Ford’s profanity alarming
The profanity used by OSU basketball coach Travis Ford, calling Obi Muonelo a “f****** idiot,” is alarming on two levels. First, a human decency scale. How did sports ever develop to the point where anyone, even if it’s just the coach himself, thinks that’s acceptable? But also, how could this happen ONLY THREE DAYS AFTER an Oklahoman story detailed how Ford’s vocabulary already had landed him in hot water with some, including his wife?
There is no way OSU administrators can be happy with their coach. Athletic director Mike Holder seemed strong in his statement that Ford must change his behavior – “He’s got no choice” — and while that’s not necessarily a line in the sand, it’s on the record.
Sean Sutton was fired not because he didn’t win enough, although he didn’t, but because Holder came to believe Sutton didn’t display the kind of leadership OSU desired. But Sutton never put OSU in this kind of light. Never treated players this way.
Here’s a quote from Terrel Harris last week on Ford’s language: “It’s funny to hear the comments from other teams, like ‘Wow, your coach is wild.’ At A&M, (Donald) Sloan, I think, is saying how our coach is crazy and stuff because he can just hear everything he says. When he gets into the game and his emotions take over, he says anything, really.”
That was Ford’s defense on his WWLS interview with me, Jim Traber and Al Eschbach on Monday. That he’s an intense personality who let his emotions get the best of him. It’s no defense, of course. Would Ford accept that excuse from Muonelo, that he was just into the game and let his emotions get the best of him?
Traber, who played college football and major-league baseball, said he’s heard coarse language all his life from coaches but hardly ever did it include name-calling. Which is why OSU probably is lucky this thing so far hasn’t gotten even bigger. You’ve got a coach with almost-limitless power berating, with profanity, an athlete with little recourse. Throw in the racial makeup — white coach, black athlete — and it wouldn’t be surprising to see activists get involved demanding further action taken against Ford.
In apologizing, Ford said, “that’s not me.” Maybe so. But no one in Oklahoma knows whether that’s true. He’s been here 15 minutes, and now twice within four days his language has become an issue.
Until Ford gives anyone reason to believe otherwise, we have to assume that’s exactly who he is.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
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Comments
I ws always taught that, with the pay coaches receive, part of the responsibility of earning that pay is keeping your emotions in check.
My child played D-I college sports… Basketball, as a matter of fact. College coaches are some of the most foul-mouthed people I’ve been around! Foul language is the norm… Not the exception. This isn’t the first time a player was called a name. On Trammel’s part, I think it is very irresponsible of him to deal the race card in his post. We have enough problems with that in this country already without him stoking the flames. I guarantee you that the same thing would have come out of Ford’s mouth regardless of the player’s race based on what I’ve seen & heard. It’s just that most coaches make sure that they aren’t on mic when they say that stuff!!! Hint, hint, Coach Ford…
I hope Ford has been given his only warning. This is a slippery slope with Bob Knight standing at the bottom.
This is sports people, do you think Bob Knight cares what people think about his language? Ford doesnt need to say sorry, the people offended need help…
Using bad language is not a good thing for a coach; if it was just an issue of a bad word then he would deserve a little wrist slap. However, addressing it towards a player is a whole other issue entirely. Also, concerning the comment “that’s not me”, it is the hard, stressful situations that show us exactly who we are. Anybody can be a gentlemen when their team is winning.
I’m not about to defend the actions of Ford, but I once again question the double standard of the Daily OU. Everyone in the journalism profession knew full well that Mangino was far worse while at OU. The difference is that the biased media either ignored it, or deliberately covered it up until after Mangino was no longer associated with the program.
Until this paper decides to criticize both programs equally, comments such as those offered by Trammel should be taken with a grain of salt.
When we read lips on the Ou football sidelines you can read Bob’s lips. I never hear the Oklahoman say anything about it. But then they could never say anything negative about Bob. It is hard to do when they are on their knees when they throw out these softball questions to any ou coach. Berry still thinks Kelvin is a stand up guy with great morals. It is hard to have any journalist intergity when you become an OU suck up, Trammel
Coach Ford needs to work with Coach Gundy to figure out how to get his point across without profanity. In Gundy’s 3 minute 20 second “I’m man, I’m 40″ rant, you had no problem understanding that he was extremely upset and emotional, why he was upset and what needed to happen to correct the issue. And not once did any words have to be beeped. I do not know how Coach Gundy is off-camera, but if the “rant” is an indicator, he has his profanity under control, and his intensity level over the top.
