You know, being racist is a bad thing, I'm sure we all can agree. But, being racist on live television? Yeah, that's going to get you a little heat.
Sky Sports reporters, when broadcasting the HSBC Champions last week from Shanghai, China, thought they had run into Anthony Kim the night before at the hotel. Yeah, that's fine. Not being sure if it was him because, "all these Chinese people" were around, is not.
Richard Boxall and Bruce Critchley are golf announcers on Sky TV and worked last week's HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, won by Sergio Garcia. But the most jarring moment came when the pair were talking on air about rising American star Anthony Kim.You know, because he's from China and all. Oh, he's not? He's an American born in Los Angeles and went to college at the University of Oklahoma? That can't be good. You can say a lot of things as a reporter and get away with them, but coming off racist because you were being lazy at your job or just ignorant is not acceptable.
"With all these Chinese people around, I'm not sure if I bumped into him [Kim] in the hotel reception last night," Boxall said. "I'm not sure if it was him."
Sports Broadcasting Blunders
"With All These Chinese People Around..."
Richard Boxall was one of two Sky Sports commentators that made racial remarks about golfer Anthony Kim during the HSBC Champions tournament. Click through to see more slip-ups from the broadcasting world.
Warren Little, Getty Images
"Ya know, Hitler was a great leader too."
ESPN College Gameday personality Lou Holtz somehow compared the leadership skills of Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez to Adolf Hitler during a telecast this season.
Joe Raymond, AP
"Please Pick Up My Dry Cleaning Tomorrow"
ESPN personality and Monday Night Football commentator Tony Kornheiser responds to a play broadcast in Spanish with an attempt at a joke translation. He ends up apologizing for his comment.
Paul Sakuma, AP
"You Always Fag Out"
College hoops announcer Billy Packer has upset many with abrasive remarks over the years. For example, he went on the Charlie Rose Show in March 2007 and complained to the host, "you always fag out."
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Bernstein's Palestinian Connection
ESPN reporter Bonnie Bernstein issued a public apology after appearing on a radio broadcast and saying "People in Palestine are taught to think that dying in the name of God is a good thing ... They grow up wanting to be suicide bombers."
Brian Ach, WireImage.com
"... Looks Like the Guy Who Cleans Tiger's Swimming Pool"
NBC Sports golf analyst drew the ire of U.S. Open watchers in June when he said contender Rocco Mediate "looks like the guy who cleans Tiger's swimming pool." Miller apologized for his description, saying it had "absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity."
John Shearer, WireImage.com
"We've Gotta Do This ----ing Thing Over"
The ever-salty Bert Blyleven, pictured here after winning the 1987 World Series, cursed up a storm on live television during a Minnesota Twins pregame show in September 2006.
Getty Images
"Lynch Him in a Back Alley"
Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman gained notoriety during a 2008 PGA Tour telecast when she suggested young golfers might want to take Tiger Woods and "lynch him in a back alley."
Getty Images
Finding Romo's Roots
ESPN analyst On an ESPN radio show in 2006, Michael Irvin said the athletic ability of Cowboys QB Tony Romo is due to his black ancestry, stating, "I don't know who saw what or where, his great-great-great-great-grandma ran over in the 'hood or something went down."
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Broadway Joe Gets Fresh
Jets' legendary quarterback Joe Namath talked about how he is more interested in ESPN sideline reporter Suzy Kolber than his struggling Jets during a 2003 game. During a live interview, Namath says (twice) "I want to kiss you" to Kolber.
Brian Bahr/Getty Images
This obviously takes us back to the Kelly Tilghman incident, when she slipped with the Tiger Woods lynching comment. That got Tilghman suspended and, while it wasn't a huge deal to a lot involved, it was a moment of ignorance in a business that doesn't allow people to be ignorant. Also, we had Bobby Clampett calling a golfer at the Masters this year "the chinaman," which is racially unacceptable.
The worst part of this story is that Critchley didn't stop there. After the Boxall comment, Critchley went on to spit this out.
Not to be outdone, Critchley added his own cringe-worthy moment. After Kim's approach shot landed well past the pin, the British announcer described Kim as wearing a look of "oriental surprise," according to the Irish Independent.Hey guys, I know it's a British broadcast, and people there are a little less offended by stuff like this. But can we try to avoid generalizing a person of Asian ethnicity as a Chinese person?
h/t Waggle Room
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
11-15-2008 @ 3:42PM
Patch said...
Just another reason when watching golf, or any other sport for that matter, to turn the sound off. Also have another channel on "recall" for the commercial breaks. Patch
Reply
11-16-2008 @ 9:24AM
Dewey said...
Get a life; there is nothing raacist about the remark
11-16-2008 @ 1:02PM
Joe said...
