Gibson accused Gumbel of racism; Hannity misrepresented Gumbel Olympics remarks
SUMMARY: Following Bryant Gumbel's remarks on HBO's Real Sports, in which he stated that the "paucity of blacks" at the Winter Olympics "makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention," John Gibson accused Gumbel of "granting himself the right to be racist just to throw an elbow at Republicans." Additionally, Sean Hannity falsely accused Gumbel of "insinuating" that Republicans are racist.
Following sports broadcaster Bryant Gumbel's remarks on the February 7 edition of HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, in which he stated that the "paucity of blacks" at the Winter Olympics "makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention," Fox News host John Gibson accused Gumbel of "granting himself the right to be racist just to throw an elbow at Republicans." Gibson made his comments on the February 17 edition of Fox News' The Big Story with John Gibson. The following week on Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, co-host Sean Hannity falsely accused Gumbel of "insinuating" that Republicans are racist.
A portion of Gumbel's criticism of the Winter Olympics was rebroadcast on the February 16 edition of CNN's Showbiz Tonight:
GUMBEL: So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world's greatest athletes, despite a paucity of blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention. Try not to point out that something's not really a sport if a pseudo-athlete waits in what's called a "kiss-and-cry area" while some panel of subjective judges decides who won. And try to blot out all logic when announcers and sports writers pretend to care about the luge, the skeleton, the biathlon, and all those other events they don't understand and totally ignore for all but three weeks every four years.
Gibson asserted that in making this statement, Gumbel was "granting himself the right to be racist just to throw an elbow at Republicans."
From the February 17 edition of Fox News' The Big Story with John Gibson:
GIBSON: Now it's time for "My Word." I was thinking about what Bryant Gumbel said. Believe it or not, I don't mean the part about the Winter Olympics being so white it looks like a GOP convention. That was only Bryant granting himself the right to be racist just to throw an elbow at Republicans. Yeah, we know, Bryant, you're lib. Fine. We get it.
Additionally, Hannity falsely accused Gumbel of "insinuating that a group of people" -- specifically Republicans -- "are racist."
From the February 21 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, which featured Democratic strategist Michael Brown and conservative author John McWhorter, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research:
HANNITY: Michael Brown, let me go to you. There's nothing about being overly sensitive to, or tongue-in-cheek about, basically insinuating that a group of people are racist, and that's what Bryant Gumbel did here.
And he is overtly playing a race card, which is despicable and ought to be condemned by people, because it's inaccurate, number one; it's not productive, number two; and it's offensive to people that are Republican that -- that -- you know, when we look at a president that has appointed more people to higher positions that are African-American than any other president --
BROWN: Sean, you and I have talked about this a million times.
HANNITY: -- it's offensive. It's offensive.
McWHORTER: And when we look at the Republican Party who created welfare reform, which is decreasing black child poverty rates and has ever since 1996, the idea that Republicans are anti-black is also just medication. It's an old-fashioned idea. If we all vote for one party, we're powerless.
Notwithstanding the characterizations of Gumbel's statement by Gibson, Hannity, and McWhorter, Gumbel is not the first to note the racial homogeneity of Republican conventions. Discussing the racial composition of the 2000 Republican National Convention, New York Times columnist David Brooks -- then a senior editor at The Weekly Standard -- wrote in the August 14, 2000, issue of the Standard:
It started on Monday with a Hispanic girl singing the national anthem, a black Baptist minister preaching by video from the pulpit of his church, an Asian-American woman celebrating the virtues of voluntarism, and a black retired general defending affirmative action. It concluded on Thursday with a California politician delivering a speech in Spanish, a Mexican dancer in a big sombrero crooning Latin tunes that were cliches back in the day of Ricky Ricardo, and the African-American singer Chaka Khan singing a final number as the delegates walked out into the night. This wasn't a normal political convention. This was reparative therapy for Caucasians. The people in the stands were mostly white, while the people performing were mostly minority, just like at a Utah Jazz basketball game.
It absolutely was a racist comment by Gumbel, not to mention stupid and of no validity. Athletes compete to get to the Olympics, race is not an issue except for those that use it to further their agenda......Gumbel knows better, he should apologize.
And can you imagine the hypocrisy and the firestorm that would have been created if a white commentator had said "I have no intention of attending any NBA games anymore because of the paucity of white athletes participating........why, it looks like a BET convention".
