Bryant Gumbel "Olympics like GOP convention"

[medeak]

know this is from repub site...but the news is on all the sports channels and find Gumbel an idiot for saying there aren't real athletes at winter olympics.. Wasn't Jimmy the Greek fired for saying racist comments like this?

HBO's Gumbel: Lack of Blacks Makes Olympics 'Look Like a GOP Convention'
Posted by Dave Pierre on February 16, 2006 - 00:58.
There were some eye-opening remarks from Bryant Gumbel on the most recent episode of HBO's Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel. According to a transcript posted by a television columnist named Seth Frelich, Gumbel said the following in his closing monologue last week (emphasis mine):

"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. 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 ... So if only to hasten the arrival of the day they’re done, when we can move on to March Madness — for God’s sake, let the games begin."

http://newsbusters.org/node/4057

[BlueManDude]

1. His comments were stupid and only give ammo to RW bigots. n/t

[ChazII]

9. The RW is

already questioning why he is not being accused of racists remarks, and asking if he will get to keep his job.

[BlueManDude]

16. I know,it's all over sportsradio where i am

imo his remarks are racist although i don't think he is a racist.

just really stupid. the white bigots flock to this stuff like moths to the flame.

[tularetom]

2. Gumbel is an idiot but

Remember the quote I think by Hollywood Henderson (ex Cowboys linebacker) "If there are judges it ain't a sport". Applies to the summer games as well.

[WinkyDink]

91. I guess he's never heard of refs and Instant Replay.

Moron.

[MadisonProgressive]

3. Those are some very ignorant comments.

[Erika]

4. I found his remarks sincere and accurate

The GOP don't have a clue. When our former GOP congresswoman, Helen Chenoweth, was asked why she didn't OK minority funds for Northern Idaho (which has cold and harsh winters), she responded by saying "Those darker skinned people don't do well in a colder environment.

We cringed in embarrassment. Then laughed our heads off at her stupidity.

[BlueManDude]

8. His comments are racist

He seems to be saying that if more blacks lived in places like Minn or Wisc or Maine or Colo they'd dominate skating or skiing events over white people. How does he know?

He also in an odd way seems to be perpetuating this stereotype of blacks as the superathletes.

Stupid comments by a stupid man.

[medeak]

10. Jane Pauley is a dem... and don't think she likes him either n/t

[BlueManDude]

11. It's too bad that he wastes his opportunity to speak

by saying indefensible things that actually help those who disagree with him.

[Erika]

12. He was comparing the whiteness of the winter olympics to

that of the GOP. That's the area I agreed with and which reminded me of my GOP congresswoman racist remarks about darker skinned people not liking cold weather.

[BlueManDude]

18. he also appears to be saying that whites can never compete with blacks

or that no event can truly be the best without blacks involved.

i really don't care about this whole brouhaha but it gives ammo to tne bad guys.

[Roy]

33. It appears (actually) that there is no implication to

blacks in that statement period, or I missed it not reading the whole article.

Unless the ancient Greeks that he did mention, were black. Gumble most likely is comparing these Olympic games to the GOP convention based on it being something other than what is actually being represented.

A smoke screen if you will of what the olympics used to represent. A call to faux patriotism under the US banner rather than a true competition of real athletic skills pitted against likewise talented athletes of other nations.

The GOP convention was a media staged event to portray the republican party as palatable and Representative of main street America, which it is not. the Olympics likewise is a media staged event to portray this advertisement cash cow as a collection of valid sporting events pitting the best athletes of various nations against each other.

Two similar scams that generate billions for the already very, very wealthy.

A racial comment..... No, but It seems that a few in thread will find a way to make so.

[BlueManDude]

38. "paucity of blacks "

First of all, you are much more eloquent and coherent than Gumbel, who does a disservice to the platform that he's been given. I wish you had it.

Second of all he did mention blacks.

Third of all. You and I are probably in agreement about most things and Gumbel ain't worth our time.



;-)

[medeak]

39. it seems to me...

that if a white person made that comment they would be terminated. just my opinion... was upset at poor Jimmy The Greek Snyder who was ostracised. am a Vegas chick

[Nikki Stone 1]

98. The Ancient Greeks traced their own history to Egypt and Phoenicia

Not white in the way we think of white.

[Hardrada]

5. O Bryant, Tsk Tsk!!

[Swede]

6. What a fucking dolt.

Everything he says from now on won't be taken seriously again.

[awoke_in_2003]

47. To quote

Negrodamus (Paul Moony character from Dave Chappelle Show) "White people like Wayne Brady because he makes Bryant Gumble look like Malcolm X"

[fishwax]

65. haha

:rofl:

[medeak]

7. snow boarders at GOP convention?

Now that would be funny!