Hypersensitive. Just another incident where the media is looking for anything to sell a story.
11-16-2008 @ 11:24AM
john said...
for God's sakes...get a real life...not a thing racist about the remard..btw...China is full of Chineese people...its articles like this that make the average white guy wanna pull your hair out!..not my hair mind you..YOURS!
11-16-2008 @ 11:46AM
Michael said...
It happens every night on the evening news. How many time have you heard, " a black male robbed the local 7/11", a Hispanic female made tacos today"
Everyday on the news, why is this any different.?
11-15-2008 @ 4:55PM
Tom Meason said...
Shane Bacon is a whimp. He's spent too much time with the girls. There is not one thing wrong with what those announcers said and any one who says differently is a vituperetive fool. What's wrong with saying a Chinese guy looks like a Chinese guy or has a look of Oriental surprise? The likes of Bacon gets his kicks by making such pettiness sound offensive and causing divisiviness instead of unity in society. You might say that Bacon is a "hate monger".
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11-16-2008 @ 9:57AM
payday28tco@aol.com said...
First of all he's not Chinese, and just because he may look Chinese doesn't make it o.k to call him Chinese. And all people with Asian descent are not Chinese. When you're broadcasting on T.V you're not just talking to the idiot next to you, you're talking to every one watching and everyone isn't as narrow minded and ignorant as these two broadcasters are. You're president looks African so is America run by an African or an American. I bet I know who you voted for.
11-16-2008 @ 10:22AM
Willy said...
If you're going to use big words to look smart, you'll look a lot smarter if you can actually spell "vituperative" correctly.
11-15-2008 @ 5:27PM
Paskulo said...
Golf is not a sport, and golfers are not athletes.
Reply
11-16-2008 @ 8:42AM
x said...
Athlete or Entertainer, who cares.Golf is one the most watched Entertaining Event when Tiger plays than any main Sports. Golfers are laughing their way to the bank. What is a Sport anyway? What is the defining line between a sport and entertainment? Running, jumping and hitting?
11-17-2008 @ 9:11AM
Bill said...
Then why are you wasting your time reading these posts? No life or looking for fodder?
11-24-2008 @ 5:19AM
JOE said...
Golf is not a sport? Where did you go to school? Is filet migon food?---you are an idiot and your comment has nothing to do with Chinese. By the way, Chinese look like Chinese and Chinese Americans look Chinese too! Black Aficans look like Africans and Afro Americans look like Africans, so what? I bet our new president elect does not think he looks Chinese. That is because Chinese look like Chinese.....No, go away stupid and anyone who agrees with him should go away to. I know you never got past high school....I am positive and that means you do not qualify for the announcers job...DAAA ithere to.ei ss aaft;
11-15-2008 @ 6:51PM
Keither said...
Tom, unless you belong to country club named after Strom Thurmond there's no reasonable justification for making racial generalizations - especially on television.
Reply
11-16-2008 @ 7:16AM
charles said...
"A LOOK OF ORIENTAL SURPRISE..." said by a Brit in his feel of superior stupor.
Reply
11-16-2008 @ 7:17AM
Barack Ziffel said...
People like Shane Bacon are the real racists. He and those like him look for anything they can to accuse others of racism when in truth it is Bacon and his ilk that look to divide accoring to race and ethnicity.
Reply
11-16-2008 @ 7:20AM
Diane said...
It doesn't matter what anyone says anymore it always will come out to be racist..People have their panties on too tight.I am so sick of hearing the race issue every time I turn around.You always have to watch what you say or someones feelings will get hurt.Oh brother...
Reply
11-19-2008 @ 11:59AM
Kos said...
I'm reading a lot of comments from people (mostly white I'm assuming) writing that they are "sick" of hearing about this issue.
If you're so easily "frustrated" and "sick" and want to pull people's hair out just hearing about this issue, how must the people feel to whom these racial comments are directed?
I'm one of these people. I'm Asian American, and I've been hearing ignorance like this my entire life, and frankly, I'm sick and tired of it and want to pull someone's hair out as well.
But I suppose, your frustrations are warranted, and I'm being overly sensitive.
11-16-2008 @ 7:25AM
Al said...
Why did you omit Johnny Miller's derogatory remarks about Rocco Mediate from the story?
Reply
11-16-2008 @ 7:25AM
mary chase said...
gee, why no comment on the sportscaster who said someone with a name like Rocco Mediate should be cleaning Tiger Woods swimming pool?
because certain ethnic groups are still fair game, and others are not.
get used to not being the flavor of the month.
Reply
11-16-2008 @ 7:36AM
ajm33771 said...
that's what happens when you start paying attention to the Moh-Ron sports casters! They do not have enough gray matter (brain) that could be used to stop up the butt on a sugar ant! They Are In Tra-Booo LOL
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