Aren't you the same person who constantly defends people for giving an opinion?
Do you attack Ann Coulter for her comments? Sean Hannity? Rush Limbaugh?
I find it quite funny for Fox News talking heads, who just had Ann Coulter on their show the other day accusing Democrats of working for our enemies, are getting their panties in a bunch over these comments by Gumbel.
I mean, Gumbel was basically deriding the lack of black athletes in the Winter Olympics, whereas people like Coulter accuse the left of hating their country, being traitors, and working for our enemies.
By the way, didn't Rush Limbuagh just invent a phony "racial component" to the Ohio Senate race, essentially accusing Democrats of party-wide racism? Where is your outrage about those comments?
Does BET have a convention? I would have gone with the SOURCE awards. That's funnier, but I don't think Republicans know what it is.
People just need to lighten up about all of this. At my wedding (my wife is black), I was asked if I wanted my family on one side and my wife's on the other. I told them I didn't want to look out at the crowd and think of Brown vs. The Board of Education. Everyone thought it was funny. Does that make me a racist too?
Methinks though doth protest too much.
Doth protest too much? Please. The left is constantly jumping up and down screaming about racism at every turn and love to hurl that charge at any opportunity. I was merely pointing out the hypocrisy that lies within, when a black commentator makes a racist comment it's deserved and unnoticed by the media........but when some white person makes an equally stupid comment, it's splashed everywhere. It's a glaring double standard, that's my point.
No one said it was easy being white. I feel for you.
I don't believe I have ever said what race I am?
no you havn't, why the big secret?
Because if I said I was white, I would be labeled a white racist........if I said I was black, I would be labeled an Uncle Tom.
So my answer would only be used to marginalize me and it's absolutely not relevant.......that's the reason.
Of course it’s your choice, I was just curious; but I don't feel making my ethnicity known marginalizes me. I wouldn't allow it to.
You missed my point, I am not marginalized by my race in any way.......and obviously it's not a secret. But one's opinions have no relevancy when it comes to their race, at least mine don't........that was my point.
So my answer would only be used to marginalize me and it's absolutely not relevant.......that's the reason.
People often see others as acting the way they themselves would act. I don't know about anyone else, but I personally would
never
use someone's ethnicity to marginalize them. And quite honestly, I haven't seen any evidence that people who post here are wont to do it either, so I can't help thinking that your "reasoning" must be because if given the chance you yourself would jump at the chance to marginalize someone based on their ethnicity.I am white. I have never felt an urge to keep it a secret. I was also not at all offended by Gumbel's opinion either. My faith in myself is not so easily shattered.
This is all another example of fake outrage.
It's not a secret open_mind........explain to me the relevancy of it, if you can? It would be the same as asking my sexual orientation? You know as well as I do that there is no reason to discuss it for it changes nothing.
Race does not matter when discussing politics on a message board, but it does matter when, like Gumbel, you are discussing the lack of diversity in a sport (or in a collection of sports, like the Winter Olympics).
I do not see any double standard for these types of comments. For example, Larry Bird's comments about a year ago that adding more white star players would help the NBA were not considered racist by most people. If you're simply saying you want the sport to have more diversity, that in itself is not "racist" by the common use of the word.
It's similar to how Republicans criticized the lack of diversity in Howard Dean's inner circle of advisors. Did that make Republicans racist against white people, or did it mean they were criticizing the lack of black people, which is something VERY different?
You are vastly overestimating my curiosity. Knowing ethnicity can provide context for remarks. Simply noticing skin color/ethnicity is not racism in and of itself though. Simply mentioning in a creative way that there are not many black people at the olympics is not racism either.
For many years there were very few black people on TV. That was noticed by people especially in Gumbel's generation.
Many black people I know tend to (at least subconsciously) notice when there are other black people on television or in a sport. White people do it too. There was near panic when I was growing up because there weren't enough caucasians in the NBA.
The big difference is that I'd bet no white person in here remembers the first time they ever saw a white person on the TV, but many if not most black people of Gumbel's generation remember the first time they saw a black person on TV.
Context gives insight.
The left is constantly jumping up and down screaming about racism at every turn and love to hurl that charge at any opportunity.