[Ikonoklast]

13. Did I miss something here?

I never knew that the ancient Greeks played basketball. Using his own logic, basketball wouldn't qualify as a sport, then, because there is no link to the ancient games.

And there are judges in almost every sport that make subjective interpretations of the rules right there on the field of play; they are called umpires, referees, linesmen, etc.

Gumbel has always been a pompous ass, full of himself.

Or maybe he's just jealous that he can't do any of those so-called sports himself; he can only TALK about them.

[WinkyDink]

92. I'll bet they had synchronized swimming! HAHA!

I guess Gumbel is a purist. So only original games for him.
Fine; I'll take naked men running track and throwing the javelin!

(Note to BG: Ancient Greeks weren't from Africa.)

[cynatnite]

14. I guess I don't see the racism...

It seems to me he considers the winter games rather worthless and many of those who compete not real athletes. He doesn't like the winter games...prefers summer probably and is dying for some basketball.

Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but that's all I can see. Someone want to break it down even more so it can be clearer?

[ChazII]

56. He is

waitng for March Madness and a 'plethota of non-whites'. Sorry but his comments seemed racists to me. What do you call the folks from Asia?

[fishwax]

67. plethora of non-whites? Where did that come from

is that actually something he said?

Or is that just an assumption you're making?

And what does Asia have to do with it? Did he mention Asia?

[ChazII]

104. He did not mention

Asia. He just said the winter games looks like a GOP convention. I only brought up Asia bc they are at the games. Do they have high numbers at a GOP convention? What is they count for Chinese-Americans and Japanese-Americans at a Repug convention. I guess I was taken offense where none was implied. So sorry for reading more than what he said. Maybe it was his lack of sensitivity to these athletes that irked me -- and for that I will not apologize.

[fishwax]

76. Despite your knee-jerk reaction to March Madness as "non-white"

the two players battling for player of the year this year are both white, a fact which Gumbel surely knows. And yet, despite what so many here eagerly see as his "denigration" of white athletes, he's still looking forward to march madness.

Gee, maybe it's not just about race after all. For him, anyway.

[WinkyDink]

95. Anybody who thinks skiers are not athletes is plain stupid. Period.

Bryant Dumb-bell'd be singing a different tune if Team USA was dominating.
Wonder what Shani Davis thinks of his comments.

[fishwax]

116. actually, he made these comments last week

when it was still thought that the US would dominate.

[fishwax]

66. he doesn't even say they aren't real athletes

he simply says we shouldn't buy the hysterics about them being the "world's greatest athletes," when the percentage of the population that participates is miniscule (racially, as he pointed out, as well as geographically).

I really enjoy watching the winter games, and I'm no fan of Bryant Gumbel, but I don't see anything particularly outrageous about his comments.

So he doesn't like the winter olympics. Big deal. Many people don't. That doesn't make them any less enjoyable to me or to the millions who watch.

So he doesn't think figure skating is a sport. Big deal. Many people don't. People manage to like it anyway.

So he points out that blacks are largely not represented in the winter olympics. This is not contrary to fact, for a variety of socioeconomic/cultural reasons.

I'm with you. I don't see the racism.

[tishaLA]

15. Ginned up controversy

"about" race at a GOOP site. Imagine that?

I think the transcript actually conveys what Mr. Gumble was conveying. These games are mockable, and that's what Bryant was saying. What Bryant was trying to do in that show ending rant was make the frankly chiched joke about how the winter olympics are not for sports fans but are instead aimed at the Oprah/Lifetime movie of the week soccer moms who give the figure skating such high ratings.

The throw away line about the lack of blacks (which doesn't translate to a written transcript) was intended to be part of the humorous observation. It was not meant to start some civil rights discussion or imply that the USOC discriminates against African Americans.

But people who want to accuse African Americans of "racism" are seldom stopped by things like facts....

[Ikonoklast]

17. But he still said it.

If he was white and said something similar about the amount of black athletes in the NBA, he would have been terminated before the show was over.

He is just an idiot. I didn't take what he said as racist, just moronic.

[tishaLA]

20. But he's not white and his comments aren't about a sport....

but about a collectivity--an assemblage--of things construed as sports. His comments are about the "true human" stories of athletes like the Norwegian curling team and Finland's skeleton team...teams NBC thinks have to be humanized through repetitive, annoying stories about struggles against infirmity, penury, and skinned knees.

Yet another GOOP site trying to demonize a prominent African American for a throwaway line. It's laughable to see them gin up controversy like this.

[Erika]

22. He pointed out the fact that the winter olympics is a white

function for the most part. That was an accurate fact.

Are facts now racist if you point them out?

[medeak]

24. so the summer Olympics are for blacks?

Jeeshus chreest... what is wrong with this board..can't anyone see he's a pompass ass wipe full of himself?