Mount Rushmore of OU Media Homers- Blevins, Al, Trammel and Rogers.
Should I take anyone off? I would put Myron on but does anyone really consider Fox 25 as part of the media.
BFD! It would be nice if flowery language were used and tea was served in cups on the sidelines rather than fluids from squirting bottles…but do you truly feel the kids who make it to this level of athletics are horribly offended. And how does race enter into this at all since “f****** idiot” is a race neutral phrase without border, ethnicity or intelligence levels entering into it, unless the author of the blog feels that “idiots” are contained solely in one race. If Obi is actually offended to a degree beyond the standard hurt feelings, then a changes needs to be made. Is the phrase “f****** nitwit” more politically correct?
As an OSU fan, I was following everything you said until you tried to bring up the race issue – seriously? That wasn’t necessary and in bad taste.
There was an article on MSNBC website just yesterday about how “bad” language was costing lots of people in our economy their jobs. I believe Mr. Ford is an example of this trend. How can we teach our young people that this is not acceptable if it is not disciplined? I wonder if an OSU professor would be allowed to call one of his students the same name on a nationally televised class? (or just a class on campus) Mike Gundy could give this man a lesson!
Now, thanks to Berry and the Oklahoman, every college coach’s language will become the issue right? Will we have microphones on every sideline looking for language faux=pas? Ever read Bob Stoops or Mike Gundy’s lips on the sideline? Will they receive the same pub? Is the Oklahoman now the language police? This horse has been beaten long enough.
Seriously Berry, the race card? That is one of the biggest stretches you’ve had in a while. I don’t claim to approve of what Ford did, but you’re basically calling the man a liar by inferring he was actually cussing during the A&M game even though he denied it. You know what assuming does Berry. Until you give me reason to think otherwise, I will have to think you are a hack journalist.
How dare anyone say Bob Stoops utters profanities… Havent any of you seen the Da Vinci Code??? Bob is the Holy Grail!!!
Kyle, did you not know ou coaches never do anything wrong or atleast that is the way it is reported to us from the Oklahoman(Ou Sports Report). Does David Boren still have the final say on what is reported in the newspaper?
Foul language goes on in sports. It goes on in many professions/areas of life. So no, I don’t think he should be singled out for the language as much as the lack of any control as to where/how/how loud he says it. What GREATLY disturbs me is that no one seems to think anything about him calling his player an “idiot” at all, let alone in a very public forum. How demeaning, and counter-productive to his purposes. For him to do that tells me more about his character than his use of the “f” bomb.
Not surprising coming from a coach that let McFarland take 2 cheap shots at Griffin in the OU-OSU game. Anyone but me think McFarland should have been ejected from the game for taking a head shot at Griffin? At least sent to the showers. OSU’s integrity is shinking fast with this guy, but then they put up with Suttons drinking and made excuses for him when he ran over a lady, so what should we expect?
“A coach that has to use profanity to motivate his players is lacking in vocabulary, self-discipline, and character”- coach John Wooden. Mr. Wooden never used profanity in practice nor in games and did not allow his players to either. He many times spoke out about Bob Knight’s profanity saying it took away from Knight’s superb knowledge of the game. I coached at the high school and jr hight level for almost twenty years, and NEVER used profanity in front of my players. And any of my players would tell you that I was strict and could chew them out good without cussing at them. I had many parents over the years tell me how they appreciated the way I respected my players who in turn respected me. Does a coach really have to cuss and use profanity to get his team to play for him?
hey Osu, why talk about nobody A schools when 6A schools like Jenks are so dominate every year. Same goes for college,nobody wants to hear about how bad Osu loses everyweek so until you guys can win a football big 12 championship or win a national championship, stop talking and shut up. News for small schools are in the daily stoolwater, anything bigtime is for bigtime news. So stop complaining and stop wearing bright orange, it’s ugly and it hurts my eyes.
It is always easier to find fault in someone else or another team. You should take pride that you have the best player in the NCAA today and you will get everyone’s best shot even if it means a dirty shot.
