Science Cowherd no longer on ESPN air after comments about Dominicans - Page 4

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.

Don Corlemahomes · 07-25-2015, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Given you two have the exact same argumentative style (invent a false narrative and throw shit at the wall), it's not surprising you'd fawn over him.

Shots fired

Al Bundy · 07-25-2015, 08:34 AM

Hey.. look.. white guys in America aren't offended.. therefor it shouldn't be offensive to anyone.

eDave · 07-25-2015, 08:35 AM

Stuff like this doesn't happen if you are not an asshole. Pretty simple.

**lewdog** · 07-25-2015, 08:38 AM

Does anyone actually think you have to be a scholar to be good at sports? I am very good at my job but can't fix shit to save my life. These athletes are very good at their job but can't tell me the grammar that makes up their language. Does it matter?

Jerm · 07-25-2015, 08:39 AM

I'm no Cowherd fan in the least but as long as ESPN keeps Skip and SaS employed and on the air, it's hard for me to take anything they do serious.

**lewdog** · 07-25-2015, 08:42 AM

And for the record, I don't watch any programming but a live sporting event on ESPN. Haven't for years.

King_Chief_Fan · 07-25-2015, 08:47 AM

If u have publuc access with your opinion, u better have some diplomacy....like lewdog said, what does education have to do with it?
There are numerous who made it big in sports with no hint of them having any education. (Even those who attended college)

beach tribe · 07-25-2015, 08:52 AM

I hope I never have to hear or see this slappable puss ever again.
Dont think I've ever agreed with anything this shithead has ever said.

eDave · 07-25-2015, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewdog

And for the record, I don't watch any programming but a live sporting event on ESPN. Haven't for years.

I enjoy PTI.

beach tribe · 07-25-2015, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerm

I'm no Cowherd fan in the least but as long as ESPN keeps Skip and SaS employed and on the air, it's hard for me to take anything they do serious.

This guy and skip are the same class of douche..
Makes me think the people at ESPN are a collection of these types.

**notorious** · 07-25-2015, 09:07 AM

Jesus.

What did he say that was so bad?

**notorious** · 07-25-2015, 09:10 AM

I honestly think that this was set up for Colin to leave with a bang.

**Anyong Bluth** · 07-25-2015, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

I honestly think that this was set up for Colin to leave with a bang.

**notorious** · 07-25-2015, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

Listen to the show. It was obvious that Friday was his last day.

ESPN did what they do: create a "story" out of nothing to boost ratings.

Hootie · 07-25-2015, 09:27 AM

Dan LeBetard stuck up for Colin on his show

07-24-2015, 05:42 PM
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

07-25-2015, 08:34 AM	#47
Al Bundy Damnit Peg Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $5381831	Hey.. look.. white guys in America aren't offended.. therefor it shouldn't be offensive to anyone.
Posts: 23,317

07-25-2015, 08:35 AM	#48
eDave Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Casino cash: $9998560	Stuff like this doesn't happen if you are not an asshole. Pretty simple.
Posts: 53,803

07-25-2015, 08:38 AM	#49
lewdog Mod Team Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Valley of the hot as **** Casino cash: $1881900	Does anyone actually think you have to be a scholar to be good at sports? I am very good at my job but can't fix shit to save my life. These athletes are very good at their job but can't tell me the grammar that makes up their language. Does it matter?
Posts: 45,580

07-25-2015, 08:39 AM	#50
Jerm Mahomes > God Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Clinton, MO Casino cash: $5818996	I'm no Cowherd fan in the least but as long as ESPN keeps Skip and SaS employed and on the air, it's hard for me to take anything they do serious.
Posts: 9,802

07-25-2015, 08:42 AM	#51
lewdog Mod Team Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Valley of the hot as **** Casino cash: $1881900	And for the record, I don't watch any programming but a live sporting event on ESPN. Haven't for years.
Posts: 45,580

07-25-2015, 08:47 AM	#52
King_Chief_Fan Praise Him Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: none ya Casino cash: $5895486	If u have publuc access with your opinion, u better have some diplomacy....like lewdog said, what does education have to do with it? There are numerous who made it big in sports with no hint of them having any education. (Even those who attended college) __________________ No Jesus No Peace Know Jesus Know Peace Ephesians 2:8-10 English Standard Version (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Posts: 12,179

07-25-2015, 08:52 AM	#53
beach tribe Keep doubting J MFing Houston Join Date: May 2007 Location: ft.lauderdale Casino cash: $4808036	I hope I never have to hear or see this slappable puss ever again. Dont think I've ever agreed with anything this shithead has ever said.
Posts: 21,429

07-25-2015, 09:07 AM	#56
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $2905884	Jesus. What did he say that was so bad?
Posts: 83,396

07-25-2015, 09:10 AM	#57
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $2905884	I honestly think that this was set up for Colin to leave with a bang.
Posts: 83,396

07-25-2015, 09:27 AM	#60
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	Dan LeBetard stuck up for Colin on his show
Posts: 56,356