Taco Hell: Bob Griese Suspended By ESPN
ESPN college football analyst and NFL Hall of Famer Bob Griese was suspended one week by ESPN after an off-color remark about NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya.
This is not the week to work at ESPN. First, an affair with a crazy production assistant got baseball analyst Steve Phillips fired. Now Bob Griese gets a temporary boot.
The comment in question? During Saturday’s Ohio State-Minnesota game, ESPN ran a NASCAR graphic and co-analyst Chris Spielman wondered where Montoya was.
As his name was not in the Top Five in points standings, Griese mused that Montoya was “out having a taco.” Mmm. Not how to reach out to a key demographic.
We don't expect Juan Pablo Montoya will be inviting Bob Griese over for tacos anytime soon. The guy may not even like tacos. And they both work on weekends.
He apologized twice during the broadcast and ESPN issued a release disapproving of his comment. We're guessing that the disapproval was not because Montoya is from Colombia, whereas tacos are generally considered to be Mexican.
Luckily for Bob, he got off with just a one-week slap on the wrist. Note to analysts: Jokes with an ethnic bent, regardless of your intent, don't generally play well.
November 16th, 2009 12:26 PM
I remember Bob Griese from childhood as a great role model. He was a natural at all sports. I remember him in our hometown as being very humble in his success as a pro football player. If he was making a statement about mr. Montoya out eating tacos, I don't believe it was made in a sarcastic manner. He just isn't that kind of person.
November 4th, 2009 1:13 AM
Its very likely that the "taco" comment was said degrading, as many non-Latino people say comments about Mexican ANYTHING to non-Mexican Latinos. If a Lasagna comment had been said to an Italian, sure, I would HARDLY(maybe a little)have been insulted, and I would have said it's all good. But Mexican -anything comments in regards to All Latinos, are overwhelmingly said to insult and not to promote. And, since blacks are easily(mostly)out of the picture for insults--even if playfully, many SEEM the need to find others to belittle.
November 1st, 2009 1:49 AM
what if he said montoya was out eating fried chicken? would that mean all the blacks would feel offended??? get real people
November 1st, 2009 12:57 AM
Griese is an american anglo, sick of vacto's taking over and abusing the system--- odolay!!
November 1st, 2009 12:55 AM
Mexican's have too much control in this country!!!! Montoya is probably not even mescan, but all the Garcia's say he's ours!!!! odolay
November 1st, 2009 12:54 AM
Are you kidding me????? Big deal!!! first of all NASCAR is not a sport!!! second, how many mescan's do you know whom ever have been involved in this redneck stupidity???????? odolay!!!!!! cinco de mayo baby!!!
October 31st, 2009 8:59 PM
So I wonder if Bob Griese is a greasy greaseball Italian.
October 31st, 2009 7:48 PM
Now if he would have said out having fried chix,collard greens, and cornbreab , we all would have said mmmmm, where can i get some. damm this stuff is getting ridiculas what happened to the good old days when we could be racist insensitive jerks. buy do i miss those days!!!
I wish i was in dixie horay, horay.....oh i got carried away ....sorry i need a time out.
October 31st, 2009 7:35 PM
hey Truth 03, like you can drive a freak'in racecar.
October 31st, 2009 7:32 PM
How outrageous that Americans are ALWAYS taken to task for comments, but foreigners are permitted to say and do what they want. Can someone please explain this? I wonder what would happen in Colombia if the situation were reversed? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! If foreign people don't like their treatment in this country, they know where the airlines are.