Science Cowherd no longer on ESPN air after comments about Dominicans

Eleazar · 07-24-2015, 05:42 PM

Colin Cowherd no longer on ESPN air after comments about Dominicans

Radio host Colin Cowherd no longer will appear on ESPN following comments he made questioning the intelligence of Dominican Republic players related to baseball one day earlier, the company said in a statement Friday.

"Colin Cowherd's comments over the past two days do not reflect the values of ESPN or our employees," ESPN said in a statement. "Colin will no longer appear on ESPN."

Cowherd issued an apology later Friday via Twitter.

Cowherd had said Thursday that he didn't believe baseball was complex, saying a third of the sport was from the Dominican Republic, which had "not been known, in my lifetime, as having, you know, world-class academic abilities.''

Major League Baseball on Friday said Cowherd owes Dominican players an apology for the remarks, and the MLB Players Association also condemned his comments.

Earlier Friday, Cowherd addressed his remarks from Thursday during The Herd.

"I could've made the point without using one country, and there's all sorts of smart people from the Dominican Republic," Cowherd said. "I could've said a third of baseball's talent is being furnished from countries with economic hardships, therefore educational hurdles. For the record, I used the Dominican Republic because they've furnished baseball with so many great players."

Cowherd on Friday also cited reports and statistics to back up what he said about the country's ranking when it comes to primary education.

"I understand that when you mention a specific country, they get offended," Cowherd said. "I get it. I do. And for that, I feel bad. I do. But I have four reports in front of me ... where there are discussions of major deficiencies in the education sector at all levels. ... It wasn't a shot at them. It was data. Five, seven years ago I talked about the same subject. Was I clunky? Perhaps. Did people not like my tone? I get it. Sometimes my tone stinks.

"I think when you host a radio show, just like Jon Stewart hosts a show, I think sometimes I bring up stuff ... that makes people cringe. I'm not saying there's not intelligent, educated people from the Dominican Republic. I cringe at the data, too."

Major League Baseball issued its statement after Cowherd's show aired Friday.

"Major League Baseball condemns the remarks made by Colin Cowherd, which were inappropriate, offensive and completely inconsistent with the values of our game," it said. "Mr. Cowherd owes our players of Dominican origin, and Dominican people generally, an apology."

Tony Clark, executive director of the MLBPA, also issued a statement in which he took issue with Cowherd's response Friday to his original comments.

"As a veteran of 15 MLB seasons, I can assure you that our sport is infinitely more complex than some in the media would have you believe," Clark said. "To suggest otherwise is ignorant, and to make an ignorant point by denigrating the intelligence of our Dominican members was not 'clunky' -- it was offensive.

"These recent comments are particularly disappointing when viewed against the backdrop of the important work being done to celebrate and improve the cultural diversity of our game. Baseball's partners and stakeholders should help such efforts, not undermine them."

There were 83 Dominican players on Opening Day rosters this year, representing about 10 percent of all players in the majors.

The flap stems from Cowherd's comments on Thursday, which were made while debating whether it was difficult for a front-office executive to take over managerial duties -- using current Miami Marlins general manager/manager Dan Jennings as an example.

"It's baseball," Cowherd said Thursday. "You don't think a general manager can manage? Like it's impossible? The game is too complex? I've never bought into that, 'Baseball's just too complex.' Really? A third of the sport is from the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic has not been known in my lifetime as having world-class academic abilities. A lot of those kids come from rough backgrounds and have not had opportunities academically that other kids from other countries have.

"Baseball is like any sport. It's mostly instincts. A sports writer who covers baseball could go up to Tony La Russa and have a real baseball argument, and Tony would listen and it would seem reasonable. There's not a single NFL writer in the country who could diagram a play for Bill Belichick. You know, we get caught up in this whole 'thinking-man's game.' Is it in the same family? Most people could do it. It's not being a concert pianist. It's in the same family."

Cowherd's comments drew the attention of Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista, a native of the Dominican Republic who asked Cowherd via Twitter for further clarification concerning his remarks on Thursday.

Cowherd, who had been with ESPN for 12 years, announced earlier this week that he's leaving the company for another business opportunity.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

**BigMeatballDave** · 07-24-2015, 05:54 PM

Boy, he and Donald are building quite the fanbase in the latin community.

Al Bundy · 07-24-2015, 05:59 PM

Colin is absolutely AWFUL on the air... I hope this costs him his job at Fox Sports radio (or wherever he is going).

FML · 07-24-2015, 06:04 PM

At least he still has his other job of sucking Brady and Belichick's nuts.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-24-2015, 06:05 PM

It's really hard to imagine that it took this long, but it's not surprising it happened as soon as he told them he was leaving.

He made a living at ESPN for spouting out the dumbest generalizations as out and out facts. He's said far dumber things than this, too.