That's a good one even for you, Tommy. You've combined projection (the charge that other people are "jumping up and down screaming") with mindreading ("love to hurl that charge"). I wish you could stop making these basic forensic errors over and over again.
when a black commentator makes a racist comment it's deserved and unnoticed by the media........but when some white person makes an equally stupid comment, it's splashed everywhere. It's a glaring double standard, that's my point.
Your point is pointless. Since when does commentary by Gibson and Hannity count as being "unnoticed by the media"?
Brown vs the Board of Ed, that's pretty funny.
Athletes compete to get to the Olympics, race is not an issue except for those that use it to further their agenda"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ What? What agenda? And are you speaking of someone in particular? BTW, Gumble didn’t say he wouldn't attend the winter Olympics because it was too "white" he just made note that the athletes at the winter games are overwhelmingly White and compared it to GOP conventions that are overwhelmingly White because well Republicans are overwhelmingly White. You're right though it's better to stay away from race comments unless the issue is specifically about race and discrimination. Like Shani Davis' mother said she had to have her son trained and sponsored in Canada because she couldn't get backing and support from the American speed skating association. He was very good she said and she speculates that it was because he was the only Black really competing in that sport. That's a real issue, it isn’t gratuitous like Gumble’s comment.
I do agree with you that if there is a specific charge of racism it should be dealt with and exposed. Silly generalized comments like Gumbel's serve no purpose, and are only meant to be inflammatory.
I don't think Gumbel was trying to be inflamatory. He was just trying to be funny. He should be aware the the right-wing political-correctness squad is on the lookout for statements like his.
The right-wing is aware that there is some completely unfounded rumor that Republicans are mostly white, therefore, they need to stomp out anyone who does not conform to the official party line of multiculturalism, diversity and free-love.
You have just highlighted the double standard in absolute exact terms, thank you.
The double standard is that you want to self-servingly remove all context from the debate, when context is everything.
I have to disagree with you on this one. MMFA left off the beginning of his quote, which started out like this:
"Finally, tonight, the Winter Games. Count me among those who don’t like them and won’t watch them ... Because they’re so trying, maybe over the next three weeks we should all try too. Like, try not to be incredulous when someone attempts to link these games to those of the ancient Greeks who never heard of skating or skiing. So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world’s greatest athletes, despite a paucity of blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention."
So he does say that he doesn't like them, because in his opinion the worlds best athletes (who are black according to him by implication) aren't competing.
I guess when a white person like Jimmy the Greek says that the black athlete is superior it is racist because, because, because I dont know why it just is. Gumbel gets a pass because he is a minority I suppose.
I would say that these are the worlds best athletes at these particular sports and if these are the sports you enjoy watching, then by all means watch. Gumbel has higher standards of athletic excellence, apparently.
While a white conservative in the public eye has to watch every word for fear of being branded a racist, a black liberal can say anything he or she pleases and given a pass or shrugged off. As I said, I don't get too worked up over private citizens and their dumb comments but the hypocrisy and double standard is so obvious, it's absurd.
I stand corrected, as I said earlier a superfluous introduction of race into a topic is silly and you're right this is no different than what Limbaugh was going to do with his "you know there is a racial component to this story". Even if Sherrod Brown were Black, that fact would be irrelevant.
Thanks, Bruce.
With the full quote from Bruce, it appears that Gumbel is calling into question the validity of the Olympic Games in part because there are few black atheletes involved.
Gumbel needs to clarify himself or apologize.
Sorry Tommy. I didn't see the whole quote and misunderstood. Onions to MMFA.
"With the full quote from Bruce, it appears that Gumbel is calling into question the validity of the Olympic Games in part because there are few black atheletes involved."
-----
No, he was calling the validity into question because at least the Summer Olympic events can be traced back to the original Games in Greece. He said the ancient Greeks never heard of skating or skiing.
Remember when Chris Rock was the "commentator" for Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect program, and he reported from the GOP Convention? His first sentence was, "Bill, I've never seen so many white people in my whole life!" Very funny, not racist, and almost precisely the same comment Gumbel made.
The only thing that has changed between the comments of Rock and Gumbel is the willingness of the GOP to whine, pout, and cry "We're victims!" at every slight, whether real or imagined.
I am confused by the comments about Shani Davis. Was he good because he was the only black speed skater? Or was he not being sponsered because he was the only black speed skater?
I hope that it was the latter and not the former.
