Watch Terry Bradshaw’s So Called Racist Remarks and Read His Apology [Video]
I feel bad for Terry. Honestly I think Bradshaw might not be the brightest bulb but he has to be one of the last people to mean anything racist. I always say that athletes and war veterans are the two groups that are the least likely to be racist, as they both day to day depend so much on people of all creeds and colors that the color lines actually do get blurred.
The unexpected backlash came on Sunday while Bradshaw was reviewing highlights of the Miami game and he narrated a clip of Reggie Bush running for an 18 yard touchdown. Bradshaw was in the Fox studio with Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson, a group of men who together see nothing but talent and team colors, when he made the statement,
“Look at this, Jimmy — like he was chasing that bucket of chicken that the wind was blowing the other day.”
I think Strahan, knew that Bradshaw didn’t mean anything by it, but also knew just how that statement could be spun. You can here Strahan groan, as Terry thought he was so funny that he was laughing to tears.
Enter the Media. The overly sensitive, bored with their lives, make a mountain from a mole hill media got a hold of it and started to spin Bradshaw’s comments. Even from places like rant sports.com showed no mercy on Bradshaw stating,
that is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard a commentator say.
Bradshaw did the only thing you could do in a situation like this and that is apologize. He told USA Today,
“[I’m] so sorry if I hurt anybody and I’m shocked I’m in this position”
He said he meant to say “you” (as in Johnson) instead of “he” (as in Bush) and hadn’t realized he had made the mistake until Monday morning, when Fox staffers played the tape for him.
“I can’t defend myself,” Bradshaw said. “I’ve never been in a situation like this. I don’t know how to react, except to apologize for something I didn’t know I said. I’ve been upset today. It’s not me. I’m shocked.”
Bradshaw revelaed that Jimmy Johnsons’ thing is KFC and he won’t share it. If you listen to the comment, he says “Like he was chasing that bucket of chicken that the wind was blowing the other day”. That is a reference to something that actually personally happened.
I think there is a distinct difference between, “Like he was chasing a bucket of chicken” vs adding “That the wind was blowing the other day”
Bradsahw did the right thing, just apologize and move on. Any further defense and it would cause more damage then had already been done.
Jimmy Johnson on que, had Bradshaw’s back and tweeted out,
“Terry Bradshaw was referring to me about ‘chicken’..I eat 4 pieces on the set every Sunday! Now I’m in trouble with my wife.”
If Johnson plays his cards right, he might be the new spokesperson for KFC.
[more…]