Coaches have always told male players when their acting like idiots. Those of us who have played competitive sports are accustomed to being reminded of how our actions affect the team. Guys don’t get in the fetal position just because their coach told them to quit being an idiot and get their head in the game. Every player will have this experience at one time or another. Coaches are sometimes like your Dad and they have no problem letting you know when you are acting like an idiot. Guys respect strong discipline and don’t need a hug everytime they do wrong. Coaches also need to tell players when their acting correctly. I don’t approve of the cursing but I do know how a coach getting in your face will motivate you to keep your head in the game. This may not be the best tactic for female players at least that is what I have heard.
Mark sounds like the typical Probation U fan. He only crawls out of his hole to talk about ou football. He also always has the same argument, do not say anything until you win a Big 12 Title in Football or a mythical National Title. He wants to come down on OSU since we had a coach that got caught using profanity, but thinks “Can’t Win the Big Game Bob” can.
“can’t win the big game bob”? Luke? Like when his Sooners defeated No. 1 Missouri for the Big 12 championship in 2007 or when they demolished No. 2 Texas Tech in 2008. Those weren’t big games? Of course ‘winning big games’ isn’t even in the lOSUr aggie vocabulary.
No excuse for talking to a player like that except maybe they really are or acted like one. Regardless, the language is poor and unacceptable. However, like so many of you pointing out, Big Game Bob’s lips leave nothing on the table either.
To bring race into this is simply a media person trying to draw national attention to himself since his work doesn’t. It would just as F***** stupid to say that since the player is black he listens to rap music and, therefore, is used to it more than a white player.
Many classy people coach and there is no better than Tony Dungy that rarely muttered a worse you could call a curse word. That said, if I coached Oklahoma State, I would curse far worse than Travis Ford because some of these guys make the same stupid mistakes they made four years ago and can’t hit a free throw better than a third grade girl.
The only person that deserves an apology is Obi. I wish someone would talk to and about Wall Street execs that got us all into our fine mess with such language because F***** idiots seems pretty appropriate, and completely accurate, in those situations to me.
This proves to me once again that our state holds its major college coaches in too high regard. The media, particularly the Oklahoman in this instance, has made way too much of this ordeal. The coach said a bad word and the AD didn’t like it. Front page Sports news? Give me a break. But then again Oklahomans have placed their coaches (OU and OSU alike) on such tall pedestals that any little thing they do should be criticized, broadcast, written about and then we should demand apologies and reparations. Give me another break. Furthermore, Ford is only in trouble because of what an ABC microphone caught. What about practice? What happens there? I played sports through high school so I know coaches are no angels – especially behind closed doors. Let’s not hold them to those standards. We have more important things going on in this world than worrying about who said the “f” word.
Berry Tramel, do you really think this just started to happen. Let’s look at Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Bob Knight, Coach K, Kelvin Sampson and many many more. I am an OU fan, and really don’t care if OSU ever wins a game, but this is a joke. My only question, is how Obi Mounelo feels about this? Has anyone spoken to him? Sport did not just happen to get to this point. It has been there for several decades. This should not even me an issue.
Well said Steven, I just hate when people are alarmed when they hear a bad word…
I believe Tramel is a f****** idiot, but who cares this is probably the most attention he has got lately!
Mike Gundy had things right about the Daily Oklahoman when he did the rant. Let me put this without cursing although cursing would convey the emotion of things better … who needs the Daily Oklahoman ? It is not AT ALL like it is a fair, objective, unbiased newspaper IN ANY SUBJECT sports or otherwise THEY DEAL WITH.
I can`t see where this guy is winning more games than sean did. I don`t think they gave him a chance.
JW
What an indictment of our society that so many people will defend such language. It is everywhere, but that doesn’t make it right. This coach is a college educated professional, surely he has learned enough of the English language that he can complete an excited sentence without resorting to vulgarities.
And by the way, for the one who made the post that included Tom Landry among foul mouth coaches… you should get your facts straight. Tom Landry was the picture of integrity. We would be blessed to have more coaches like him.
Where did he say anything about color? I know of few coaches that keep there mouth clean. I think f****** idiot is extreme, but I would guarantee it has been said under the breath of more than a few coaches about a player. I think the media is bored and not much happing. Sad about Ford being the topic of the day. I am sure he didn’t expect the oU homers from the so called news of Oklahoma to give him any credit. I graduated from oSu and in my time attended many basketball games under coach Eddie Sutton. More than once per game a profanity came out and it was usually about his players not running the right play. There was a few F****** idiots on the court.
As there are a few down at the so called Oklahoman.