I am a big opponent against the so called superiority of any race, and for it to pass in the realm of sport is unacceptable.
The reasons why I say that is it acts like a double edged sword. Sure it feels good to be propped up as a naturally born athelete. However, what happens is people will chastise black athletes who don't do their duty. At the same time, they don't acknowledge black atheletes for working hard.,because if someone is born a naturally good athelete, they don't need to work hard.
But then again, I find it hard to even believe that shani davis wasn't getting sponsered because he was black. Sports is competitive, no pun intended, and competiting for sponsorships is also competitive. Advertisers want to push atheletes that they think will win medals, at the same time that sports orgainizations only want to push proven atheletes. There really is no concept of the amateur athelete in olympics anymore.
My question is, how can Shani Davis fully know the extent of the discrimination from his own perspective? Was it race? Was it advertising? Or was it a little bit of both?
In case no one has noticed, team USA basketball has had their backsides handed to them by almost entirely white teams in recent history.
The myth of the invincible black super-athlete is really just an American thing. Most other countries don't operate under that delusion.
When you see a great athlete, it is wrong to think of race at all. Great athletes are a testament to their own individual effort and skill. They owe nothing to their race.
would have a bit more standing to complain if (1) There were more African-American hosts on their own shows; or even (2) If once in a while they would provide their typical wall-to- wall over- coverage to a person who is non-white, perhaps male, even not blonde...
I'm noticing that Hannity and BO generaly only have Black guests when the subject is about race. Blacks can't comment on anything else?
You write as though you are a proponent of free speech so long as you agree with the speaker. You close your eyes to the FACT that Republicans have taken giant backward leaps away from the advancement of racial and social class equality. -----Gumble baycotted the winter games, they asked him why, he told them. Yes, it was purely about racial inequality, and he (as all of us) has the right to object. It's the FOX pukes who turned it into an issue of racial bigotry by saying he is racist because he pointed out something he felt is racist. -----I've never much cared for Gumble, simply because his voice grates on me like fingernails on a chaulk board (I must have some sort of vocal prejudice), however, I hardly think that this could be classified as "Playing the race card." The true racists are Hannity, Gibson, Limbaugh, and O'Reilly (perhaps yourself ?) who have always misunderstood the difference between speaking out against racial inequality and speaking of race. It's the equicolent of saying, "I'm not racist, some of my best friends are black."
What giant leaps back are you talking about and where did Tommy say he didn't believe in free speech?
The giant leaps backward would START with the highest unemployment levels of minorities in over 19 years, an ever increasing number of people below the poverty level-- both whites and minorities, less minorities attending college, and although minorities own more homes than ever, that percentage is not keeping pace with their growth in population. * * * * *As far as free speech, Tommy is the one who said Gumble's statement was racist, ignorant, and stupid. Once again, Tommy takes the high road (sarcasm) against someone with whom he doesn't agree. Tommy has every right to say what he will, and I've read many of his posts. So my informed conclusion is that Tommy is biased, bigoted, and almost always ignorant. He also believes himself to be far more intelligent than he is able to exhibit. Yet, I prefer this type of person to continue to speak, write, or broadcast. My hope is that it will help make others aware and understand the true pitfalls of conservative republicans.
NASCAR is more diverse than a GOP convention. And that isn't saying much.
Not saying all Republicans are racist. They usually just don't know any minorities (that don't work for them). I don't think that is necessarily their fault.
What is so earthshattering about that?
Racist, maybe not, but terribly worded and no doubt anti-GOP. Paucity means an insufficient number of something. So there should be a required number of black athletes at the Winter Olympics, rather than judging the athletes based on their talent? And is it just me, or does he seem to imply that blacks are inherently more athletic than other races? Read carefully:
"So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world's greatest athletes, despite a paucity of blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention."
So a paucity of black athletes indicates that the athletes aren't the best?
Obviously whites just aren't as athletic as blacks.
So I don't know that Gumbel is making a racist statement here, but it is certainly a wrong statement.
Republicans just don''t understand why they don't connect with black folk.
In frustration, the Rightwing think if they holler "racism" loudly enough, and accuse black folk of being stupid for rejecting the wonderful intentions of the Republican party, that they will make some inroads.
Which only underscores that Republicans just don't understand.
and Democrats love to enslave blacks to poverty programs while forcing them in the back seats of the bus of leadership positions.