[fishwax]

70. the summer olympics are for everybody

And people across racial/cultural/geographic/economic spectra participate in, say, track and field. The same is not true of skiing or curling or figure skating.

I can see that he's a pompous ass, but that doesn't make his comments in this instance racist or even wrong.

[ChazII]

122. If he were to say

next month that March Madness feels like the DNC convention, that would be okay?

[fishwax]

124. Why would he say that? (And why would that be offensive?)

Why would he say that? What would be his point?

And what would be offensive about it? Would he be saying that March Madness, like the DNC convention, contains a cross section of America?

[Judi Lynn]

78. Pardon, but what gave you the idea people come to D.U. to discuss

tv non-political personalities? What does what Bryan Gumbel says have to do with American politics, or is everything "grown-ups" do connected in some way to politics?

Discharging race hate and venom is something for other boards.

[Ikonoklast]

28. I wonder how he feels about skating now?

After all, a black athlete won a medal in the Winter Olympics. But I guess since Bryant doesn't care about it he would belittle that achievement also. After all, the Greeks didn't skate. What an ass.

It wasn't a blatantly racist comment, more of a backhanded one. It still got uncomfortably close to the line and could be interpeted as, look, these are just white folks' sports, and I don't watch them or care for them. Let's get to real sports. It just sounded stupid.

And I would guarantee you that if you were a sports commentator and pointed out facts like that you wouldn't last long. America doesn't want to be reminded that it is still a racist society, even obliquely, for all the hero worship of athletes that goes on.

[ChazII]

57. still a course

in cultural sensitivity would not hurt him. Any of us would have to take a course if we made a statement like his.

[fishwax]

71. Bullshit n/t

[ChazII]

94. Still broadcasters

as others have lost jobs for very similar remarks. As a teacher we are given classes to be culturally sensitive. Maybe it is time for others (like the meda) to take similar classes. My district even has a program to helps us to be aware of remarks like his. Call it bull if you wish, but some of us live in a cultural diverse world where every word we say can have an effect. One being a loss of a job.

[fishwax]

114. what broadcasters have been fired for similar remarks?

Bryant Gumbel's job on that show is to be somewhat provocative. If he'd said anything remotely racially insensitive, I might agree with you, but there isn't any racism in his comment, despite the trumped-up reaction from right-wingers who love to make specious charges of racism against african-americans because it discounts the effect and existence of genuine racism.

[Senator Obama]

36. Such a comment would be stupid wtth reference to the NBA

given that the pre-existing barriers to black participation in the sport at the player level have been obliterated, we can now be sure that the best athletes are in the sport. Such a comment made today could only be interpreted to have racist motive. We need only look back a few decades when there were Negro leagues with players that would have dominated the Major leagues to understand the thrust of the Gumbel comments. One would have to look at Gumbels comments from a purely racial standpoint to proclaim them racist.

Obama

[Senator Obama]

43. Not constructive perhaps but racist or moronic..not hardly

I for one celebrate all medals and the effort of each and every one of our athletes that are participating in the Winter Games, particularly the history making medal won today by Shani Davis in speed skating.

Mr. Gumbel certainly has a right to his opinion about whether the Winter Games are in the spirit of the ancient olympics, a point that I don't agree with entirely. There are more than a few events such as curling that are a bit suspect..:-). The same observation could be made about the summer games. I mean do we think we'll be seeing Olympic golf anytime soon?

That being said I agree with Tisha that this controversy is largely manufactured. Two clues...largely exploited by by the RW media much the same as Hillary Clinton' s reference to plantations in front of a predominantly black audience. Second, the fact that an idiot like Larry Elder runs with this. I can see many here are prone to the Elder interpretation.

Without an expanded remark, e.g. that more effort is needed to generate wider participation of blacks and other minorities in winter sports, Gumbel's remarks fall flat on their face and hence are open to accusations of racism. However, I don't construe his remarks as being racist. He makes an irrefutable observation...there are few blacks on the US Olympic team, and yes this is despite the fact that there are many aspects of some of these sports such as speed skating where blacks could particularly excel if given access and motivation to enter the sport. There are many more Tiger Woods and Shani Devises who unfortunately will never have the opportunity. Like it or not, there is a reason why speed positions in the NFL are dominated by black players, not the least of which is that they are exposed to the sport and many related athletic endeavors early in life. Few winter sports are supported in public schools, a fact that largely contributes to the dearth of blacks who are even in a position to try out for the games. Add to that the cost associated with being trained in such sports such as skiing, snowboarding and ice skating and we have another major hurdle. The same is true with sports such as golf and tennis. This is a socioeconomic problem. There are lots of blacks in winter havens such as Michigan and Massachusetts. The problem is they are largely poor and live in the inner city. Those weekend jaunts to the ski slopes are not possible under the circumstances. Not all of these winter athletes live in "cold" climates. They can travel to snow and training facilities as needed as they have access to the private money needed to support their training.