What is interesting is that they let him give a mea culpa on air (the few minutes I caught of it came off as half-assed) and only then did they shitcan him. Funny given that shortly thereafter he was talking about how class ESPN was as a company and that two higher ups called him to thank him for his time.

With that said, it's total hypocrisy on the part of ESPN, given the bullshit they allow from Skip Bayless and Steven A. Smith.

**Anyong Bluth** · 07-24-2015, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

It's really hard to imagine that it took this long, but it's not surprising it happened as soon as he told them he was leaving.

He made a living at ESPN for spouting out the dumbest generalizations as out and out facts. He's said far dumber things than this, too.

What is interesting is that they let him give a mea culpa on air (the few minutes I caught of it came off as half-assed) and only then did they shitcan him. Funny given that shortly thereafter he was talking about how class ESPN was as a company and that two higher ups called him to thank him for his time.

With that said, it's total hypocrisy on the part of ESPN, given the bullshit they allow from Skip Bayless and Steven A. Smith.

Unless it's live sports, I have zero interest in all things ESPN.

Okay, Mike & Mike is okay, but certainly not must hear radio.

MTG#10 · 07-24-2015, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

Okay, Mike & Mike is okay, but certainly not must hear radio.

Mike and Mike is by far the worst and most annoying thing I've ever heard in my life. I'd rather watch Michael Moore give Rush Limbaugh a blowjob while fingering Bill O'Reilly's asshole than listen to 15 seconds of those douchebag blowhards' fake arguments. Seriously **** those guys.

**Anyong Bluth** · 07-24-2015, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTG#10

Mike and Mike is by far the worst and most annoying thing I've ever heard in my life. I'd rather watch Michael Moore give Rush Limbaugh a blowjob while fingering Bill O'Reilly's asshole than listen to 15 seconds of those douchebag blowhards' fake arguments. Seriously **** those guys.

Okay? I haven't heard them in at least a year and a half, so I'll accept your impassioned opinion.

WhitiE · 07-25-2015, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTG#10

Mike and Mike is by far the worst and most annoying thing I've ever heard in my life. I'd rather watch Michael Moore give Rush Limbaugh a blowjob while fingering Bill O'Reilly's asshole than listen to 15 seconds of those douchebag blowhards' fake arguments. Seriously **** those guys.

I used to watch/listen, I cant do it anymore.

**Gonzo** · 07-25-2015, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTG#10

Mike and Mike is by far the worst and most annoying thing I've ever heard in my life. I'd rather watch Michael Moore give Rush Limbaugh a blowjob while fingering Bill O'Reilly's asshole than listen to 15 seconds of those douchebag blowhards' fake arguments. Seriously **** those guys.

****ing this...

I hate Mike and Mike. As a matter of fact, all sports radio is shit now but M&M is the worst. Commercials every 10 minutes for **** sake. Fake, scripted arguments. Drives me nuts and all they talk about are the ****ing Patriots and Jets.

CoMoChief · 07-24-2015, 06:07 PM

I thought he was leaving anyways, going to Fox or something?

**hometeam** · 07-24-2015, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

I thought he was leaving anyways, going to Fox or something?

Yep they figure they take this chance to look like the SJW hero, and give him a parting shot against ratings at the competitor.

Besides that.. this 'everyone has to be fired for any ****ing thing they' say is getting realllllllllllll old.

**Dave Lane** · 07-25-2015, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

I thought he was leaving anyways, going to Fox or something?

That would make perfect sense.

tk13 · 07-24-2015, 06:38 PM

Jim Harbaugh rejoices. Hootie weeps.

Coochie liquor · 07-24-2015, 07:38 PM

Hootie tears in...3.........2....................

