During the broadcast of the Minnesota vs. Ohio State college football game last weekend, ESPN analyst Bob Griese put his foot in his mouth. While promoting an upcoming NASCAR event, a graphic was shown listing the drivers. When Griese's fellow broadcast Chris Spielman questioned why NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya wasn't on the list, Griese replied that he was "out having a taco."
Oops! ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz has announced that Bob Griese has been suspended for a week. Griese has apologized for the ill-attempt at humor. Krulewitz revealed that ESPN had spoken to Griese and "he understands the comment was inappropriate."
It was inappropriate, but you know what, sports guys do it a lot. I remember on Monday Night Football in 1983 when Howard Cosell referred to Washington Redskins' Alvin Garrett as a little monkey. Garrett was an African-American player and what Cosell meant as a compliment, "look at that little money run," was inappropriate. That's but one example.
I was listening to a sports radio deejay yesterday who claimed that Griese should have known better. That he should have used a different line because Montoya is Colombian, not Mexican, and the taco bit was wrong.
Yes, you see, the deejay -- Orlando Alzugaray, who's from Cuba and work on WQAM-560 in Miami -- wasn't offended by the remark, just that he had the wrong food product. He thought if Griese had said "he was out having an arepa" there wouldn't be a problem.
Griese is an experienced broadcaster and a smart guy. He's also a Hall of Fame NFL player, who was on two Super Bowl champion teams including the 17-0 Miami Dolphins, the only perfect team. Alas, Griese is not the perfect ESPN broadcaster. He screwed up by trying to be funny.
For his part, Montoya has not commented on the joke, but he did say he's never heard of Griese. Snap!
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. on 'Faces of America' and the Beer Summit
Six Reasons Why '24' Has Jumped the You-Know-What
The Super Bowl Commercials: The Best
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-28-2009 @ 1:17PM
Carol said...
This is beyond stupid. All the venom that is spewed by these idiot politicians but we must be "politially correct" and not offend anyone when commentating a sporting event. I don't think Bob Griese did one thing to apologize for and probably should not have apologized. Somebody is going to have to draw a line in the sand and say enough is enough. A congressman can call someone he disagrees with a "w----" and not even get a reprimand and only apologize when he is forced to and Bob Griese can make a silly joke(which really wasn't even very funny) and he gets suspended for a week. This country is upsidedown and sideways. Common sense, please come back!
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 1:37PM
Wii60 said...
Seems like a little much...
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 1:40PM
Butters said...
Is it possible that Griese had some inside information and that Montoya was, in fact, eating a Taco at that exact moment?
Didn't think of that now did you?
:)
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 1:52PM
Prateek S. said...
was it a racist comment, no. But it was just dumb ignorant ethnic joke, that belongs in a middle school at not on a sports broadcast.
I'm tired of the "ill attempt at humor" defense you are a broadcaster, stick to broadcasting. If I want a joke I'll watch a comedian, not sports broadcast. And yes I know broadcasting greats like Cosell used to tell jokes but frankly he'll be remembered for his commentating not those dumb jokes. I agree that pc is taken too far in this country. But if you're a broadcaster/journalist or a public official you should be held to a higher standard than a comedian,singer,actor, etc..
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 2:07PM
Patricia said...
neither racist remarks nor ignorant ethnic jokes belong in middle schools or anywhere else for that matter. Good for you Juan Pablo for showing that you are the better man by not even acknowledging this man's existence.
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 3:13PM
C said...
Why don't you get off your high horse, Patricia? You have no reason or knowledge to accuse Bob Griese of being a racist. "Racist" is the new description for "I don't like what you believe" all the while true racism is being dumbed down because of stupid little jokes like this. As I said before, where is common sense in this country - gone down the drain!
10-28-2009 @ 2:13PM
Griese said...
"He had Griese hair, a Griese Smile and he said lord this must be my destination" John Cougar
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 2:37PM
Jay said...
I don't know how Bob Griese talks during these shows. I remember an interview with him during a Monday Night Football in which it was Brian Griese's rookie debut in Denver. He sounded like a really nice, wholesome talking guy, and not a smartalleck jerk.
There's a difference between Andy Griffith saying "he was out eating a taco" and Bill O'Reilly saying "he was out eating a taco."
It's all in the pronunciation of the vowels.
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 10:40PM
Patricia said...
Now that i think of it. I don't need to see this man's face twice to realize that he is a racist. It is a shame to see how Americans live in such denial.
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 5:53PM
George P. Graham said...
I am replying to any and everyone who is so embarrassed by the food they eat that they feel it is racist to refer to it. If someone said I was out eating pork chops I wouldn't be offended. I guess too many people are ashamed of their heritage. I eat turkey on Thanksgiving and ham on Easter. Am I anti Jewish because I eat ham? I think not.
10-29-2009 @ 1:36AM
jrd said...
"I don't need to see this man's face twice to realize that he is a racist.""
?!?
10-28-2009 @ 4:20PM
Pingles said...
While not particularly venomous it WAS a racist comment.
He heard a hispanic name and said he was getting a taco. For all he knows this guy is from Sweden but with a hispanic last name but he went for the cheap joke.
I think the punishment fit the crime. It was just a silly, not particularly mean but racist comment and a slap on the wrist was appropriate.
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 8:27PM
Jim said...
Hispanic is an ethnicity, not a race. Therefore it was an ethnic remark. But I guess that's not as charged a word as being able to refer to him as a racist. Can we all lighten up a little.
10-28-2009 @ 4:23PM
Laughs said...
The pussification of America (and the world) continues.
Thanks a lot, liberals.
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 7:13PM
Jimmy said...
Montoya isn't even Mexican.
Are tacos popular in Colombia?
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 7:15PM
Jimmy said...
Sorry. I skipped the jump and went right to the comments.
10-28-2009 @ 7:13PM
Will said...
Get over it ...
What do you think these guys on the field are saying to the other team ... It's crude and rude. College and Pro.
Griese is a true gentleman, I've heard him speak, and he is a valuable asset to ESPN.
Some of the other ESPN talking heads could take lessons from Bob, in analysis and understanding the job of announcing. I hope ESPN gets the message that he's the best of the stable they're fielding.
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 7:47PM
JR said...
The only reason people are saying that this isn't a big deal is because the person who he was making "a little joke" about is of Hispanic heritage or presumed to be Mexican by Griese or others.
If it had been said that an African player was out eating watermelon or fried chicken the reaction would be a lot different and people would be more offended by it. It's the same type of comment, only difference is the group of people being targeted. And to say that being offended makes people them ashamed of their culture or what they eat is completely missing the point.
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 9:08PM
GL said...
Griese is not a valuable asset to ESPN. He's an average analyst, at best, and he's boring as hell to listen to.
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 10:58PM
Patricia said...
JR....
You couldn't have said it better. thank you!
Reply