I would love for Gumbel to take the time to explain himself. I think he uses his platform well. Now if he could put his money and personal effort into the mix, he might not be so prone to have his remarks attacked.

Obama

[liberalpragmatist]

52. Sen. Obama, is that really you?

:hi:

You state the problem much better than Gumbel did; on a broader level, the Winter Games do discriminate in favor of Western, developed countries. Developing countries and countries in warm climates - pretty much most countries outside of Europe - don't really have the facilities, the climate, or the money to finance winter sports; thus, the games are dominated by Caucasians from Europe and North America.

Oh, and about curling - I have to wonder how some of those female curlers look as good as they do! There must be something curling does to one's body! :)

PS: Was your comment meant to be a separate comment instead of a reply to your previous post? You may want to repost it - it'll get more attention.

[fishwax]

72. yes, exactly

:thumbsup:

[fishwax]

69. The NBA analogy is a bad analogy

For a variety of sociocultural/economic reasons, events included in the winter games have had low levels of african-american participation at every level of competition. The same simply isn't true of white people in the sport of basketball.

[BlueManDude]

19. but that's what they do dude

why give them the chance?

[tishaLA]

21. Yes and let's not dissent because

the terrorists will think we are weak. :eyes:

[BlueManDude]

32. Gumbel is just being stupid

look i agree this is all trumped up bs and i really couldn't care less about it

but

gumbel has a platform and he should at least think thru what it is he's saying

what exactly was he saying my friend?

[fishwax]

68. priceless last line

"But people who want to accuse African Americans of "racism" are seldom stopped by things like facts...."

so true

[BillZBubb]

23. Exactly how are his comments racist????

To me, only a racist would interpret them that way.

His statement is true: You have a sports event that supposedly has the "world's greatest athletes", yet not many blacks at all. Those are facts. It is also a fact that MANY OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST ATHLETES ARE BLACK!. Therefore, the winter olympics don't have the world's greatest athletes by a long shot.

They may have some great athletes in a few events, but most of the world's great athletes aren't there. That's a fact.

[medeak]

25. WTF?

you've got to be kidding me!

[medeak]

27. Lance Armstrong subathlete then

as no blacks in Tour de France?

[fishwax]

73. that doesn't follow from Gumbel's comments in any way whatsoever

he never said whites were subathlets. He never even said the winter olympians were subathletes.

He simply pointed out that the sample of athletes at the winter games is quite skewed racially, and that it is ridiculous to assert that such a sample represents the "world's greatest athletes." (The same could be said for the skewed economic and geographic base of the athletes in the olympic games, as the chance to excel in such sports usually requires (a) money and (b) winter.)

That doesn't mean that the winter olympic athletes aren't great at what they do or can't be great athletes in their own right. It doesn't mean that at all.

[tabasco]

30. Not sure what you're trying to say.

Are you saying the skiers in the Olympics aren't great athletes, because they aren't black?

:wtf:

[BlueManDude]

34. he's saying a white guy could never be better than a black guy

it's just silly. gumbel is a moron and isn't worth you're defense. i doubt he thought as long about his original statement as you did about your previous post.

[KingFlorez]

37. Where did he say that?

That's how right wingers want to spin it and you seem to be using their talking points.

[BlueManDude]

40. They're right for once

he cites the paucity of blacks as being de facto evidence that the Wint Oly couldn't possible be a colection of the world's greatest athletes.

I gotta tell ya Gumbel ain't wortn defending. Yeah RWers have seized on his comments - but his comments were stupid and if the RW can use anything to their advantage they will.

You see, this is all about some white guy public figure making a racist a statement in the future and the RW defending it by saying "yeah but Gumbel said...". The battle goes on and on. Tit for tat.

[fishwax]

74. he didn't say any such thing

and repeating the assertion a hundred times doesn't make it so.

He said that the sample of athletes at the winter games is racially skewed, and that such a racially skewed sample couldn't represent "the world's greatest athletes."

Nowhere does he say whites can't be great athletes. Nowhere does he say whites can't be as good as blacks. Nowhere does he say the athletes at the winter games can't be great at their own sports or even great athletes in their own right.

[Ikonoklast]

35. You are wrong.

In each of these events, the country is represented by the absolute best athletes for each event or competition. These athletes train and compete at a world class level year-round. In these events, they ARE the very best in the world in their respective sports. Just because you don't recognize their names doesn't make it less so.

Just because a pompous ass like Gumbel doesn't like the Biathlon doesn't mean it isn't one of the most physically demanding sports in the world, performed by some very highly trained and gifted competitors.

[fishwax]

79. you are misinterpreting his comments

the fact that the biatholon is "one of the most physically demanding sports in the world, performed by some very highly trained and gifted competitors" does not at all contradict what gumbel said.

