MR

I hope not. Anyone who watches Mike and Mike following this? Do you really think he slipped or what? I find it hard to believe that the co host of the most popular morning sports show in the country would risk his six figure gig by saying something that dumb on purpose.

I love the show and have never heard a trace of anything like that from either of the guys. I think it was a complete accidental word jumble, do you?

http://backporch.fan...es-for-slip-up/

madsplash wrote:I hope not. Anyone who watches Mike and Mike following this? Do you really think he slipped or what? I find it hard to believe that the co host of the most popular morning sports show in the country would risk his six figure gig by saying something that dumb on purpose.

I love the show and have never heard a trace of anything like that from either of the guys. I think it was a complete accidental word jumble, do you?

http://backporch.fan...es-for-slip-up/

Link fail.

How about a summary of what the controversy is? I love Mike & Mike. Didn't hear anything about this, though.

http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2010/01/1 ... r-slip-up/
Mike Greenberg ESPN television anchor and co-host of the "Mike and Mike in the Morning" show, accidentally used a racist slur on-air Monday morning and has since offered a full apology.

Coming out of a commercial break, Greenberg said to the audience: "Mike and the Mike in the Morning on ESPN radio, talking football with you on this Martin Luther Coon King Jr. holiday ..."

Greenberg's apology, which was posted on the ESPN Media Zone site, is below: "I just came home from the Knicks game and found out about the mess that was created by my garbling a sentence on our show this morning; I apologize for not addressing it sooner.

And I'm sorry that my talking too fast - and slurring my words - might have given people who don't know our show the wrong impression about us, and about me.

I feel horrible about that, because nothing could be further away from who I am and what our show is about.

I would never say anything like that, not in public, or in private, or in the silence of my own mind, and neither would anyone associated with our show, and I'm very sorry that my stumble this morning gave so many people the opposite impression."26
Share From my perspective, Greenberg's explanation makes sense, and it's good that he took the time to apologize before this possibly caused more of a stir. As anyone who's done a live broadcast can attest, there's a lot that can go wrong when speaking in front of a mic or camera. Being tired or distracted can increase the chance of a slip-up, especially when doing a show as early in the morning as Greenberg's.

There's also a difference between an innocent mistake and one done with intent when it comes to deragatory remarks. You can speculate all you want as to the reasons for Greenberg's mistake (e.g. Freudian slip), but at the end of the day it's still speculation, and Greenberg's reputation prior to this has never been questioned.

As the blog You Been Blinded pointed out, an ABC affiliate's weatherman, Rob Blair, was fired in 2005 for uttering the exact same phrase as Greenberg on the air. His apology wasn't enough to save his job.

Given the circumstances here, it's possible that Greenberg could receive a short suspension from ESPN, but shouldn't face harsh punishment.

I'm still waiting for ESPN to apologize for becoming Craig James' Whore.

fightingilliniJRNY wrote:

madsplash wrote:I hope not. Anyone who watches Mike and Mike following this? Do you really think he slipped or what? I find it hard to believe that the co host of the most popular morning sports show in the country would risk his six figure gig by saying something that dumb on purpose.

I love the show and have never heard a trace of anything like that from either of the guys. I think it was a complete accidental word jumble, do you?

http://backporch.fan...es-for-slip-up/

Link fail.

How about a summary of what the controversy is? I love Mike & Mike. Didn't hear anything about this, though.

Try this one : http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2010/01/1 ... r-slip-up/

Carlitto H@kk wrote:There is absolutely NO WAY Greeny did this on purpose. The guy, his co-host, the multiple
guest hosts and the entire show are top-notch and this is nothing but a very badly timed slip/slur/mistake
that should really not be taken seriously. I think Greeny's rep in the industry should speak for itself.

If he does get suspended, fined or, at worst, canned, then ESPN is going to lose a lot of fans cuz
there isn't anyone good enuff to fill Greeny's shoes or that time-slot, and that includes my 2nd favorite
morning sports guy, The Herd

I don't think the problem is wether he did it on purpose, it's was it a slip of how he thinks. I don't believe he does, but who knows what ESPN will do.

Everyone is too damned sensitive these days. Hell, you can call me an old, slightly out of shape cracker and it doesn't bother me!

I tend to agree w/you CH, but I think he's either said it, heard it or thought it...recently!!

I'd plant my 2 cts worth, but it's not in the "Pruning of Large Trees..." forum.


later~

Arkansas wrote:I'd plant my 2 cts worth, but it's not in the "Pruning of Large Trees..." forum.


later~

There was a talk show host in St. Louis two or so years back that was talking about a story that included Condoleezza Rice who was Sec of State at the time. He said something about her being attractive and was just rambling and said the word 'Coon'. He immediately caught it, and profusely apologized. He genuinely seemed stunned that he ever said it. The GM of the station came rushing in the studio, made him go to break and fired him on the spot. No questions asked. The guy has never worked in radio since.

I have no doubt Greenburg did not mean to utter that word. None. After listening to him almost every day on the way to work, I don't think there is an ounce of controversy or mean spiritedness to him at all. Good that he apologized like he did though.

Onestepper wrote:There was a talk show host in St. Louis two or so years back that was talking about a story that included Condoleezza Rice who was Sec of State at the time. He said something about her being attractive and was just rambling and said the word 'Coon'. He immediately caught it, and profusely apologized. He genuinely seemed stunned that he ever said it. The GM of the station came rushing in the studio, made him go to break and fired him on the spot. No questions asked. The guy has never worked in radio since.

I have no doubt Greenburg did not mean to utter that word. None. After listening to him almost every day on the way to work, I don't think there is an ounce of controversy or mean spiritedness to him at all. Good that he apologized like he did though.

I agree. I've listened to the show from almost when they started. I don't believe that Greeny is about that.