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POSTED 7:51 p.m. EST; LAST UPDATED 8:10 p.m. EST, January 31, 2007
SABAN MINCES WORDS, AGAIN
With letter-of-intent day a week away, Alabama coach Nick Saban has risked taking a blogosphere curiosity mainstream by issuing a statement regarding his use of the term "coon-***."
Then again, maybe he concluded that the story already was or would be mainstream before opting to cast even more attention on the situation.
Given the content of the statement he made, however, we think he would have been better off saying nothing.
Said Saban: "It was brought to my attention this afternoon that some comments attributed to me are being disseminated on the internet and in the news media, comments including wording that can be taken as derogatory by some people. Those comments need to be placed in the proper context, so as to understand the meaning of what was said. The words were used in paraphrasing a story told to me by a friend. I was simply using the same wording used by the person who told me the story. The term in question is not language that I use or condone, and I can understand how some would take offense. However, I think it must be noted that those comments were made 'off the record' and the words merely reflected an anecdote that was told to me using that language."
Nick, Nick, Nick. What's wrong with just saying, "Yeah, I used the word 'coon-***.' And to folks who never have had the pleasure of living or working in Louisiana, the word might sound offensive. The first time I heard it, that's exactly what I thought. But I have come to learn that it's a very common term used in reference to the proud, hard-working people of Louisiana, and it is not an offensive or derogatory word."
That explanation would have been a lot better than what Saban actually said, the message of which basically is: (1) it was someone else's fault; (2) it was "off the record" (and thus okay even if offensive); and (3) I would never talk like that, except when quoting someone else in an "off-the-record" setting.
Oh, and: (4) I'm not going to be the Alabama coach.
Really, under Saban's lame-o explanation, he could have used any offensive term, and it would have been okay. The point would be the same: "I was merely repeating someone else's words, with language I don't use or condone, and it was 'off the record' so it's like I never said it anyway."
See, the problem is that Saban has no credibility, given the circumstances surrounding his recent exit from Miami. So anything he says is going to be scrutinized and analyzed and criticized.
The smarter course? Keep it short. Keep it simple. Keep it honest.
Well, with Saban, he can at least try for two out of three.
---------------------------------
SO IS "COON-***" OFFENSIVE?
Although the flood of e-mails that we received on Wednesday were split on the question of whether the term "coon-***" is regarded as derogatory and offensive, there are two pieces of evidence to support the conclusion that Saban's use of it was akin to the comments of yesteryear from Jimmy the Greek and Al Campanis.
First, Saban himself admits that the word is offensive. "The term in question is not language that I use or condone, and I can understand how some would take offense," said he.
Second, the AP story on the emerging brouhaha quotes Warren Perrin, president of the Council for Development of French in Louisiana, who says that the term is not appropriate.
"I routinely state that the use of that term is highly offensive to descendants of Acadians, who are commonly referred to as Cajuns," said Perrin.
SABAN MINCES WORDS, AGAIN
With letter-of-intent day a week away, Alabama coach Nick Saban has risked taking a blogosphere curiosity mainstream by issuing a statement regarding his use of the term "coon-***."
Then again, maybe he concluded that the story already was or would be mainstream before opting to cast even more attention on the situation.
Given the content of the statement he made, however, we think he would have been better off saying nothing.
Said Saban: "It was brought to my attention this afternoon that some comments attributed to me are being disseminated on the internet and in the news media, comments including wording that can be taken as derogatory by some people. Those comments need to be placed in the proper context, so as to understand the meaning of what was said. The words were used in paraphrasing a story told to me by a friend. I was simply using the same wording used by the person who told me the story. The term in question is not language that I use or condone, and I can understand how some would take offense. However, I think it must be noted that those comments were made 'off the record' and the words merely reflected an anecdote that was told to me using that language."
Nick, Nick, Nick. What's wrong with just saying, "Yeah, I used the word 'coon-***.' And to folks who never have had the pleasure of living or working in Louisiana, the word might sound offensive. The first time I heard it, that's exactly what I thought. But I have come to learn that it's a very common term used in reference to the proud, hard-working people of Louisiana, and it is not an offensive or derogatory word."
That explanation would have been a lot better than what Saban actually said, the message of which basically is: (1) it was someone else's fault; (2) it was "off the record" (and thus okay even if offensive); and (3) I would never talk like that, except when quoting someone else in an "off-the-record" setting.
Oh, and: (4) I'm not going to be the Alabama coach.
Really, under Saban's lame-o explanation, he could have used any offensive term, and it would have been okay. The point would be the same: "I was merely repeating someone else's words, with language I don't use or condone, and it was 'off the record' so it's like I never said it anyway."
See, the problem is that Saban has no credibility, given the circumstances surrounding his recent exit from Miami. So anything he says is going to be scrutinized and analyzed and criticized.
The smarter course? Keep it short. Keep it simple. Keep it honest.
Well, with Saban, he can at least try for two out of three.
---------------------------------
SO IS "COON-***" OFFENSIVE?
Although the flood of e-mails that we received on Wednesday were split on the question of whether the term "coon-***" is regarded as derogatory and offensive, there are two pieces of evidence to support the conclusion that Saban's use of it was akin to the comments of yesteryear from Jimmy the Greek and Al Campanis.
First, Saban himself admits that the word is offensive. "The term in question is not language that I use or condone, and I can understand how some would take offense," said he.
Second, the AP story on the emerging brouhaha quotes Warren Perrin, president of the Council for Development of French in Louisiana, who says that the term is not appropriate.
"I routinely state that the use of that term is highly offensive to descendants of Acadians, who are commonly referred to as Cajuns," said Perrin.
