Michael Irvin's "racist" comments

[Sonny]

I'm sure we will hear from Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson about this one....

"Appearing Monday on ESPN Radio's The Dan Patrick Show, Irvin pulled a Jimmy "The Greek" when suggesting that one possible explanation for Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo's strong performance is that one of his ancestors got it on with one of those big man slaves to which Snyder referred nearly 20 years ago.

Said Irvin of Romo: "He doesn't look like he's that type of an athlete. But he is. He is, man. I don't know . . . some brother down in that line somewhere. . . . I don't know who saw what or where, his great-great-great-great-grandma ran over in the 'hood or something went down."

Recognizing the idiocy of Irvin's comments, Dan Patrick said, "Oh, that's the only way he can be a great athlete?"

"That's not the only way, but it's certainly one way," Irvin said. "If great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandma pulled one of them studs up out of the barn [and said], 'Come on in here for a second,' you know, and they go out and work in the yard. You know, back in the day."

[KnoxVegas]

Michael Irvin is a clown. To make that kind of a statement, without facts is as irresponsible as Limbaugh's comment about Donovan McNabb a few years ago. This is not the first time, nor the last, Irvin's mouth/nose/car/friend has gotten him in trouble.

Michael Irvin is a hypocrite on a hall of fame level. Mind you, the Hypocrite Hall of Fame is the only hall of fame that Irvin will be inducted to.

For all those too young to remember Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder's comments:

During the slave period, the slave owner would breed his big black with his big woman so that he would have a big black kid—that's where it all started.

These statements were made at Duke Ziebert's restaurant on 16 January 1988 in Washington, DC. I remember this because I saw it happen on the evening news while growing up in DC.


As for Al Sharpton, I have two words for him: Tawana Brawley.

For more on Jimmy Snyder:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Snyder

Tawana Brawley:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawana_Brawley

[shrekjr]

Some guys just can't stay out of trouble.

[StrykerFSU]

What do you expect from a product of The U?

I really enjoyed Patrick trying to give him an out by clarifying or withdrawing the comment but Irvin just plows full steam ahead with his ignorance. I hope Irvin loses his job.

[KnoxVegas]

I hope Irvin loses his job.

I concur but the chance of this happening, particularly since it happened on the eve of a major holiday, are slim to none. That is unless the blogosphere gets behind this.

[StrykerFSU]

More Whitlock The Wise:

Whitlock had this to say following Irvin's attack on Tiki Barber,

10. You knew it was only a matter of time before ESPN’s Michael Irvin would be ticketed for “bojangling.”

Come on, if Flavor Flav is “Mantan” from Spike Lee’s prophetic movie "Bamboozled," then you know The Pipemaker is “Eat-n-Sleep.”

Let’s call Irvin’s critique of Tiki Barber’s planned retirement a case of “When Bojanglers Attack.” All that was missing from Irvin’s routine was a top hat, cane and a pair of tap shoes.

The soft-shoe jig Irvin performed on Barber’s unblemished reputation had to be for laughs because not even Irvin’s “formerly” chemically impaired brain could believe what he was saying.

Tiki Barber and his end-of-the-season retirement are a distraction for the New York Giants? Tiki has sacrificed his ability to be a locker-room leader?

And the man offering this harsh criticism was the former landlord of the Dallas Cowboys’ “White House,” the man who smuggled topless models and crack pipes past Super 8 security guards?

Irvin wrote the book on locker-room distractions and excuse-making. Tiki is writing a book on leadership and how a professional athlete should conduct himself. He is the best and brightest that the NFL has to offer.

And Michael Irvin wants to criticize Tiki? What, did Terrell Owens give The Pipemaker the day off from foot massaging?

An ESPN executive needs to summon Irvin to a meeting room this week and re-explain his duties. In case anyone at the World Wide Leader has forgotten Irvin’s game plan, I have a copy:
A. Butcher the English language to the point that most people assume you never attended a class at Miami or in high school.
B. Laugh hysterically when nothing is funny.
C. Defend the indefensible, especially if they’re black.
D. Dress flamboyantly, like you just stepped off the set of Ice-T’s “Pimps Up, Ho’s Down.”
E. Secure softball interviews with troubled athletes.

http://sports.aol.com/whitlock/_a/irvin-officially-joins-ranks-of-the/20061102094009990001

Now he offers this on Irvin's Romo comments,

4. The folks over at Webster’s have asked me to define “bojangling,” a term that is a lot like obscenity. It’s difficult to define, but you know it when you see or hear it.