And the fact that they are the best at their event is not in doubt, nor is it in doubt that they compete in those events at a world-class level. Nothing from his quote in the OP contradicts this.

Gumbel said that the sample of athletes at the winter games was racially skewed, and that he doesn't believe that such a skewed sample represents the "world's greatest athletes."

Curling is harder and more physically taxing than it looks.
The Curlers at the Olympics are the best curlers in the world.
That doesn't mean the curlers at the olympics are the world's greatest athletes.

Incidentally, I watched the 11.5k biatholon finish yesterday. Those guys never cease to amaze me. They must have hearts the size of racehorses. :toast: to them.

[WinkyDink]

101. EVEN if true, is there any contest for "World's SINGLE GREATEST

athlete"? Even the Decathlon is only summer events.
So OBVIOUSLY EACH SPORT has its OWN.
How good of a golfer is Michael Jordan?

[hatrack]

26. Now, if he'd been talking about hype, bullshit, broken promises . ..

. . . hyper-corporatism, more American flags than the Guangzhou garment district, missed opportunities and drooling patriotic idiocy, then, well, yeah, I can kind of see his comparison to the GOP convention.

[KingFlorez]

29. Racist how?

The Winter Olympics are mostly white, that is a fact. Only right wing nuts would make a big fuss about stuff like this.

[fishwax]

77. stop talking sense, man

"that is a fact"

well, as tishaLA said somewhere upthread: "people who want to accuse African Americans of "racism" are seldom stopped by things like facts...."

"Only right wing nuts would make a big fuss about stuff like this."

but ... but ... gumbel's a jerk, and if a white guy said it i mean gosh come on he obviously just doesn't like white athletes :eyes:

and other such bullshit.

[Captain Hilts]

31. Blacks are making inroads into the "winter sports." A gold medal today.

And more play ice hockey too. That's a good thing.

[medeak]

45. angry interview that fellow gave!

it was a spoiler for me on West Coast but I watched anyway..couldn't believe the anger this skater showed at winning the gold..very disturbing. Reporter actually asked "Are you angry?"

Apparently his mother wouldn't allow him to race in a team race or such? as said he was being used?

Very strange.. was so happy for him but then such a horrible reaction. Don't think he will be getting many endorsements?

[Captain Hilts]

55. That's interesting, and sad. Racism works both ways. Ignore mom! nt

[Beausoir]

75. I saw that, too and I feel badly about it.

I was bummed at what a terrible interview he gave. He definitely was uber pissed-off about something.
But then I started to think about all the pressure that the guy is under and there is alot of turmoil among his team mates etc.

I just don't understand why he is not happy with his Gold medal. Maybe he is and is just not great at expressing his emotions.

[fishwax]

81. i think he was happy with the gold, but unhappy with NBC

and the rest of the media, for portraying him as selfish when he didn't participate in the 1000 meter team pursuit. He claimed he had said since January that he didn't intend to run the race, that he wanted to focus on his personal events, and that he wanted to let other skaters (whose only chance to participate would be the team pursuit) get the chance to skate in the olympics. Team USA claimed he didn't officially tell them he wasn't skating until earlier last week, and the media continually mentioned how the team might have won if only he had skated. They kept repeating it throughout the race and after the race and in the event wrapup on NBC, and I would guess that is what he was mad about, rather than the medal.

[fishwax]

80. I think he was fed up with NBC for the way they covered the

team pursuit, basically implying repeatedly that it was his fault the team didn't medal.

I'm in no position to know what really happened with that pursuit race. He claimed that he had never intended to run it and never told the federation that he would and in fact had said all along that he wouldn't, but the federation thought they could change his mind.

He also said that he thought that skaters brought to Italy specifically for that race should have the chance to skate it, since they wouldn't have any olympic experience otherwise. This seemed to me to be a rather magnanimous gesture on his part, and yet the media spun his actions as selfish. Who knows where the real truth lies.

[Canadian Socialist]

85. The best hockey player (presently) in the world

is black. Jerome Iginla... who plays on my team (Calgary Flames). And he is on the Canadian Men's Olympic Hockey Team. But, of course, I'm a little biased towards Iggy.:)

[Captain Hilts]

87. I'm rooting for Canada because I hate Chelios.

Yes, and it's great Iginla STAYED with Calgary rather than make the jump to Toronto, Montreal, NYC, Det, etc.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

107. I tend to agree with you

I'd have no problem starting a team around Jerome Iginla.

Still, I'm not rooting for Canada. Bertuzzi and Heatley......enough said.

[Captain Hilts]

110. Good points about Heatly and Bertuzi...

Bertuzi shouldn't be playing at all.

