Bryant Gumbel

[Firebird]

Did anyone catch Bryant Gumbel's rant about the Winter Olympics on HBO the other night. Basically he isn't watching him, but the main controversy is the following statement he made (Roughly):

"How can they claim we are watching the greatest athletes in the world, despite the lack of black athletes that makes it look like a GOP convention"

I want your thoughts, then you'll get mine soon. (By the way, soon after an American black speed skater won gold).

[slorch]

i think he's an idiot.
"leadership" such as his only perpetuates the racial issues that still exist in our society. He's stuck in the 60's and *****es about everything not being black enough. What a moron!

[RocklandDragon]

He's still on TV? He's just an irrevelant figure who is still bitter he lost his power struggle with Katie Couric...ha, ha, ha! :D

[lonny23]

I can't stand that punk. I'm all for good racial relations, but the people who stir the pot to make money for themselves make my blood boil.

[Firebird]

I'll add my two cents worth:

First of all, his insinuation that without black people, the athletes cannot possibly be the worlds best is no different than the jackasses who say that blacks are natually better athletes because they were "bred" to be strong by slave owners, or because they evolved running from lions in the Serengeti, or any of the other crap that white supremacists spew out about supposed black superiority in athletics. It just sounds ok because Gumbel is black. Besides, recent events are forcing us to rethink the supposed superiorty of black athletes even in sports where blacks once dominated. European basketball players are proving that white men can indeed jump. Latin American players are redifining baseball. And the percentage of black players as a total in the NFL has actually dropped over the past 15 or so years. Race is not as much a factor as has been proclaimed when it comes to athletic ability.

Second, while winter olympics does have some asinine sports, some of the athletes are indeed incredibly gifted and trained. Cross country skiers are some of the most fit, tenacious athletes in the world of sports. Their aerobic capacity rivals top marathon runners, AND they do it in freezing weather. The split second reaction time and fast twitch muscles that downhill skiers use rival those of pro baseball players. You try making those kinds of reactions at 80 mph, Gumbel. I shouldn't have to explain the athletic ability and strength of hockey players. Plus, the obstacles many of these athletes have overcome, particularly those from war-torn Balkan states and the wreckage of the former Soviet Union makes the obstacles you average African American athlete faces pale in comparison. They deserve more respect. Is it their fault that the sports they love are not also enjoyed by black athletes? Is it their fault that geography is the main factor in this.


Finally, injecting race where it doesn't belong is the worst thing people can do to combat REAL racism,which is alive and well. When things like this are what people are complaining about, one could be forgiven for assuming that everything really is OK on the racial front,and that now black people are just whining. It deflects attention from the serious problems black Americans still face in our society.


People on this board know me as a PASSIONATE opponent of racism, but nothing makes me angrier than to see the race card played where it doesn't belong.

[CKE]

I'll add my two cents worth:

First of all, his insinuation that without black people, the athletes cannot possibly be the worlds best is no different than the jackasses who say that blacks are natually better athletes because they were "bred" to be strong by slave owners, or because they evolved running from lions in the Serengeti, or any of the other crap that white supremacists spew out about supposed black superiority in athletics. It just sounds ok because Gumbel is black. Besides, recent events are forcing us to rethink the supposed superiorty of black athletes even in sports where blacks once dominated. European basketball players are proving that white men can indeed jump. Latin American players are redifining baseball. And the percentage of black players as a total in the NFL has actually dropped over the past 15 or so years. Race is not as much a factor as has been proclaimed when it comes to athletic ability.

Second, while winter olympics does have some asinine sports, some of the athletes are indeed incredibly gifted and trained. Cross country skiers are some of the most fit, tenacious athletes in the world of sports. Their aerobic capacity rivals top marathon runners, AND they do it in freezing weather. The split second reaction time and fast twitch muscles that downhill skiers use rival those of pro baseball players. You try making those kinds of reactions at 80 mph, Gumbel. I shouldn't have to explain the athletic ability and strength of hockey players. Plus, the obstacles many of these athletes have overcome, particularly those from war-torn Balkan states and the wreckage of the former Soviet Union makes the obstacles you average African American athlete faces pale in comparison. They deserve more respect. Is it their fault that the sports they love are not also enjoyed by black athletes? Is it their fault that geography is the main factor in this.


Finally, injecting race where it doesn't belong is the worst thing people can do to combat REAL racism,which is alive and well. When things like this are what people are complaining about, one could be forgiven for assuming that everything really is OK on the racial front,and that now black people are just whining. It deflects attention from the serious problems black Americans still face in our society.


People on this board know me as a PASSIONATE opponent of racism, but nothing makes me angrier than to see the race card played where it doesn't belong.

tell us what you really think firebird lol

[dada]

tell us what you really think firebird lol
Wayne Brady makes Bryant Gumbel look like Malcom X.

[GoOwls]

Bryant is just jealous that his brother now has a better career than he does. Bryant has ALWAYS been a self-important, sniveling, pandering jerk. I mean, really, is he still on the air somewhere?:D What network would give him a job? HBO you say? Oh yes, the same network that gives Bill Mahre a job as a liberal mouthpiece and a national forum to get his one-sided views out of. HBO may be the most liberal network since CNN. I find it humorous when those libs. in question show their hypocracy by slamming Fox News for their "conservative" slant. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[LUFPAN]

Since ESPN fired Rush Limbaugh for making similar comments last year, HBO should immediately fire Gumbell. But its not going to happen. Reverse racism rears its ugly head.