Crimson n Cream,
Great comment. It’s good to hear from a coaches perspective. One of the greatest fallacies today is that swearing is necessary in some environments, especially sports. That’s like saying, “sure it’s ok to curse in sports, after all it’s just a low class, low life environment anyway.” Truth is there is no environment where cursing is necessary. It’s a habit that is glorified in the movies and carries over to the real world. A well placed, well timed expletive can get a pretty good laugh in the right environment. Finally, psychologist do say cursing and low intelligence are linked.
Vince -thanks for the comment. I had a former player who went on to play college basketball tell me my “stare” at him when he messed up on the court was a lot worse than any cussing his college coach gave him. lol
Good job Crimson, rant about not calling people names and then call people lOSUrs. Hypocrite. Or do only your players get the “nice” treatment? And apparently you all haven’t heard many of the stories about Tom Landry, Michael. He had his moments. Relax people. Ford made a mistake, he apologized, this is pathetic journalism. Move along.
Bo, I understand what you’re saying and for the most part agree with you. I know you boys aren’t accustomed to being “kid-gloved”. But my problem with it was calling him that in public. In the locker room? Okay. In a low voice? Okay – if that’s what it takes to motivate in competetive sports. But this doesn’t seem any different than a manager berating an employee in front of customers. Offensive and classless. Correction/motivation, whatever you want to call it, shouldn’t be in front of fans and media.
Joe – I never called my players names but have no patience with lOSUr aggies who can’t even come close to accomplishing what Bob Stoops has. Calling players young players names is not necessary but calling dumb aggie adults names should be expected. And what makes you think I gave my players the “nice” treatment; because I didn’t cuss at them. You’re a moron. A lot of my former players would laugh and shake their heads at amazement if somebody told them I had given them the “nice” treatment when they played for me. Run along and clean the restrooms.
Thanks Joe. Why do assume I’m an aggie. I grew up in Montana and could care less about either team. I was just pointing out your hypocritical behavior. And to top it off, you are apparently a classless individual as well. Way to represent buddy. Ooh you told me to clean the restrooms. I’ll have you know I have a master’s degree in accounting, am a CPA, and a CFE. I’m gonna bet I can buy your life if I so desired. Keep trying though buttercup.
I’ve been cursed out, admonished, etc but to call someone a F&*$$ Idiot does not benefit anyone. I would love for him to call one of the players that and they slap him right in the mouth. I don’t care who you are or what you do for a living, there is never a place to call someone a F*&%( Idiot. Regardless of who did or may have done it in the past it’s unacceptable.
All the OU bandwagon basketball fans come out when something bad happens with OSU, yet they can’t even support their own team who is a game or 2 away from being #1.
Sad.
That includes you and this pointless and silly blog, Berry. Really? The race card? Where did you graduate from to be able to write for a paper?
It doesn’t matter if it’s OU, OSU, Langston, TU etc. You don’t call anyone a F*$&% Idiot. I don’t care what school you go to. Do you really have such lack of self control that you have to call someone that. If so, then you have training to do. Do you really think a kid or man is going to respond to someone calling him that. Wrong is wrong. I hadn’t read the article I saw the headlines and just figured he had a tantrum or something. No big deal. Call my son a F*&% Idiot and I will kick your A*&.
Berry, you act more like an antagonist instead of a journalist. You immediately jump on the opposite side of every topic. It is a sad situation in today’s world when this qualifies as news. You continue to prove your ignorance of sports the more you get on the radio and in the newspaper. Between you and Jenni the paper has seen it’s better days. At least we have Rhode.
I disagree with Berry on a lot of things but I can’t imagine any adult calling someone an FN idiot in public and thinking there’s going to be any positive result. You can say what you want about this is sports so it should be accepted. But isn’t this why people dislike Bobby Knight and other abusive but good coaches ? And even though he might cuss you out he wasn’t into name calling during games.
Luke, should we just get you your own web site where you can cry baby about OU and express all of your angst over your jealousy about them? It could be therapeutic for one who suffers as you do. You could then rant on “Satan” and their “Minions”, while the rest of us try a more sane discourse here. Obsess much “Luke”?
As Berry alluded to, it’s not necessarily the language, it’s the name calling. Coarse language is not just common in sports, it’s common in life. While I don’t condone cuss words on the basis that generally it’s is not the most intelligent way to get a point across, rarely do I find it offensive. The name calling however is an issue. That makes it personal.
