Dan Hampton Removes One Foot From His Mouth

[LatinMind]

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.

i think more people get put off by rapists and drug users in the sport then by peoples poor choice of words. thats just me

 

[NinePointOh]

i think more people get put off by rapists and drug users in the sport then by peoples poor choice of words. thats just me

That's probably accurate, but has nothing at all to do with this thread.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

You, as a fat boy, should know that once a fat boy always a fat boy. And the fondness for the buffet never lessens. Yeah, Wade has lost some poundage, that is not in dispute. But whoa, you are being extra sensitive, huh?

OK, the Vikings will hit the Saints like Wade Dancing the YMCA!

 

[ZeroClub]

Occupational hazzard.

Hampton plays the modern sports media game of phrasing comments in sensationalistic sound-bites.

He took a brief time out to utter a sincere apology.

And now he's back in the game .....

 

[Venger]

So because it's football making offensive remarks is okay?

These days, offense is taken more than given. Like this quote. The intent was not to offend, but those keen to whine and play the victim are always walking the perimeter waiting for a reason to light off the tripwire. Grow a pair. Or at least get a heavier panty shield.

So if your mother was raped and murdered but you played for the Cowboys, you'd be cool with a commentator saying "Player X needs to run up in Venger and do his business like that rapist did to his mother?"

Sure you would.

How is a general metaphoric statement about a hurricane in any way, shape, or form like a specific ad hominem referral to rape and murder of a particular individual? Are you aware how ******** your example sounds? Quick! Take offense on behalf of all the developmentally challenged...

 

[Venger]

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?

Because Katrina left New Orleans in a shambles. Metaphor accomplished.

Should people killed in the collapse of the WTC be offended by getting hit like a ton of bricks?

How about people who have been killed in a collusion with a Mack truck?

Each of your examples can be offensive to those *keen to be offended*. In this age of candy-***** victimology, there is always someone, somewhere ready to feel sorry for themselves and tear their clothes in phony consternation.

New Orleans is going down like the Titanic!

It's football. I think the seats for the sport some of you are looking for are in the ladies room...

 

[NinePointOh]

Because Katrina left New Orleans in a shambles. Metaphor accomplished.

Should people killed in the collapse of the WTC be offended by getting hit like a ton of bricks?

How about people who have been killed in a collusion with a Mack truck?

Each of your examples can be offensive to those *keen to be offended*. In this age of candy-***** victimology, there is always someone, somewhere ready to feel sorry for themselves and tear their clothes in phony consternation.

New Orleans is going down like the Titanic!

It's football. I think the seats for the sport some of you are looking for are in the ladies room...

It's fun to play the politically incorrect tough guy persona, but it doesn't really work that way in the grown-up world of business. Whatever line of work you're in, I'm pretty sure you (or your boss) would care if you offended hundreds of thousands of your own customers, even if you didn't mean to. I doubt you'd be calling them whiny pansies who need to grow a pair, but if by chance in a drunken stupor you happened to say it, you'd find yourself looking for a new job in a hurry.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

i think more people get put off by rapists and drug users in the sport then by peoples poor choice of words. thats just me

I suspect no one is put off by them either as most only care about those type of players on other teams, not your own.

SteelerFan will welcome Roethlisberger back with open arms when he returns just like we did Michael Irvin.

 

[ShiningStar]

I love political correctioness and how everyone is in charge to tell other people what is and not PC. Heres a tip, watch something go around and around, eventually being Political correct will offend someone. Where do you draw the line, or did i offend people who draw lines for a living?




a football player not PC. and this is news, my gods I guess nothing else happened in the world, or everything is immediately soaked up and delivered and our short memories cant hold every piece of news into our saturated brains.

 

[Hypnotoad]

This opinion probably wont be popular...

the guy shouldn't apologize he was just trash talking.

The saints have used Katrina as a source of motivation and strength. The media goes 'oh this is a great story going from what happened to the city to superbowl champs.' I myself get sick of hearing this story of rags to riches.

Whats different from what Dan Hampton said to someone else saying 'Oh Reggie Bush just Assaulted/molested that defensive player' or 'the QB just got raped'. I have heard these things said, sometimes by game announcers sometimes by fans.

I have seen worse things done than what this guy said.

 

[cowfan]

People need to relax. He was making a sports methaphor. Would it be upsetting if he said the Vikings needs be like a hurricane instead of saying Katrina. I haven't heard many New Orleans residents crying over Hampton's comment. Another media generated controversy.

 

[Biggems]

i guess i am a bit cold, cause i dont find an issue with his comments. while they are a bit insensitive, he was a football player who played in the trenches...sensitivity is not allowed. The things said along the line of scrimmage would make a sailor sound like a preacher.

katrina was a natural disaster and could not be avoided....now the damage and severity could have been downgraded had the corruption within the state and city not taken away the levee money.

i feel bad for the people who had to and are still suffering because their state and local govt turned its back on them.

I will say this, being a member of the media and a member of an on-air analyst team, he should be more prudent with his comments. His employer has every right to censor what can and cant be said on the program. His employer has every right to fine, suspend, or even fire over certain comments that are deemed too provocative.

it is one thing to say it in the privacy of a lockerroom, in a huddle, or along the LOS, but to blast it on national airways, could cause quite a stir and even be grounds for dismissal.

So like I said, I have no issue with what he said about Katrina (and the brokeback comment was hilarious), but I can see why others would be upset. Oh and those of you who are really upset about the brokeback comment...stop getting your panties in a bunch and learn to not take our favorite team so seriously all the time.....