Thanks for the perfect proof of my point.
Cry racism. And call blacks "stupid" for supporting Democrats.
Perfect. You prove you STILL just do not understand.
I have never professed to be a great intellect, but God did see fit to bless me with pretty good critical thinking skills. I was one of those kids that never stopped asking why. I can study issues discern the short-term and long term implications of solutions for issues and decide after thorough exam where Lynn positions on an issue. Obviously my philosophy falls left on political spectrum. I am not enslaved to anything, anybody, or any group. So use of the slavery rhetoric like you are so fond of, regardless of whether it's coming out the mouth of someone on the left or right, whether the mouth is Black or White is used for the sake of being intentionally provocative and it is counterproductive because it gets in the way of sincere debate. That might be your intention since you have repeatedly shown that you have no interests in real discussion. The only thing I’ve seen you do here as well as on the other sites where post is defend George Bush and Republican politicians regardless of wrong they are. Your assertion that Blacks are enslaved to Democrats might be projection on your part, since it appears that you’re a slave to right wing ideology. There are some very reasonable and fair conservatives regulars posting at MMFA; you're not one of them. Statements like this simply show that you are a knee-jerk right wing nut with an affinity for parroting right wing propaganda. Free your self brother before you try free someone else!
!
Blacks are free to leave "poverty programs" any time they wish. Unlike slavery.
And honestly, I laughed.
Why is it "ok" for conservative types to make called "observations" that at times seem hateful and bigoted and when someone like Bryant Gumbel makes an observation, the right-wing noise machine gets its "panties in a bunch"??
Oh yeah, there's a double standard indeed. Methinks the right-wing/GOP hates being reminded that they lack diversity - diversity of people involved and diversity of opinions.
Any time they get reminded of such, they immediately brand the commentator a "racist".
But then again, like someone else said in the posts here I guess if they throw the "racist" comment out enough to anyone making commentary or just making mention of Republicans/GOP in passing, that it will eventually lose any negative associations with using the term..
They should know - they are well-practiced in the use of racism. That's how they keep us all as Americans divided.
You can't deny that Bryant Gumbel is right the Winter Olympics are almost as white as your typical GOP convention and the driven snow...
Then again - that's not a bad thing - just that some prefer events in the Summer games vs the Winter games.. As for the Republican party - well - I have no answers for that....
"right-wing political correctness" That's a good one to whoever posted that term!
Ha ha, when I heard the Bryant Gumbel comment I laughed too.
Colbert show last night, interviewing author Michael Eric Dyson, points to Bush's 2% approval rating among African-Americans, asks how can the president raise it? Like to 3%? hee hee
I have an old cartoon clipped from the AJC (from my days as a reader), printed in the pre-election summer of 2000 by Mike Luckovich, showing a white guy wearing a Bush/Cheney lapel pin standing at a podium labeled "Republican Convention" in front of an array of black people,...... bubble above his head says "A round of applause to the special effects team for digitally adding all these black people!"
The poor put upon republicans. So thin-skinned, always playing the victim and whining about something or other.
They're a pathetic bunch. God forbid they actually had to endure true adversity - they'd wouldn't be able to function.
don't get me wrong Coulter and her ilk are full of crap. But there have been a fair number of sportcasters and coach who have or almost had their careers ended by saying something to the effect of "Hey those African Americans, Blacks, whatever sure seem faster than white athletes."
Bryant Gumbel is a racist or at least made a racist comment and should be called on it. To say that a sport can't be a sport unless Blacks are somehow in a position of dominance in the sport. Crap, and that is what he is saying. And I am not calling curling a sport, it's bocci ball on ice. But if he doesn't think figure skating is a legitmate physical contest -- here's the deal he gets Shaq to land a triple or quad, I'll get Weir to dunk. In any sport there are power and finese players and there are power and finese sports. Gumbel needs to get over his race. Maybe there aren't that many Black athletes that complete in snowboarding at an Olympic level. Sorry Bryant that maybe just the way it is. P.S. I am a white Southern I don't watch the winter Olympics, not a lot of luge in my area, ethnic identity, or historic past either -- but I am not carping about it.