By the way, Sampson was every bit as bad as Ford, just not on the sidelines.
If I remember correctly, Berry was very critical of Stoops’ BCS record at OU. However, I have never heard Bob use profanity on an open mike. Let’s not compare apples and oranges.
A coach should never use that type of language, especially in public. If he worked for me, the next incident would find him leaving for another job.
Berry doesn’t have to bring up the issue regarding race; it doesn’t have to be bona-fide for someone to make an issue out of it. Calling players names, regardless of race, creed, or anything else is simply wrong. This coach is out of control; leadership is remaining calm in tense situtions. That calmness helps team members perform better.
No I’m not Coach Galloway. Don’t really no anything about him. I’m not even violent. I guess I think of coaches as mentors, and always having the players and teams best intentions at heart. You can have a player, that maybe isn’t the smartest and have been dogged about it their entire life. Then have someone they look up to call them a F*&$ Idiot. Not saying it’s the case. But again whats the upside? Those are very harsh words. Does Travis have kids? How do you think he would feel? He’s not even Coach Ford to me he is “Travis” from now on.
Okay Berry,
There are no college coaches who cuss at their players… Bob Stoops doesn’t do it, Mack Brown doesn’t do it… Urban Meyer, Mike Gundy, Jeff Capel, Mike K? You’re kidding right? None of their assistants do it either? You’re just writing this article to be on the highside right? Wrong, they just don’t get recorded doing it.
Only Barry (Boomer Sooner) Trammell would turn this into a race issue.
He also forgot what Capel said at an 0u game during his first year.
Eudell,
I was referring to an incident he had a few years ago with Frank Anderson, the OSU coach after a game when he told Frank to walk away or he was going to kick his a–. It was really just a bad joke.
I am having trouble seeing where the race card was played here by Ford. I sure don’t condone the language, especially in a family setting where young children and families are in the crowd, but the race card? Give me a break. What is it with all the hyper-sensitive, thin skinned attitudes that are permeating our society to the point that anything said or done is either hate speech or race baiting or anti-semetic? We are being taken over by the thought police. What makes this worse are people like Trammel who suggest this was anything but very poor judgement in language and lack of discipline on Ford’s part.
Maybe Berry Tramel should have interviewed Thomas as to why he departed the program in the manner in which he did. Or maybe–if Berry was really out to get OSU hoops then he would have gone full bore on the entire story as to Sean Sutton’s buyout last spring. Berry Tramel did neither unless I missed it in the paper–and for whatever it’s worth he should be commended for it. Not everything needs to be in the paper.
Total BS on the OSU/OU journalism slant. I sat right behind the O-State bench when they played Rhode Island at the All-College. Are you kidding? It was brutal and that was a game they won.
I wish Coach Ford the best, but he needs to address his language in public for no another reason than he makes himself and his program look completely foolish.
All during Mike Holder’s rationales for getting rid of Sean Sutton–he cited that he wanted something else in regards to the experience for his student-athletes. I can’t really imagine calling a kid like Obi a f—— idiot in public is what Mike Holder had in mind.
MJ
This is pretty far from “alarming.”
My favorite line-of-reasoning that’s come up in the wake of all this is that people who cuss aren’t smart enough to express themselves in other ways. 90% of the 100 smartest people I know use the FCC’s banned 7 or 8 words brilliantly. It adds spice to their vernacular and to our dialogue. That’s not to say that the people I’m speaking of can’t communicate without cussing, because they can – very well.
Here’s one: the people who claim you’re stupid if you can’t communicate without cussing aren’t smart enough to explain the real reason’s they’re offended. Either that, or they know the real reasons are lame.
This is how I do it: if you’re around somebody that doesn’t want to hear it, don’t cuss. It’s just courtesy. The words aren’t bad in and of themselves; they’re bad when other people may not want to hear them.
I doubt Coach Ford thought anybody but his players would hear him in Phog Allen.
By the way, are we sure he said “idiot”?
Reading these comments makes me wonder wny so many readers spell Tramel incorrectly. It doesn’t have 2 m’s! Duh!! It’s right there on the page!
F for Fail on Tramel on this one. Not a god article at all. Today’s society is laced will all kinds of foul language. I might not approve of it in all the situations it is happening in bit I Tramel doesn’t like it maybe he should quit trying to be the language police and move on to another pass time. The race card Tramel, give me a break. In all of my 57 years I have noticed the first people to pull a ‘race card’ are journalist and your use of that is just as offensive as Ford’s use of the four letter word. Quit stirring the pot.