 

[DallasEast]

Because Katrina left New Orleans in a shambles. Metaphor accomplished.

Should people killed in the collapse of the WTC be offended by getting hit like a ton of bricks?

How about people who have been killed in a collusion with a Mack truck?

Each of your examples can be offensive to those *keen to be offended*. In this age of candy-***** victimology, there is always someone, somewhere ready to feel sorry for themselves and tear their clothes in phony consternation.

New Orleans is going down like the Titanic!

It's football. I think the seats for the sport some of you are looking for are in the ladies room...

1. The metaphor was not needed.
2. No one referred to the World Trade Center and/or New York City.
3. There is a fundamental difference between natural disasters (or even acts of terrorism) and getting randomly hit by large vehicles.
4. It is very possible that the only person who has been offended by my examples was someone (you) who was offended by non-offensive phrases.
5. I doubt anyone from the New Orleans or the Gulf Coast would be offended by a phrase mentioning a ship which has zero connection with Hurricane Katrina.
6. Understanding what is right or wrong is not a weakness. It is a strength.

 

[cowfan]

How about when players say the game will be a battle or they are going to war. Is this offensive to the military? Hampton made a comment that he regrets. It wasn't intended to offend anyone.

 

[NinePointOh]

Whats different from what Dan Hampton said to someone else saying 'Oh Reggie Bush just Assaulted/molested that defensive player' or 'the QB just got raped'. I have heard these things said, sometimes by game announcers sometimes by fans.

Oh pray tell, what reputable national sports commentator actually uses metaphors like "molested" and "raped" and never apologizes?

Fans have no customers, so they can say whatever they want -- especially with the safety of a computer in their own home, from which they can post anonymously and never have to see anyone face-to-face. A commentator's job is to attract viewers and sponsors, so when he says something that jeopardizes his appeal to hundreds of thousands of consumers, he'd have to be a terrible businessman not to make amends.

 

[Venger]

It's fun to play the politically incorrect tough guy persona, but it doesn't really work that way in the grown-up world of business.

It must be more fun to play the timid, thin-chested (but grown-up - snicker) business PR flack ever so constipatedly uptight that someone, somewhere might put the blame for all their troubles on what Dan Hampton might say. This nonsensical issue is the result of a press vacuum - nothing going on so we'll expand whatever enters to fill a news cycle.

Hampton has nothing to apologize for. Except for apologizing. That's gutless.

Whatever line of work you're in, I'm pretty sure you (or your boss) would care if you offended hundreds of thousands of your own customers, even if you didn't mean to. I doubt you'd be calling them whiny pansies who need to grow a pair, but if by chance in a drunken stupor you happened to say it, you'd find yourself looking for a new job in a hurry.

I am the boss, and I'll say as I please. If it means retaining customers who aren't uptight and losing the kind of customer who is a constant minefield of obsessions and sensitivities, good RIDDANCE. Ask any businessperson - there are customers not...worth...having... unless you are arguing that Hampton's comments endangered the NFL's business model.

For everyone who peed a little when they heard Dan Hampton's comments - curling or women's bowling is on ESPN 8 The Ocho.

 

[pancakeman]

Should people killed in the collapse of the WTC be offended by getting hit like a ton of bricks?

How about people who have been killed in a collusion with a Mack truck

I say no. I would not expect even one of those dead people to take offense.

 

[Venger]

This is your response - an emoticon. Way to stake out the intellectual high ground.

1. The metaphor was not needed.

Well who can argue with such a detailed and rhetorically significant argument like that? I guess it's all settled, the metaphor was "not needed". Is there a flow chart or database somewhere we can tap into to know when the "needed" metaphors are required? What kind of argument is that? Are you a linguistic syntactician? Exactly what are you qualifications for determining which metaphors are indeed needed and not needed? Jeez...

2. No one referred to the World Trade Center and/or New York City.

Sigh... pedantic non-response. The point is that even YOUR phrases can be offensive to a group looking to take offense.

3. There is a fundamental difference between natural disasters (or even acts of terrorism) and getting randomly hit by large vehicles.

Really! What insight to see such a nuanced distinction... the thing is, had you addressed the point - that, again, violent metaphors all carry groups that can take offense should they so choose - we'd be further along.

4. It is very possible that the only person who has been offended by my examples was someone (you) who was offended by non-offensive phrases.

Again, you are missing something called "the point". There is a difference between giving, and taking, offense. Given the oversensitivities on display it can be taken where it isn't given, even in what you think are your "safe" examples.

5. I doubt anyone from the New Orleans or the Gulf Coast would be offended by a phrase mentioning a ship which has zero connection with Hurricane Katrina.

I am not sure if you are being deliberately obtuse or not - this is like arguing with Rainman. Why is a sports metaphor regarding something that killed 1700 people okay on hand A, but not on hand B? Again, it's all back to taking offense, isn't it. Why are 1700 dead passengers "needed" for your sports metaphor, but 1700 dead Louisianan's "not needed"? Is it okay to hit the Dolphins like a hurricane? How about the Texans? Should it, for the sake of trembling cowardice everywhere, only be reserved for non-tropical locales? What hath female hormones in the water supply wrought?

6. Understanding what is right or wrong is not a weakness. It is a strength.

Oh gee, self righteousness - who'd have guessed... you're fighting for good - how heroic of you! What time are you and the other Superfriends getting together at the Hall of Justice?

 

[Venger]

I say no. I would not expect even one of those dead people to take offense.

You have exposed sloppiness in my haste. I nod in your general direction...

 

[The30YardSlant]

People are too sensitive