Dan Hampton Removes One Foot From His Mouth

[31smackdown]

I guess I'm just insensitive but I wasn't offended.. Did anyone actually think that he was wishing bad things on the city and trying to inflict emotional pain on people? .. It's an analogy...

If a fight commentator in reference to a smaller guy taking down a bigger guy said " he crumbled like the twin towers" is that supposed to upset me because he referenced a historical disaster which caused widespread and personal grief?

I could see if the small guy was muslim and the large guy was from NY.. it would illicit a "that's kind of messed up" response.. but why do people get so angry and offended? ... because it's deemed as poor taste? ..because they are referencing a negative and sad event? .. these things still happened .. they should be able to be referenced.. it's different than saying something like "I wish another Katrina on the city" .. he's not actually implying ill-will towards people.. he saying Minnesota has to go down there and "destroy" them "on the field" . But I guess he should have just said that because that would be more acceptable to just say destroy the other team and leave the city out of it.. as if he actually meant they should go down and ransack the city.

Sometimes I think people just like to act offended and slighted and make things personal for no reason other than to make themselves feel more important and righteous.

 

[LandryFan]

I guess I'm just insensitive but I wasn't offended.. Did anyone actually think that he was wishing bad things on the city and trying to inflict emotional pain on people? .. It's an analogy...

If a fight commentator in reference to a smaller guy taking down a bigger guy said " he crumbled like the twin towers" is that supposed to upset me because he referenced a historical disaster which caused widespread and personal grief?

I could see if the small guy was muslim and the large guy was from NY.. it would illicit a "that's kind of messed up" response.. but why do people get so angry and offended? ... because it's deemed as poor taste? ..because they are referencing a negative and sad event? .. these things still happened .. they should be able to be referenced.. it's different than saying something like "I wish another Katrina on the city" .. he's not actually implying ill-will towards people.. he saying Minnesota has to go down there and "destroy" them "on the field" . But I guess he should have just said that because that would be more acceptable to just say destroy the other team and leave the city out of it.. as if he actually meant they should go down and ransack the city.

Sometimes I think people just like to act offended and slighted and make things personal for no reason other than to make themselves feel more important and righteous.

Personally, I wasn't offended, either. It's just that someone in his position is not entitled to make such stupid statements (saying what he said over national airwaves was just plain stupid). Many won't be offended, but many will.

 

[jay cee]

He needs to take the foot that he removed from his mouth and shove it up his ***.

good one. that really made me laugh.

 

[LatinMind]

It's not a double standard, they just have entirely different audiences. Consumers who listen to rap music are more likely to enjoy things that push the envelope and offend delicate sensibilities than consumers who watch sports analysis on TV.

what? while it was out of line this makes no sense. guys talking about a sport that is loved for the violent hits suddenly is gettig fans who are worried about bein politically correct?

:bang2:

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Even I wouldn't sink that low.

 

[Nightshade]

He was trying to be enthusiastic and said something stupid. Many people lost their loved ones, their businesses, their homes and livelihoods. You just can't throw that reference around lightly. He realized he made a mistake, He apologized. The apology had to be made. It was very obviously genuine and heartfelt.

Nuff said. Moving on.

 

[tyke1doe]

Rappers say things like "blow you up like Hiroshima" and such all the time. Its a pretty big double standard really. They get away with saying whatever they want. Maybe because it wasn't an American tragedy...I dunno. Though that definitely doesn't make it any less classy.

Because that's the genre. Rap, particularly gansta rap, appeals to a certain segment of society, which isn't really considered mainstream.

Newscasters/sportscasters are supposed to appeal to a broader cross-section of the American population. That's why what they say is judged more harshly - and rightly so.

 

[tyke1doe]

It's not a double standard, they just have entirely different audiences. Consumers who listen to rap music are more likely to enjoy things that push the envelope and offend delicate sensibilities than consumers who watch sports analysis on TV.

You said that better than I did.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Because that's the genre. Rap, particularly gansta rap, appeals to a certain segment of society, which isn't really considered mainstream.

Newscasters/sportscasters are supposed to appeal to a broader cross-section of the American population. That's why what they say is judged more harshly - and rightly so.

And, ultimately, acceptance is determined by the free market. People buy gangsta rap albums because their lyrics are edgy and often offensive.

 

[tyke1doe]

what? while it was out of line this makes no sense. guys talking about a sport that is loved for the violent hits suddenly is gettig fans who are worried about bein politically correct?

:bang2:

All violence is not equal.

Since football is a violent sport should sportscasters say, "The Cowboys raped the Skins like Big Ben Roethlisberger savaged a girl of low self-esteem in a bar bathroom?"

Of course not.

It's silly to think otherwise.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I think it is too much to expect that a person who has lived most of his life playing athletics to have a diplomatic, think-before-you-speak way about him.
Just the other day I heard something mention the disgusting term "circling the wagons." And Vegas is the gambling mecca of the U.S. Equally disgusting.
But I didn't raise a stink as to the circling the wagons remark. Why? The term has become ingrained in our language and doesn't necessarily mean that the speaker was overtly making the statement that all American Indians are marauders and that all victims (whites) have wagons which to circle against the horrid attackers.

