Bryant Gumbel's thoughts on the Winter Olympics

[ssusca]

Gumbel.

What a butthead.

I just went to HBO.com and sent them this e-mail:

"Based upon the recent comments made by Mr. Gumbel regarding the Winter Olympics resembling a "GOP" convention" due to its lack of black athletes, I have decided to cancel my subscription to HBO. This type of race baiting is completely irresponsible from a supposedly objective reporter and has no place in sports. It appears the Mr. Gumbel thinks that the events in the Winter Olympics are not true sports simply because there is a deficiency of black athletes competing. Now I ask you; Who's the racist? Would Chris Collinsworth still be employed by HBO if he madE a similar comment about not wanting to watch basketball due to its dearth of white players? In his closing words Mr. Gumbel noted that the Winter Games cannot be linked to those of the Ancient Greeks because they had never even heard of skiing or skating. While that may be true, Mr. Gumbel failed to point out that there was no basketball in the ancient games either as there is in today's Summer Games. But then, I suppose this notion did not fit into his supposition that the Winter Games are inherently racist. In addition, by playing the race card in a situation that clearly has nothing to do with race, Mr. Gumbel effectively makes a mockery of those who are true victims of racism. Again, irresponsible and unnecessary."


I was planning on canceling anyway because I never watch it, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to let them know that comments like this will alienate much of their audience.

 

[kickstand]

they're actually talking about this topic on WEEI in Boston. Was pretty interesting when the Big Show guys were getting ready to come in. There was a rather spirited exchange between Glen Ordway (white) and Michael Holley (black). They talked about it relavtive to Rush Limbaugh's outburst on ESPN in 2002 (or was it 2003?). Good stuff.

BTW, besides playing a totally unncessary race card, Gumbel clearly did not do his homework before he made his statements. I thought reporters/anchors were supposed to have the facts before reporting a story.

 

[billski]

does Gumballs know how to ski or board?

 

[kickstand]

"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,"

I wonder if Gumbel has ever heard of Jeremy Bloom

 

[BeanoNYC]

"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,"

I wonder if Gumbel has ever heard of Jeremy Bloom

... or Shani Davis

 

[kickstand]

"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,"

I wonder if Gumbel has ever heard of Jeremy Bloom

... or Shani Davis

very true. Too bad he can't be more of a role model for African Americans who aspire to be in the Winter Olympics. Did you see his post race interview? What an ass. Maybe people should be looking at Vonetta Flowers instead.

side note - didn't they say last night Davis was the first African American to win gold in a Winter Olympics game? If so, then that's wrong. It was Flowers.

 

[BeanoNYC]

"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,"

I wonder if Gumbel has ever heard of Jeremy Bloom

... or Shani Davis

very true. Too bad he can't be more of a role model for African Americans who aspire to be in the Winter Olympics. Did you see his post race interview? What an ass. Maybe people should be looking at Vonetta Flowers instead.

side note - didn't they say last night Davis was the first African American to win gold in a Winter Olympics game? If so, then that's wrong. It was Flowers.

They're saying he's the first Black (remember African American, as politically correct as it is, is only for Black Americans) to win an individual gold medal.

What's his story with the team? Some sort of beef about endorsements? He will only race individually?

 

[kickstand]

They're saying he's the first Black (remember African American, as politically correct as it is, is only for Black Americans) to win an individual gold medal.

What's his story with the team? Some sort of beef about endorsements? He will only race individually?

yeah, I saw that after I posted. First African-American to win individual gold. Flowers is part of a team.

he was asked to do the team event, where 3 skaters from each country skate at the same time. The team's overall time is when the last skater crossed the line. Not sure what the distance is. The team event happened the 2 days prior to the 1000, Davis's specialty. He said he didn't want to race because it was too close to his event. I don't remember too many specifics about the whole controversy, but his teammates are less than thrilled with this guy.

 

[drjeff]

"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,"

I wonder if Gumbel has ever heard of Jeremy Bloom

If I'm not mistaken, and I know that it is a "ceremonial" competition, but didn't Bode Miller win ABC's "The Superstars" a few years ago, and if I recall by such a large margin over pro athletes from football, basketball, etc - non white by the way - that ABC decided not to ask Bode back to prevent further embarassment by "just a skier".

Do you think that is Gumbel was working for NBC that he'd be saying the same thing right now?? My guess is the only sound he's really hearing lately is the ever increasing sound of his career ticking to an end, and he's just going to be a whiney, spoiled 2 year old about it. Case inpoint, those comment were made almost a week ago, and finally after the better part of a week, and with the US athlete's not exactly doing as expected in Torino, the comment is finally getting some national controversy play.

 

[blacknblue]

very true. Too bad he can't be more of a role model for African Americans who aspire to be in the Winter Olympics. Did you see his post race interview? What an ass. Maybe people should be looking at Vonetta Flowers instead.

side note - didn't they say last night Davis was the first African American to win gold in a Winter Olympics game? If so, then that's wrong. It was Flowers.

Regarding his post-race interview, I blame NBC for that horrifically awkward interview. I heard him give a pretty thoughtful post-race interview on NPR this morning, so I don't think it was Davis' fault. After all, NBC is doing all of that tape-delay, so why didn't they just skip it? It seems like NBC is trying to build up some faux-tension between Davis and Hedrick to boost interest (ie. ratings). It seems like in the hours they had between recording the race and interview and the time at which it was actually broadcast in the States, they could have figured something out. It just seemed like NBC was setting him up.

 

[Plowboy]

Jimmy the Greek got his walking papers the next day from CBS.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Jimmy the Greek got his walking papers the next day from CBS.

Don't forget about Howard Cosell's comment on that Skin's running back. I hope he invested in a pair of mint flavored shoes after that one!

 

[kickstand]

"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,"

I wonder if Gumbel has ever heard of Jeremy Bloom

If I'm not mistaken, and I know that it is a "ceremonial" competition, but didn't Bode Miller win ABC's "The Superstars" a few years ago, and if I recall by such a large margin over pro athletes from football, basketball, etc - non white by the way - that ABC decided not to ask Bode back to prevent further embarassment by "just a skier".

other past winners of that competition include Bloom and Jonny Moseley. I think that goes to show what great athletes skiers really are.

 

[kickstand]

very true. Too bad he can't be more of a role model for African Americans who aspire to be in the Winter Olympics. Did you see his post race interview? What an ass. Maybe people should be looking at Vonetta Flowers instead.

side note - didn't they say last night Davis was the first African American to win gold in a Winter Olympics game? If so, then that's wrong. It was Flowers.

Regarding his post-race interview, I blame NBC for that horrifically awkward interview. I heard him give a pretty thoughtful post-race interview on NPR this morning, so I don't think it was Davis' fault. After all, NBC is doing all of that tape-delay, so why didn't they just skip it? It seems like NBC is trying to build up some faux-tension between Davis and Hedrick to boost interest (ie. ratings). It seems like in the hours they had between recording the race and interview and the time at which it was actually broadcast in the States, they could have figured something out. It just seemed like NBC was setting him up.

in Davis's defense, his other interviews were much better. I wrote that at work this morning before I had seen his other interviews. He was much more articulate and thoughtful at the press conferences, and even after the medal ceremony later that night.

Still, in the heat of the moment, you think the guy would be more excited about winning a gold, and would be extremely proud to be the first African-American to win individual gold. I'm sure he knew he was. I expected more of a response than "sure, that's cool" or something to that effect.

 

[blacknblue]

Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN fires back!

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/colu...3&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1&lpos=spotlight&

 

[ssusca]

Gumbel......

What at butthead.

I'm glad somebody in the sports world finally stepped up and called him on this one.