[pack0808]

Since ESPN fired Rush Limbaugh for making similar comments last year, HBO should immediately fire Gumbell. But its not going to happen. Reverse racism rears its ugly head.


It will not happen. There are clear double standard's in this country and this is just one of them. Political Correctness does not apply to minorities for some odd reason? If a white journalist said a similar comment on the NBA then they would be immediately fired and labeled a racist pig. Example Rush Limbaugh, Jimmy the Greek. Journalist like Gumble and players like Barry Bonds can make all the racist comments he wants but when another white journalist or a player like Rocker makes them he is labeled as a racist scum. I do not agree with Rocker's views at all but why does he get labeled as a horrible racist and a player like Bond's does not? What is the difference? Clear double standard. It happens all the time. By the way, One of Bonds most recent comments is that he really wanted to only break Ruth's record because he is white. He does not really want to break Hank's record and he said that. Can you imagine if it was the other way around and a white player said that? Wow!! It would be ugly. I personally think they all have a right to say what they want but their are consequences for the things you say. I just think the world is way too sensitive these days and everybody is worried about hurting somebody elses feelings. If they believe that so be it. I think they are ignorant but so be it. Their right to free speech. The double standards i have talked about irritate me as you can tell.

[Miss Kitty]

I have never been a BG fan. But this is just nuts. Why would he say something so stupid. I agree with Firebird. He is a nut but he is only one man. What bothers me are the people who will actually listen to him and believe him. I can't imagine the fallout if someone made a similar statement during the summer olympics about the absence of white people. LOL I can't stand when people pull the race card.

He is really just jealous because he wants to be wearing spandex and rhinestones too. ;)

He is right though about not watching the best. I have not seen Chuck Norris yet. :D

[KattTx]

Why did he say it?? To get people to listen to him! As several posters have already stated, his flash in the pan is long ago sizzled out. He is irrelevant in the sports arena today, and this is a weak attempt to remain in an environment that clearly no longer desires his presence.

These athletes, above most others, are worthy of the accolades they get. For most Olympians, they sacrifice large portions of their life to the pursuit of Olympic competition. Not for money, not for fame, not for endorsements, nothing but the love of their sport and the desire to be the very best in the world at that sport. My heart has just broken hearing some of the stories of the athletes from Eastern Europe, China, Russia, the list goes on.... For Gumby to sit up in his cushy studio and look down on them, dismissing their abilities because they aren't a certain color, is the ugliest form of predjudice... elitism. Shame on you Gumby!! :(

[LUFPAN]

I have never been a BG fan. But this is just nuts. Why would he say something so stupid. I agree with Firebird. He is a nut but he is only one man. What bothers me are the people who will actually listen to him and believe him. I can't imagine the fallout if someone made a similar statement during the summer olympics about the absence of white people. LOL I can't stand when people pull the race card.

He is really just jealous because he wants to be wearing spandex and rhinestones too. ;)

He is right though about not watching the best. I have not seen Chuck Norris yet. :D

OOOH Good one. You were able to tie Chuck Norris into reverse racism and the Winter Olympics in one post.

[CyFallsMom]

I can't stand this man for many reasons but this is the main reason. He is a racist. Now, there are people in the world who say only white people can be racist - NOT true. I have met many people of many races and nationalities in my life who were racists and openly so. What is true is that we can't speak up - any time we do, it's racism.

When I worked at Enron, they had the Latin American club, the African American lunch league, the African American college fund or some such thing but when I sent an email asking if I could start a White American's club, I was told ABSOLUTELY not!! Even though my family has been in America since the 1700's and my mom's side is Native American - I can't start one of THOSE terrible unspeakable things. We were really hot about that one because these clubs were openly out there and the company paid for everything for them and we couldn't form one for fear of being called racist (which I am most definitely not but fair is fair) - Enron had MUCH bigger problems than that.

I have to PAY for my kids college with my own funds and scholarships and loans because we don't get the same opportunities as others - i.e. college handed to us on a silver platter. Reverse Racism? More like reverse discrimination and people like Bryant Gumbel and Quanel X keep it going. I have friends of all colors, creeds, religions and sex's. I don't look at them in any other way than that they are my friends and I cherish them. They would never say what this idiot said. These winter olympians are athletes in the truest sense - many of them more athletic than any Tattooed, pierced NBA player that you will ever see.

[Miss Kitty]

Well said CyFalls Mom. I agree with you totally. I work for ExxonMobil and the same standard applies here that you described.

[CyFallsMom]

Thank you Miss Kitty and thanks for pointing me to this thread - I must have overlooked it. I really needed to vent about that one! It's bad enough that those of us who have a deep history in America and, especially the South, have to "forget" our heritage and be ashamed of it. Well, I'm not...sorry. I will defend it to the hilt!

[slorch]

Well said CyFalls Mom. I agree with you totally. I work for ExxonMobil and the same standard applies here that you described.
my boss asked me this year if i was taking MLK day off, and being in the grocery business, we are usually too busy to take our scheduled holidays off.

I smiled at him and told him I was going to take Confederate Heroes Day off instead. I wish i could have caught his look on camera!( by the way, the Confederacy has about as much to do with my heritage as MLK, I was born in CO.