The Oklahoman and the sports animal have no right to get on the back of Ford. These two operations are so pro OU nothing of what they say should be taken seriously. I will take Ford over Sean Sutton any day. Sutton with his no involvement coaching was sick coaching and Traber is such a good friend of Sutton he can not let go. Berry throwing in the race card..WEll what can you expect from an OU booster.
It’s sports, people and players and fans should get used to what has always,(from the beginning of sports) been accepted as the norm. All this politically correct junk has nothing to do with sports. If you want to watch politically correct stuff go to a cricket match.
Hey Berry. A couple years ago the NCAA wanted to crackdown on profanity. If referee heard it, no matter who is was directed at, it is a technical. Could you check on this?
I don’t understand why it is such a big deal? I don’t agree with him calling him a name I guess, but anyone that has played football especially can tell you coach’s cuss. I was in the 7th grade and had a coach tell me that if I ever missed another block he would rip my f*&^%$#@ head off and throw over the trees! Guess what, I blocked 3 guys on the next play all by myself. Completely blew them up. Not a big deal. It is just words. I am an OU fan, and let me tell you, I hate OSU worse than Texas, but because of Mike Gundy and his “attack” on Jenni Carlson, and Travis Ford I have gained a smidgen of respect for OSU. They have the program on the right track. Everyone needs to chill out and back off.
In Response to Rhett’s comment: This is pretty far from “alarming.”
My favorite line-of-reasoning that’s come up in the wake of all this is that people who cuss aren’t smart enough to express themselves in other ways. 90% of the 100 smartest people I know use the FCC’s banned 7 or 8 words brilliantly. It adds spice to their vernacular and to our dialogue. That’s not to say that the people I’m speaking of can’t communicate without cussing, because they can – very well.
Here’s one: the people who claim you’re stupid if you can’t communicate without cussing aren’t smart enough to explain the real reason’s they’re offended. Either that, or they know the real reasons are lame.
This is how I do it: if you’re around somebody that doesn’t want to hear it, don’t cuss. It’s just courtesy. The words aren’t bad in and of themselves; they’re bad when other people may not want to hear them.
I doubt Coach Ford thought anybody but his players would hear him in Phog Allen.
By the way, are we sure he said “idiot”?
I SAY RIGHT THE HELL ON!!!!!!!!!!
Funny how when I read the comments posted, two things occur. One, a lot of people bag on the writer of the story, saying he has a slanted point of view. The second is how quickly OU is thrown into the mix.
The basic issue here has nothing to do with either of these views; it is whether it is acceptable for an NCAA coach to aim profanities at an individual during a televised event. Saying that it is a common practice, saying that your coach cursed at you and you blocked three people the next play, does not make it an acceptable practice.
It will be interesting to see how this story develops. If OSU, and Holder, have the desire and energy to hold coaches to a high standard of ethics and integrity. Sure if Ford’s team was ranked #2 in the country, atop the Big XII, his style and approach might be more accepted. That to me is the bigger problem, not the language.
Stuart, a question plz. have you ever watched an OU game on tv..Stoops and Venables burn the tube. Did you see anything mentioned about that by Berry. Are you saying Capel has never said a cussword to a black-or white player? Yoe see if ur fair you cant have it both ways. Obi reported he was even aware of it- and hes ok. Are you ok with a writer saying maybe the coach is a racist. Dont you think thats a bigger issue? Think..
Tom, yes I have watched an OU game, and yes, I am aware that there is profanity involved. Fortunately, these coaches are out of earshot of most fans, and the televisions operate on a five second delay.
I do not recall mentioning Jeff Capel at any time, nor did I choose to mention race. Writers are entitled to opinions, and in the realm of sportswriting, there are a lot of opinions rendered. The more you agree with the opinions of a writer, the more you are likely to find him or her enjoyable to read.
As you mention Stoops and others, you bring to mind my point exactly. One reason that there is little said about their choice of language is based largely on the fact that they are winning.
Racism is a perceived, and often misdiagnosed form of human action. Tom, a question for you. If Jeff Capel were to make a comment toward Blake Griffin that was not well taken by some, would you say he was directing it towards a black athlete or a white one?
“that’s not me”. If not then who is it? Of course it’s him and making that comment strongly suggests he is not taking responsibility for it.