That being said I'd say the GOP is more homgenous than the Democrat party, although Latin immigration may or may not change that. I also doubt that welfare reform helped "black child poverty rates" as much as better economic times did in the late 90's. So the score from the judges are as follows misdirection by the NeoCons one, Gumbel showing a questionable racism one.
"To say that a sport can't be a sport unless Blacks are somehow in a position of dominance in the sport."
He didn't say that. He noted that black people are underrepresented, but I looked up the full quote to see if he said anything like what you said here, and he didn't. So I think his comment (taken as a whole) was snarky, but not racist.
...if blacks are represented well in the community of straw men ufleirx created in that argument...
Gumbel claims that these atheletes cannot be the best in the world because they're white. Sounds pretty racist to me.
apparently can't read. Gumbel said nothing of the sort.
"So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world’s greatest athletes, despite a paucity of blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention."
Seems pretty straight forward that he's saying that white athletes can't be the world's greatest (in fact he says it's laughable to suggest they are). Please explain to me how I'm misunderstanding it.
Many of the world's greatest athletes are black, so any gathering of athletes that purports to be "the world's greatest athletes" but has so few blacks is not, in fact, a gathering of the "world's greatest athletes." That seems to be what Gumbel is saying. Gumbel's remarks seem like a pointless and weak attempt to be funny (leave the comedy to Dave Chappelle, Bryant) but nothing he says indicates that he believes that whites cannot be among the world's greatest athletes.
I'm not quite sure why so many of you are trying to defend Gumbel's comments (or spin them).
There are still many sports where blacks are not the best. A couple of years ago The World Cup of Hockey was held here in Canada. There was only one black player on all the teams (actually he was half black). Does that mean it was not a competition of the best hockey players in the world? According to Gumbel, it must not have been.
Ya gotta call a spade a spade (ok, bad choice of words - hehe). Sounds racist to me.
Can't speak for others, but I'm not defending or spinning anything. I don't have any particular respect for Bryant Gumbel. I've always thought he was a lame sportscaster and I have no idea whether he's a liberal or not, as John Gibson claims he is (maybe Gibson just assumes all blacks are liberals). I was just pointing out that he didn't seem to be saying what you said he said, which was, quoting your original post: "Gumbel claims that these atheletes cannot be the best in the world because they're white."
You said "I was just pointing out that he didn't seem to be saying what you said he said, which was, quoting your original post: "Gumbel claims that these atheletes cannot be the best in the world because they're white."
Ok, he never said it, but he implied it.
Lets say I believe that it is laughable to consider Mike Tyson one of the greatest boxing champs ever because he only fought that one white guy. I never said that Tyson cannot be considered one of the best because he's black (in those exact words), but I implied it.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think that whites are the only people who can make racist comments. Perhaps black racists are less dangerous because they have less power to affect other people's lives, but that doesn't make them any less racist.
And on a slightly different tangent regarding sports and racism, I don't quite understand when someone who says blacks are more athletic than whites is considered racist. The Air Force football coach got in trouble for saying black kids run faster than white kids (seems pretty apparent - when was the last time there was a white 100 m champion?).
In the National Hockey League, many of the best goaltenders are French Quebecers. If a coach were to say "Maybe we ought to get one of those Frenchmen to be our goalie", the fans would say "Hell yeah, about time", not "Fire the coach, he's racist". Perhaps that's just an American - Canadian difference. And by the way, I'm a French Quebecer.
Bonjour!
Tommy
Black people can get away with racial comments because we were butt end of so many injustices. But who listens to a Black Liberal anyway? His hair could be on fire and he still would not be ignored in America. They only listen to black conservatives. Prove it you ask; look at former Sugeron General Joycelyn Elders. She was fired because she said masterbation could be taught to help prevent the spread of AIDS. Did we try it to see if it would work? No. We as a country couldn't think outside the box to try something different and possibly save hundreds of thousands of people. And does anyone really take Gumbel seriously?
Pointing the finger at another to take the focus off of yourself: "I know you are, but what am I?". It's pretty transparent, but there are plenty of people who will buy it, simply because they want to.
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I, personally, don't like Bryant Gumbal, and never watch him. I don't support "reverse racist" comments, and these can be interpreted as such, whether rooted in general likelihood, or not........however.........
The thing that strikes me the most is that this all is akin to Goliath roaring because David had the nerve to fling rocks at him.