After living in RI and eastern CT, I still root for the Bruins, except when they play the Caps

[IrishBloodEngHeart]

41. Gumbles ex wives and girlfriends look like a GOP convention

all white.

What a hypocrite.

[Erika]

42. Now you are determining who is racist based

on the ethnicity of their spouses/friends?

What a reach.

[Senator Obama]

44. Now that is exhibit A: A racist remark!

I don't care from whose mouth it emanates.

Obama

[BlueManDude]

50. Bryant Gumbel ain't worth your outrage

the RW has seized on his stupidity and will run with it fot all they're worth. this thread has us chasing our tails.

[fishwax]

82. chumped up charges of african-americans being racist ARE worth our outrage

because right wingers love to use such issues to lessen the impact of genuine racism.

Gumbel may be a dick, but that doesn't make these comments racist (or even wrong).

[IrishBloodEngHeart]

112. all I'm saying is that if Gumble only supports organizations

or events that have a significant amount of black people, it is strange that in his dating habits, he can only find blond white women that are worth his time.

His comments were stupid. And his own personal life shows that. I don't care who he dates. and I don't care that most competitors in the winter olympics are white.

Nobody is excluded or discriminated against, its just that more whites play "winter" sports, and besides the US, most areas that play a lot of winter sports are mostly white. Its no big deal, and him pretending it is is just stupid. Its no big deal that most world class sprinters are of African descent.

If he were a hardcore guy, who only dated within his race, and only worked within the african american community, than he could say what he did without being a hypocrite. I would still disagree with it, but he could say it with credibility. The way it is now, he has no credibility to make that statement.

[fishwax]

115. Gee. Where does he say any such thing

as he "only supports organizations or events that have a significant amount of black people"? Certainly not in the quote from the OP.

[IrishBloodEngHeart]

118. here's your quote

"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."

Therefore, if the sport doesn't include significant black participation, the athletes aren't "really" athletes. Hockey players are great athletes, skiers are great athletes, speed skaters are great athletes, etc etc etc.

He's just being an ignoramus. He doesn't have to like the winter olympics (I don't like them) but to say because something is made up mostly of people who are not of african descent makes it invalid is incredibly ignorant.

[fishwax]

119. the quote doesn't say that at all

you're drawing conclusions that aren't supported by the facts. He never says they aren't "really" athletes. He doesn't even say they can't be great athletes in their own right. He says that the sample of athletes at the winter games is very skewed racially, and he doesn't believe that such a skewed sample represents "the world's greatest athletes."

Not that they aren't real athletes.
Not that they aren't good at what they do.
Not that white people can't be good athletes.
Not, as you claimed before, that he only supports organizations or events that have a significant amount of black people.

[goclark]

111. I believe his 1st white was African American

But when I saw the report on Faux news, he was getting into his limo with his Britney Spears look a like wife.

I am African American but on this one, Brian needs to shut up!

I don't recall Brian ever being tied into Civil Rights causes.
Correct me if I'm wrong.


Those that live in glass houses....

[noamnety]

46. Maybe he should attribute it to economics, rather than "real" sports

Winter Olympics/Sports are typically the sorts of things most people do as individuals - individual ice skating lessons, individual ski lessons, etc. With the economic divide in this country, the reality is that more whites can afford private lessons for children, private coaching, private ice time, etc.

Track and Field, football, baseball, basketball are all things that schools tend to pay for, schools provide coaching. I would expect more poor children to be involved in those sports than skiing and figure skating. According to the 2001 census, the mean income for a white family was $54,067. The mean income for a black family was $33,598. So it's a fair guess that a lot of black athletes who could have excelled at sports requiring individual coaching were excluded for financial reasons. (Poor whites also, of course, but I'm hypothesizing about why the percentage of blacks is so low.)

How he relates the race issue to the way judging occurs rather than economic realities is beyond me. I view it as a symptom of our Two Americas.

[medeak]

48. Gumbel is a big golfer

wonder if he feels that same way about that sport?

[fishwax]

83. well, he probably doesn't think golfers are the world's greatest athletes

I don't think the Masters tourney represents the world's greatest athletes, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying Masters sunday.

[Captain Hilts]

60. Correct. It's economics/class, not race. Debbie Thomas could skate...

because she was wealthy.

There you go.

[MichaelHarris]

49. No one should ever

make the color of one's skin an issue, even when discussing sports. Those who do it are just plain idiots. If Gumbel really cared he would not bring racism to the table during the Winter Games, he would discuss ways to bring the Winter Games to the people, no matter what color they happen to be.

Racial harmony will never be brought about by pointing out differences, it can only be won by pointing out our commonalities.

[br7598]

51. The ancient greeks were also naked!

Gumbel should also realize that the ancient greeks not only didn't allow women to participate, but they also forbid them from watching. And here is the kicker, they performed the olympics naked. Yep, a bunch of naked men racing and cheering. Or so I read anyway.