Well, ESPN’s Michael Irvin offered the best definition of bojangling Monday when he appeared on Dan Patrick’s nationally syndicated radio show. During a rambling, whimsical 13-minute interview, The Pipemaker suggested that Tony Romo’s athleticism could be attributed to Romo’s great-great-great-great grandmother sleeping with a slave in a barn.

Patrick didn’t really know how to respond to Irvin’s Def Comedy Jam-appropriate attempt at humor. And neither did Patrick’s sidekick Keith Olbermann. They laughed somewhat nervously and then gently asked Irvin to tap dance to a different tune. Before patting Irvin on the head and dismissing him for the day, Patrick and Olbermann uncomfortably listened as Irvin giggled while telling them that he really liked them and they could pat him on the rear end the next time they saw him.

I’m going to ask Webster’s to just run Irvin’s picture as the definition of bojangling.

http://sports.aol.com/whitlock/nfl/_a/vick-standing-pat-with-enablers-at-his/20061122124909990001

Honestly, how does someone like Irvin stay employed? I stopped watching pregame shows altogether because of idiots like him. Who watches this junk?

[KnoxVegas]

As the pollster in Howard Stern's Private Parts said, "... people tune in to see what he will say next." This is true for any network and thanks or posting the Whitlock article.

[Sonny]

For the record, I don't think his comments were racist.

Ignorant, yes.
Racist, no.

[KnoxVegas]

I agree with Sonny. The statements of Irvin and Snyder are not racist. It is true that slave owners initiated breeding programs. And it is also true that interracial relationships have produced children. Just ask the decendants of Thomas Jefferson.

For Irvin to say what he did, without knowing the facts, is ignorant and idiotic. Does Irvin know when Romo's family came to this country? Does he know the full sexual history of the women in Romo's family? No, of course not but then again when has fact or sensitivity ever stopped him before?

[Beta]

Well, what if a white commentator had made comments about a non-white player and said opposite comments...he would most definitely be labeled a racist. This is definitely a double standard. Didnt the coach of Air Force last year say that they needed some black players to get more speed on the team? He was branded racist.

If Troy Aikman was talking about Don McNabb and said...

"He doesn't look like he's that type of quarterback. But he is. He is, man. I don't know . . . some white guy down in that line somewhere. . . . I don't know who saw what or where, his great-great-great-great-grandma ran over in the suburbs or something went down."

Recognizing the idiocy of Aikman's comments, Steven Smith said, "Oh, that's the only way he can be a great quarterback?"

"That's not the only way, but it's certainly one way," Aikman said. "If great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandma pulled one of them studs up out of the house[and said], 'Come on in here for a second,' you know, and they go out and work. You know, back in the day."

I replaced "hood" with "suburbs" since both are stereotypes to think that only black and white people (respectively) come from each. Replaced "athlete" with "quarterback". Troy Aikman would be out of the job and ruined. Double Standard. Irvin made racist comments.

[Timbalaned]

it is sad, but i completely agree with what Beta is saying.

[KnoxVegas]

Power+Prejudice=Racism

[Sonny]

Oh... I'm not claiming there isn't a double standard, because there most certainly is. The media would crucify a white person that said something remotely similar.

[StrykerFSU]

rac‧ism  /ˈreɪsɪzəm/ [rey-siz-uhm] –noun
1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

from dictionary.com

I think that idiot's comments qualify as racist by the first definition. Let me get this straight Mr. Irvin. Romo can only be a good athlete if he has some African heritage in his family history? Only blacks are good at sports? If that's true then Barack Obama must be so intelligent because his mother is white.

By the way, I haven't heard any coverage of this story on the major news networks and didn't seen any mention on ESPN. Anyone else?

[KnoxVegas]

To listen to Irvin's statement. go here:
http://cowboys.aolsportsblog.com/2006/11/22/michael-irvin

Draw your own conclusions.