07-24-2015, 05:42 PM	Topic Starter
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	Cowherd no longer on ESPN air after comments about Dominicans Colin Cowherd no longer on ESPN air after comments about Dominicans Radio host Colin Cowherd no longer will appear on ESPN following comments he made questioning the intelligence of Dominican Republic players related to baseball one day earlier, the company said in a statement Friday. "Colin Cowherd's comments over the past two days do not reflect the values of ESPN or our employees," ESPN said in a statement. "Colin will no longer appear on ESPN." Cowherd issued an apology later Friday via Twitter. Cowherd had said Thursday that he didn't believe baseball was complex, saying a third of the sport was from the Dominican Republic, which had "not been known, in my lifetime, as having, you know, world-class academic abilities.'' Major League Baseball on Friday said Cowherd owes Dominican players an apology for the remarks, and the MLB Players Association also condemned his comments. Earlier Friday, Cowherd addressed his remarks from Thursday during The Herd. "I could've made the point without using one country, and there's all sorts of smart people from the Dominican Republic," Cowherd said. "I could've said a third of baseball's talent is being furnished from countries with economic hardships, therefore educational hurdles. For the record, I used the Dominican Republic because they've furnished baseball with so many great players." Cowherd on Friday also cited reports and statistics to back up what he said about the country's ranking when it comes to primary education. "I understand that when you mention a specific country, they get offended," Cowherd said. "I get it. I do. And for that, I feel bad. I do. But I have four reports in front of me ... where there are discussions of major deficiencies in the education sector at all levels. ... It wasn't a shot at them. It was data. Five, seven years ago I talked about the same subject. Was I clunky? Perhaps. Did people not like my tone? I get it. Sometimes my tone stinks. "I think when you host a radio show, just like Jon Stewart hosts a show, I think sometimes I bring up stuff ... that makes people cringe. I'm not saying there's not intelligent, educated people from the Dominican Republic. I cringe at the data, too." Major League Baseball issued its statement after Cowherd's show aired Friday. "Major League Baseball condemns the remarks made by Colin Cowherd, which were inappropriate, offensive and completely inconsistent with the values of our game," it said. "Mr. Cowherd owes our players of Dominican origin, and Dominican people generally, an apology." Tony Clark, executive director of the MLBPA, also issued a statement in which he took issue with Cowherd's response Friday to his original comments. "As a veteran of 15 MLB seasons, I can assure you that our sport is infinitely more complex than some in the media would have you believe," Clark said. "To suggest otherwise is ignorant, and to make an ignorant point by denigrating the intelligence of our Dominican members was not 'clunky' -- it was offensive. "These recent comments are particularly disappointing when viewed against the backdrop of the important work being done to celebrate and improve the cultural diversity of our game. Baseball's partners and stakeholders should help such efforts, not undermine them." There were 83 Dominican players on Opening Day rosters this year, representing about 10 percent of all players in the majors. The flap stems from Cowherd's comments on Thursday, which were made while debating whether it was difficult for a front-office executive to take over managerial duties -- using current Miami Marlins general manager/manager Dan Jennings as an example. "It's baseball," Cowherd said Thursday. "You don't think a general manager can manage? Like it's impossible? The game is too complex? I've never bought into that, 'Baseball's just too complex.' Really? A third of the sport is from the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic has not been known in my lifetime as having world-class academic abilities. A lot of those kids come from rough backgrounds and have not had opportunities academically that other kids from other countries have. "Baseball is like any sport. It's mostly instincts. A sports writer who covers baseball could go up to Tony La Russa and have a real baseball argument, and Tony would listen and it would seem reasonable. There's not a single NFL writer in the country who could diagram a play for Bill Belichick. You know, we get caught up in this whole 'thinking-man's game.' Is it in the same family? Most people could do it. It's not being a concert pianist. It's in the same family." Cowherd's comments drew the attention of Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista, a native of the Dominican Republic who asked Cowherd via Twitter for further clarification concerning his remarks on Thursday. Cowherd, who had been with ESPN for 12 years, announced earlier this week that he's leaving the company for another business opportunity. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Posts: 80,659

07-24-2015, 05:54 PM	#2
BigMeatballDave GBM 8-12-15 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Dayton, Oh. Casino cash: $10052154	Boy, he and Donald are building quite the fanbase in the latin community. Last edited by BigMeatballDave; 07-24-2015 at 06:01 PM..
Posts: 59,997

07-24-2015, 05:59 PM	#3
Al Bundy Damnit Peg Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $5381831	Colin is absolutely AWFUL on the air... I hope this costs him his job at Fox Sports radio (or wherever he is going).
Posts: 23,317

07-24-2015, 06:04 PM	#4
FML Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Casino cash: $10007856	At least he still has his other job of sucking Brady and Belichick's nuts.
Posts: 96

07-24-2015, 06:05 PM	#5
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	It's really hard to imagine that it took this long, but it's not surprising it happened as soon as he told them he was leaving. He made a living at ESPN for spouting out the dumbest generalizations as out and out facts. He's said far dumber things than this, too. What is interesting is that they let him give a mea culpa on air (the few minutes I caught of it came off as half-assed) and only then did they shitcan him. Funny given that shortly thereafter he was talking about how class ESPN was as a company and that two higher ups called him to thank him for his time. With that said, it's total hypocrisy on the part of ESPN, given the bullshit they allow from Skip Bayless and Steven A. Smith.
Posts: 74,826

07-24-2015, 06:07 PM	#11
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $8052254	I thought he was leaving anyways, going to Fox or something? __________________
Posts: 39,156

07-24-2015, 06:38 PM	#14
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1962500	Jim Harbaugh rejoices. Hootie weeps.
Posts: 54,954

07-24-2015, 07:38 PM	#15
Coochie liquor Bolton gonna knock you out Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Free Vybz Kartel Casino cash: $2682394	Hootie tears in...3.........2....................
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