Just because some black Americans have risen to prominence does not mean that everything is peachy. The prominent blacks, particularly those connected to this administration, aren't representative of the group, as a whole; not even close.
To paraphrase David Brooks, the whole thing is like a Utah Jazz game.
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I've always hated black racist hypocrites as much as I hate conservatives. The conservatives are correct to attack Bryant Gumbel. He is a black racist scumbag. I can argue that there are not enough whites in the NBA. I can also complain that the Bloods and the Crips discriminated against me because they won't let me join their gangs. I can make a point that the blacks dominate track and field in the Summer games and that there are too few white runners.
So what the f-ck is that uppity angry Negro with a chip on his shoulder complaining about???
White folks you can stop worrying, Bryant Gumble has been lost to the black community for years; no pays any attention to what he says. Whatever comments he made about the winter games are just that; His Comments. His problem is that he thinks he has "arrived" (black term) just because he's married to "Barbie"
I'll pose that question too you as well. Blacks have "arrived" Maybe that's a regional or a new generational saying. I've been Black for 47 years and most of the people that I know well are and I've never heard that term used in that context. Also does arriving mean you became rich or do you arrive when you marry someone White? Maybe he married a White woman because he fell in love with her.
So what the f-ck is that uppity angry Negro with a chip on his shoulder complaining about??? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What about his sstatement you just made, I think that's pretty ugly but then again maybe I'm an uppity Negro too or in my case I guess it would be "Nigress".
I'd much rather you were "uppity" than "Hannity..."
Wow, just wow. A guy points out that there really aren't any black people in the Winter Olympics and isn't going to watch because of that fact and all of a sudden a war on Gumbel ensues. Who is this Uppity Race Baitin' Negro anyways?! It was an off the cuff riff that would've garnered a few laughs if it was by Dave Chappelle or Chris Rock, alas, Bryant Gumbel ends up looking like Kobe Bryant after his mugshot.
I find this funny for a few reasons. Firstly, Gumbel is about as threatening to white people as say, Will Smith or Wayne Brady. He has much less credibility among black folks than Michael Jackson. Secondly, HIS WIFE IS WHITE. I bet he takes off his glasses at night and tries to beat the melanin into her, dontcha think?
The only problem I had with his comment was that the analogy is faulty. The GOP always manages to book at least a few black rockstars every four years. There are zero black athletes at the WO that come close to the superstardom of OutKast or Chaka Khan. The NBA analogy suits his point much better.
McWHORTER: "If we all vote for one party, we're powerless."
I'm sure if they were all voting for the Republican party he would be just as upset. Hopefully the sarcasm of my statement wasn't lost on anyone.
It wasn't lost on me. Mchorton's statement is a Black Conservative talking point that's been floated for awhile now. They say that it is important that AAs maintain a presence in both parties because if not when the Democrat party is out of power, we won't have representation. First of all politics shouldn't work like that, the system is supposed to ensure that everyone can participate. I don't like the argument at all because I think a person should be true to whatever it is they believe. I also question the sincerity of the argument; I think it's a ploy to get more AA's in the GOP. The GOP’s AA recruitment problem is due to the fact that the overwhelming majority of Blacks aren’t conservative. Most of the AAs I know are either Moderates or Liberals. So since I'm not a Conservative why would I register to become a Republican. The other issue is that there are many AAs that are right leaning that don’t feel comfortable with many of the prominent Republican players (and some of those they encounter in their daily lives from the Republican base) and they don’t want to be associated with them. Those AA’s will generally register as Independents.
... is a big jerk whose arrogance and other personal shortcomings get in the way of his knowledge and talent. He is wrong to denigrate certain sports, and I think we are wrong to give much of a hoot about what he thinks. So he doesn't like the Winter Olympics? Who cares?! Yes, his comments are ignorant and racist, but what do you expect from some has-been who thinks he's too good for his own mother? He does NOT meet any decent definition of being a liberal. Say goodnight, Bryant.
I would just like to add that Bryant Gumbel himself doesn't seem to know a great deal about any sports other than golf- which is pretty much all-white except for of course Tiger Woods. HBO"s real sports doesn't cover much other than human interest stories and even on these, Gumbel doesn't do much other than interview the person who did the piece at the end. As for the Winter Olympics' lack of black athletes, it only makes sense as the countries and areas in the U.S. that are cold enough to be able to practice these sports are predominately white.