Hitting someone or something like Katrina, is, on the surface, a remark about a powerful force, without delving into its aftermath and ensuing suffering.

A big to do about nothing from a guy who, though an unthinking type, is clearly no mental giant and meant only to convey the image of a force hitting an object.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

What does "unqualified apology" mean?

means he didn't say, I am sorry if anyone was offended.

 

[tyke1doe]

I think it is too much to expect that a person who has lived most of his life playing athletics to have a diplomatic, think-before-you-speak way about him.
Just the other day I heard something mention the disgusting term "circling the wagons." And Vegas is the gambling mecca of the U.S. Equally disgusting.
But I didn't raise a stink as to the circling the wagons remark. Why? The term has become ingrained in our language and doesn't necessarily mean that the speaker was overtly making the statement that all American Indians are marauders and that all victims (whites) have wagons which to circle against the horrid attackers.

Hitting someone or something like Katrina, is, on the surface, a remark about a powerful force, without delving into its aftermath and ensuing suffering.

A big to do about nothing from a guy who, though an unthinking type, is clearly no mental giant and meant only to convey the image of a force hitting an object.

Katrina's still too fresh in the memory.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

All violence is not equal.

Since football is a violent sport should sportscasters say, "The Cowboys raped the Skins like Big Ben Roethlisberger savaged a girl of low self-esteem in a bar bathroom?"

Of course not.

It's silly to think otherwise.

true, you can't say we whipped those boys like Kunta Kinte got whipped in Roots

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

"I regret it immensely and I am sorry," Hampton said. "It was a horrible choice of words and a stupid comment."

Oh Mr. Dan Hampton, don't you worry one bit about it. Just remeber, there are no such things as "stupid comments" in this world, just stupid people making comments. Oh, and thanks for keeping the stereotype of football playes being dumb oafy ogers alive; after all the NFL has an image to uphold. You're makling Canton proud.

 

[Ashwynn]

Dan Hampton apologizes for Katrina remark

9/7/2010 6:41:40 AM

According to James Varney of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, former Chicago Bears defensive end Dan Hampton offered an unqualified apology Monday evening to New Orleans and Gulf Coast residents stung by his remark that the Minnesota Vikings, "need to hit that town like Katrina," when they play the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome Thursday night.

"I regret it immensely and I am sorry," Hampton said. "It was a horrible choice of words and a stupid comment."

"Obviously it was a throwaway line and I meant no ill will or intent," he said. "It was just horribly stupid."

"Some of my best memories are of New Orleans and I would never, it just...," Hampton said before repeating he apologized unreservedly. "It was just stupid, a stupid thing to say. I regret it and I am sorry."

People need to grow some think skin, man. This is nothing to apologize for, just super sensitive people who get offended anytime someone opens their mouth.

 

[DallasEast]

The whole thing has basically less to do with 'stupidity' or 'political correctness', and much more to do with insensitivity--of which the definition means 'lacking feeling or tact'. Obviously, Dan Hampton could not have cared less how his words would have been perceived at the time. Furthermore, he has been a known vocal commodity for thirty years. It is well known that he often lacks tact (for lack of a better phrase/no pun intended).

These sort of things are easily quantifiable. We can use Hampton's phraseology as an example:

"The Minnesota Vikings need to hit that town like _________________."

If one can fill in the blank without connecting the meaning with something horrific, that someone may be capable of expressing a viewpoint which is both emotionally based and devoid of tactlessness. Let's see...

"The Minnesota Vikings need to hit that town like a mack truck."

"The Minnesota Vikings need to hit that town like a Ronnie Lott."

"The Minnesota Vikings need to hit that town like a sledgehammer on a Aint."

"The Minnesota Vikings need to hit that town like a ton of bricks."

Etc., etc. In other words, there are way TOO many examples not mentioned above which could have been used to express the exact same thing, but Hampton could not think of any.

Why?

He's lacking in the ability to properly express himself. It was not the first time and it is highly unlikely it will be the last time.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

The Vikings need to hit the Saints like Wade hitting the buffet line

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

The Vikings need to hit the Saints like Wade hitting the buffet line

You mean much less so, because Wade has lost quite a bit of weight since last season and looks pretty good now?

Or were you trying to be witty like Dan Hampton with that commnet?

 

[NinePointOh]

what? while it was out of line this makes no sense. guys talking about a sport that is loved for the violent hits suddenly is gettig fans who are worried about bein politically correct?

:bang2:

Suddenly? No. They've always been fans.

Football is a very mainstream sport, and its consumer base includes families, children, and probably thousands or millions who have been displaced or otherwise affected by Hurricane Katrina. If you're in the business of selling a product (like sports analysis) to those consumers, you can't really afford to tell them why you think they shouldn't be offended by what you've said. Because by the time you finish, they're already watching a different channel.

Is it entirely incompatible for someone to enjoy watching a physical contact sport and still be put off by someone else making light of a disaster that killed thousands? I'm not so sure it is.