Gumbels a racist idiot. He is a racist because he is watching through non-color blind glasses (just like Rush Limbaugh). I enjoy the winter olympics. They are fun. I don't particularly care about the history, and I definately don't care what color the athletes are. Its just fun. And its also good for the world to come together in healthy competition like this.

[br7598]

120. You, Democratic underground is also starting to sound like the GOP!

His implication is that the atheletes were somehow not as good, because there were no blacks involved. He basically states that.

THAT IS RACIST!!!!

You guys are so judgemental its crazy. Its like I am talking to my republican brother. These atheletes worked hard to get here. And its fun to watch them compete. Saying that they are not great simply because it is not a traditionally black sport is ludricous.

By saying its not racist, its the spinning that goes on at the GOP.

Perhaps from now on we should only allow blacks to play any sport at any time. Then maybe we can claim to be non-racist.

What exactly makes a black basketball player better than a white hockey player? Or a black track star than a white skier? Stupid racist BS! Whites are welcome in the basketball court, and blacks are welcome at the local ice rink. People just do what they like.

[fishwax]

121. bullshit.

he doesn't say any such thing.

This is just another example of right-wingers manufacturing outrage about so-called reverse racism, even though he didn't say anything remotely close to what you have claimed.

We're just like the free republic. whatever :eyes:

[6000eliot]

53. I think he's got a point

I can't think of any sporting event less interesting than the winter Olympics, unless it's the summer Olympics.

[entanglement]

54. It's a fact that the Winter Olympics look like a GOP Convention

I confess I don't see any racism in his comments, although he seems quite disgusted with the winter olympics

:shrug:

[The Straight Story]

63. And the summer olympics look like a dem convention :) (nt)

[Captain Hilts]

88. It features sports of selfish individuals. So, yes, it is very GOP.

At least the summer games features sports that high schools participate in, so it's less GOP-like.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

97. Yeah, because gymnasts and track stars are NEVER selfish

Never. :sarcasm:

[Dees]

58. Gumbel...Isn't that some kind of soup or something? n/t

[ikojo]

59. I think the lack of blacks on winter olympic sports

has more to do with class than race. Look at the type of games involved..skating and skiing. Both of these activities take money to become proficient, money for private lessons. Sure there are public skating rinks but, unlike tennis, it is far more difficult for poor and working class kids to access public skating rinks, which often charge to use them.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

61. I wouldn't be surprised that the ancient Greeks knew a fair amount about

skiing. There are some popular skiing slopes in Greece that weren't discovered yesterday.

I know, this has nothing to do with the republican convention remark. I'm just saying that I don't care for Gumbel simply because he is a self appointed expert on everything.

[ecstatic]

62. I don't think he was being racist

I didn't get that feeling from his comments. I think he was trying to say that skating and skiing are subjective activities that are not necessarily in the same league as cut and dry sports like Track and Field. Furthermore, Winter sports do not hold true to Greek tradition. Also, his other comment I think was as a sarcastic retort to the seemingly racist view that the (virtually all White) Winter Olympics feature "the world's greatest athletes."

[confludemocrat]

64. he's right: Winter games are just balancing on ice or snow w/o falling

while using a variety of devices that are expensive and exclusive. BORING! and the biggest event has of a "kiss and cry" area at the end and in which winning is based on politics more starkly than any other sport. Athletes? Yeah I guess, but not very compelling.

[WinkyDink]

100. No sarcasm? Is Formula 1 a sport? It's "just driving".

Swimming? It's "just not drowning".
Diving? It's "just fancy falling".
Running? It's "just propelling one's self really fast."
The pole-vault? It's "just leaping high with the help of a fiberglass stick".
Then there are all those "just catching/throwing/hitting a spherical object" so-called "sports".
Shooting? Even a man with 4 heart attacks can do THAT.

[Swede]

106. Grown men running around in circles is BORING.

Sometimes they carry a baton,sometimes they bounce a ball. Boring shit.

[WinkyDink]

113. Well, at its most basic, watching anyone else be physically active is

pointless.
But somehow we have come to admire humans who push their bodies to the limits of strength, grace, balance, power, precision, endurance, speed, and agility.
Sometimes they conquer the elements. Sometimes they defeat other humans. And sometimes the battles include man-made equipment, but such equipment serves only to increase the struggle, to up the ante, as to what the body is then expected to achieve.

[proud2BlibKansan]

84. I agree with him

Flame away :popcorn:

Bout time someone said this. They do look like a GOP convention. I thought that was a purty funny line and very accurate.

[fishwax]

86. those comments aren't racist

I like the winter olympics. I've watched a lot of them. That doesn't mean the winter olympics consists of "the world's greatest athletes," though. They are great at what they do, and sometimes what they do is incredibly difficult and incredibly taxing. They are the greatest at their events, and great athletes in their own right. But the sample of athletes is extremely skewed (racially, geographically, economically).