I don't know, it's pretty cold in Chicago and they have a sizable AA community. Seriously though, these havn't been traditional sports in the AA community. I don't generally watch the Winter Olympics except sometimes the figure skating. But I did get a kind of warm feeling when I heard about Shani Davis.
Bush is an abject failure as noted Gephardt.He is anti-science.Gumbelwas right .So what>
As an African American, I have to say Gumbel's comments were somewhat misguided. Actually the atheletes in the Winter games are the greatest in the world, in the sports they participate in. I don't think he meant to imply that blacks are greater atheletes than whites, but I'm surprised that he chose to make those comments given that he has spent his career avoiding controversy. What I have a problem with are people trying to equate his opinion with racism. If all white people ever did to blacks was make ignorant statements like his, the whole issue of race would be a non-factor. But Racism is far more hideous than that. Let's be clear, racism, and or, racist remarks did not originate within the black community, though the history of such has created a hostile environment for which both blacks and white opinions about such matters becomes distorted. Often times when blacks make these kinds of statements, it is merely a reflection of what they have been subjected to, and to their experiences, both personal and shared, not because of some claim to superiority.
Gumbel's comment isn't racist, it's racial pride. He's saying blacks are better athletes than whites. Guess what folks? They are. I didn't make them stronger, faster, superior physical specimens. Their genetics did. They are genetically predisposed to exceed in athletics. Reality is all the benchmark you need to prove this.
Once the color barrier was pierced in baseball, black players flourished. It's a matter of access. If more blacks had access to hockey rinks (in the USA, not Canada, it's ALL hockey rink), the NHL would have more black players.
People are reluctant to point these things out because political correctness demands that anyone who dares refer to reality be branded a racist.
They are genetically predisposed to exceed in athletics. Reality is all the benchmark you need to prove this.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ There is no scientific substantiation of this, just as there is no proof that Whites are genetically predispose to be smarter than Blacks or Asians are predisposed to be smarter than Whites. It's a slippery slope which is why I am uncomfortable with Brian's statement. BTW, I've always sucked at athletics; although I used to be a pretty good dancer and I sure you don't think there is a genetic predisposition to be a good dancer do you?
seemed to me he was saying simply that black people were underrepresented and therefore some of the world's greatest athletes not there. I don't see the other meaning, but I see that a lot of other people here see it that way so maybe I am reading it wrong. I base my judgment partly on the fact that he compared it to the lack of black participation in the Republican party, indicating to me that he thought the reasons for the underrepresentation might be similar.
"So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world’s greatest athletes, *despite* a paucity of blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention." ...Bryant Gumbel
I think it's VERY clear that Bryant Gumbel is saying that 'these CAN'T be the BEST athletes because of the LACK of Blacks'...his use of the word *DESPITE* says it all.
The part about the GOP Convention does ring true, BUT does NOT excuse Gumbel's overtly racist comments about athletes. Great athletes of any color excel in any sport they choose. Which sport they pursue is often whichever sports they were exposed to as kids.
I don't particularly care about the Olympics, Summer or Winter. Track&Field-Swimming-Gymnastics dominate the Summer Games...and don't interest me much. Neither does Olympic Basketball or Soccer...or the lesser sports like Volleyball or Team Handball etc.
The Winter Games aren't much better. I don't mind the hockey (though I don't go out of my way to watch it--I prefer the NHL)...the figure skating--skiing and silliness of snowboarding leave me cold (sorry-no pun intended). Actually the ONE sport that has caught my interest for the first time is...Curling. Haha, don't laugh...it intrigues me ;-)
Bryant Gumbel has always struck me as an arrogant bitter guy. His brother Greg got all the Class in that family.
Add the word "paucity" to my limited english vocabulary. worthed.
The guess's memory is great, to be able to name all these acts take a lot of repetition.
This is just typical. If a Black makes a refernce about how they view race and the Republican party, they are playing the race card. 1st the Republican party is extremely White. Less than 10% of the Black populaion voted for a Republican in this country. The Democratic party received close to 90% of Black the vote. I don't see the issue. If Republicans wanted Blacks in their party they should have do a better job of changing their racist outlook. After the 60's and intergration laws a lot the former Dixiecrats (Southern Democrats) jumped to the Republican party and showed their true face. Isn't it strange how their message hasn't changed since then?