senator....

[Blood of Tyrants]

No bet. The media hardly ever reports when anyone uses a gun in self defense but reports practically EVERY assault and murder with a gun.

[Obadiah]

What the heck point is this guy trying to make? That there are fewer favorable sports stories about guns? What the ...?

Gee, with guys like Botox-Bob Costas creating the sports stories is there any wonder why he makes such a chest-thumping though completely specious bet?

[Sarah Barracuda]

Hey Bob Costas, here’s a wager for you..since you hate guns so much, how about you get rid of your armed security detail, have them walk around with bananas instead..see how you want the rest of us to live and see how you like it

[old and tired]

I think he’s inviting the athletes to come forward and tell their stories. I think they should.

[dmet]

I agree with Costas. BUT only because he used the word athlete.
Athletes are not usually the victims of strong arm attack. It is me, the worn out 70 year old, and most other men and women that dont have the physical strength to deter an attacker. Athletes have entourages and bodyguards and physical abilities to make it an even fight. He is right,they dont need a gun.

And then think about the unmeasurable “deterrent”. How you measure that Costas???

[thorvaldr]

Sports does not have a “gun culture” sports has a “gangsta thug” culture. Call me when some IDPA stars get in trouble with the law.

[dragnet2]

No, lumberhead....Lets keep track of the number of people who protect and defend themselves, their families and others, against criminals such as sports figures, who kill themselves and their friends/wives etc.

Bet??

[fortheDeclaration]

And what does that have to do with the 2nd Amendment?

[irishjuggler]

“Let’s make a bet, you and me. Let’s say over the next five years we’ll do a Google search. We’ll have an independent party monitor it. You keep track of how many good and constructive things are associated with athletes having a gun, and I’ll keep track of all the tragedies and criminality and folly. And let’s see who comes out ahead or behind as the case may be.”

Wow, I never realized just how stupid B. Costas is. How could even the most demented liberal think that what Costas is proposing here amounts to any sort of a 'fair' wager? The ownership and use of firearms in a lawful manner by individuals, including professional athletes, is in itself, non-newsworthy. Even ignoring the whole issue of media bias, news stories under any circumstances are going to be heavily tilted in favor of tragedy and criminality.

[skeeter]

Heres a better wager - Bob can keep track of all the bad gun things he reads in the state run MSM and I’ll continue to not give a sh*t what he says.

[hadaclueonce]

It was Crazy Bob that had to point out the gymnast in the last Olympics was “African American.”

Gee, Bob, you would be great for radio.

[dragnet2]

Lets keep track of those how defend themselves, families and others against criminals, as opposed to sports figures who commit crimes with guns.

What an idiot...

[wideawake]

You can keep track of all the times someone isn't attacked? Isn't mugged? Isn't killed?

When was the last time you saw a news article that read:

"Would-be mugger Sebastian Braithwaite said that he was ready to 'run up on' famous running back Aleister Urquhart-Graeme and 'snatch them Cuban links' but remembered that a friend had told him that Urquhart-Graeme was known to carry a Sig Sauer P226. Braithwaite decided not to accost Urquhart-Graeme in the club parking lot, but went inside and had a Hautes-Côtes de Beaune instead."

[hadaclueonce]

No one would have to look at your self induced Pink Eye.