[Seen the light]

89. It makes me sad that so many people even on DU find this "racist"

These Olympics don't deserve the coverage and glamour that they get because it doesn't represent the world at all. Newsflash: Most people in the world are not white, yet whites make up the vast majority of Olympians in these Games.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

93. So are you telling the minority to screw off?

The talent they exhibit isn't needed or wanted?

That's not very liberal or progressive.

Go point out your little fact to Jerome Iginla. I'm sure it doesn't make him any less proud to be representing his country in these events.

[Seen the light]

96. I'm not saying that at all

I'm saying that the whole pretense of the Winter Olympics is false. I'm not denying that there are a few people of color in the Winter Games, because there obviously are. However, I find it preposterous that this event is supposed to represent the world. There's a Washington Post article I've seen that sums it up quite nicely, I'll try to see if I can find it for you.

[Seen the light]

99. Here's the article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/03/AR2006020302280.html

Tell me what you think.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

103. Honestly, it's patronizing bullshit.

He's blaming the Olympics and running down the countries who care enough to compete rather than the countries that quite frankly aren't interested in funding people who might want to participate. And that's mainly because those countries for one, don't SEE THEMSELVES as "winter countries" and two, they are more focused on the summer Olympics and spending money there. In a way, in those nations, it may be the winter athletes who are in fact told to "get to the back of the bus". Hell, that's if they are even invited to the bus stop. If he thinks that politics and money are exclusive to these Olympics, it's time for him to climb out of the bubble from which he types. There may very well be people of color from all over the world who can and would participate, if their countries would give them a shot and put a little faith and money into them.

I don't believe in lumping people into categories like that. Many of these hockey players started out in small towns in Western Canada playing on ponds while their dad went out earning money so they could buy them decent equipment to compete in juniors. I think it sucks when a writer decides to equate white and North America/Europe with rich and elite as if only a person of color from a third world country could possibly have monetary struggles to compete in a sport they love.

In short, the writer should stick to what he knows (whatever the F that would be) instead of the O'Reilly method of "How stupid and inflammatory can I be today".

[WinkyDink]

90. Yes, golf is SO much more physically challenging than ice-skating!

And baseball tests an athlete in ways FAR superior to those of down-hill skiing!

So: Who ARE "the world's greatest athletes"?

[Captain Hilts]

109. Golf's another sport that attracts selfish individuals. nt

[donsu]

102. I stopped watching the opening ceremonies because by the time

they got to the flag raising I was thinking the whole thing felt like a Republican organized affair. and I love watching opening ceremonies. I was surprised by my own thoughts.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

105. Gumbel's just distressed he's not covering it for NBC

I'm amused at everyone jumping on the bandwagon telling Bryant "You go, brother!" when in fact this is just some bitter (and very well off) pompous ass getting his digs in at the big corporation that he felt snubbed him by not paying him a few million dollars more. Trust me, he didn't think too long about the statement as some others responding to it have. If he were still on NBC, he'd be sitting right there, smug as ever and beaming at being in the spotlight.

[Evergreen Emerald]

108. I disagree with the interpretations. Here is my take:

"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."

Translation: The Olympics have morphed from what the originators intended. Although pretending to encompass all that the Olympics stood for, today the games are simply an empty show.

"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."

Translation: Those athletes do not represent the greatest athletes in US. Many of the greatest athletes are missing. The Olympics tout that they represent the best in the US just as the GOP touts that they are all inclusive. Yet if you look at who is present at the olympics (and who was present at the GOP convention), there is/was an absence of minorities.

"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 ..."

Translation: If you don’t reach home plate / or the basket or the goal, it isn’t really a sport.

"So if only to hasten the arrival of the day they’re done, when we can move on to March Madness — for God’s sake, let the games begin."

Translation: Get this crap over with so the real sport can begin: March Madness.

My take on what he said. Not racist. Not ignorant. Just Ineloquent.

[alarimer]

123. I think Bryant Gumbel was wrong actually

There are athletes from many countries that are not northern and mostly white. I cannot recall exactly the number (It isn't very many- I'll grant him that) but they mentioned it last night on the coverage. They don't necessarily do very well but they do represent countries like Jamaica. I think the Jamaican bobsledders all those years ago, even though they didn't do very well, inspired a lot of people to compete. Now I am not saying the situation is perfect. It isn't. Since most winter sports cost a lot to the participants, it is difficult for athletes in countries with no snow to participate in these sports. I don't know if Mexicao has a team, for example. I don't think there are any Puerto Ricans either.

[Catherine Vincent]

117. Gumbel should be careful.

He thinks he could say anything now because he's married to a white woman.