I have recently seen some twitter chatter as to whether the recent 1 game suspension of Clippers longtime play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler and color analyst Michael Smith was appropriate.
Was Fox Sports being too “politically correct”?
They were both suspended by the Fox Sports Prime Ticket cable network for their comments about Memphis center Hamed Haddadi. Haddadi is Irania born. The exchange occurred during a telecast of a game against Memphis. The transcript as reported in the LA times reads as follows:
Smith: “Look who’s in.”
Lawler: “Hamed Haddadi. Where’s he from?”
Smith: “He’s the first Iranian to play in the NBA.” (Smith pronounced Iranian as “Eye-ranian,” a pronunciation that offended the viewer who complained.)
Lawler: “There aren’t any Iranian players in the NBA,” repeating Smith’s mispronunciation.
Smith: “He’s the only one.”
Lawler: “He’s from Iran?”
Smith: “I guess so.”
Lawler: “That Iran?”
Smith: “Yes.”
Lawler: “The real Iran?”
Smith: “Yes.”
Lawler: “Wow. Haddadi that’s H-A-D-D-A-D-I.”
Smith: “You’re sure it’s not Borat’s older brother?”
Smith: “If they ever make a movie about Haddadi, I’m going to get Sacha Baron Cohen to play the part.”
Lawler: “Here’s Haddadi. Nice little back-door pass. I guess those Iranians can pass the ball.”
Smith: “Especially the post players.
Lawler: “I don’t know about their guards.”
Political correctness run amok or appropriate discipline?
The answer is in the question. Basketball is about sports competition, not politics.
Regardless of the lack of ill intent or intended humor in the exchange, there is no place for racial or off-color ethnic comedy in the NBA announcer’s booth.
Ralph Smith and Michael Lawler were employed by Fox for one purpose and one purpose only, to provide BASKETBALL related play by play and color commentary for NBA basketball games. The moment they strayed into “off-color”commentary where we have to debate “political correctness” they were unacceptably outside the scope of their job descriptions whether it was about an Iranian, Jew or Muslim.(Ironically Sacha Baron Cohen is in fact Jewish)
Let’s leave the debate over “political correctness” to the varied content of Fox News. Fox Sports is supposed to be about sports. Fox knew this and took appropriate action. I suspect that Smith and Lawler while not happy about it, agree with and understand the action taken. Kudos to Fox for keeping their eye on the basketball.
(Exchange begins at 1:01)
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Totally agree with you. Whether they meant anything racially/culturally by their comments, they still stated them during a basketball game, which last I checked isn't the Jay Leno show. Sure commentators joke around and poke fun sometimes, but it's all within respect and admiration for the players – not the way Smith and Lawler conducted themselves.
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I had a different take on my blog regarding the exchange. I'm looking at this more from the PR side. Yes, the comments were bad, but would we have even heard about this had Fox Prime Ticket not suspended them? My point is that from a PR perspective, they brought way more attention to this with the suspension.
Seems they should have arranged an in-person apology at the next home game to the offended fan, and maybe a quick mention on the air. The season ticket holder that logged the complaint would have been happy, any viewers at home would have an apology, but the situation would not have become national news.
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
It did not start out that bad and they could have left it alone but for some reason kept piling on the comments. Where was the producer during this whole time? The producer should have whispered into their ear to drop the topic. They sounded like two small minded individuals towards the end. Shame.
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I think that the suspension is merited, but I also believe the apology should be given. The comments were unwise and there are a lot of heads rolling in the end. However, I do agree the suspension shouldn't have been publicized at all. That is Prime trying to drum up readers.
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:22 pm
My point isn't really that the suspension wasn't merited, just more that from a PR point of view was it smart of Prime? To my knowledge, the only reason this received national attention was because of the suspension.
More generally, I'm asking, if a broadcaster or company spokesperson makes offensive comments, but it garners little attention, should the organization take that into account when handing out a punishment? It's an interesting question, offensive comments are awful and deserve punishment, but from the PR side, why get increased negative attention for your company if you can avoid it, right?