UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSaban: Burned or bigot?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Did you guys happen to catch what new Alabama coach Nick Saban said in his “off the record” comments to Miami reporters on Jan. 4? They just recently came to light after a Miami reporter’s tape recording of it ended up being broadcast on a radio station and it’s now circulating on the Internet.
I’m not going to repeat the racial slur here so you’ll just have to find a recording yourself but, suffice it to say, it was offensive to some people.
There are a number of issues here, the first and foremost being Saban’s personal moral compass. Whether he meant for it to be public or not, it could be perceived as a glimpse into his beliefs and attitudes and I wouldn’t imagine that sits well with recruits, players or administrators.
But another issue is the use of “off the record” by both the media and the people it covers. For some insight into the business, coaches and politicians and celebrities often say “off the record” when they don’t want to be quoted or paraphrased on something they’re about to say. As journalists, we’re not obligated to honor such a request but, in general, we do. If we didn’t, nobody would ever tell us anything. But it can depend on what’s being said.
The fact is, a reporter is a reporter and anything someone might say to a reporter or certainly a group of reporters should be considered on the record because the person that’s being interviewed is aware he or she is speaking to a member or members of the press.
Now I don’t know the inside story on how Saban’s comments ended up on the radio and spread across the Internet or how the newspaper the guy works for feels about it, but I’m guessing nobody’s real happy about it.
Saban issued a statement on Wednesday through Alabama:
“Those comments need to be placed in the proper context, so as to understand the meaning of what was said,” Saban 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.”
What do you guys think? Does Saban deserve to be disciplined further (the University of Alabama said it will have no comment beyond Saban’s statement)? Do think the whole thing is being overblown?
What about the reporter? Was he wrong to go public after Saban said it was “off the record”?
Meanwhile, I just got back from my trip to Knoxville to cover the basketball Dogs at Tennessee. In case you missed it, Georgia lost 82-71. I have to admit I didn’t think this Georgia team was capable of playing that poorly.
It wasn’t so much that they didn’t shoot well (6 of 26 on 3s). Teams and individuals have off nights. That happens. It was, one, that they so often settled for 3-point shots and, two, that it was easily the worst effort I’ve seen them put forth this season.
Considering their situation and from where they’re coming the last couple of seasons, Georgia’s lack of effort was inexplicable. Anybody else come away feeling that way?
Permalink | Comments (80) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
Comments
By jg
February 1, 2007 04:19 PM | Link to this
All reporters are slime.
By ron jirsa
February 1, 2007 04:20 PM | Link to this
No he shouldn’t be disciplined. Once again we have the media trying to blow something out of proportion so it will give them something to talk/write about. I hate Nick Saban and still feel this way.
By mike
February 1, 2007 04:20 PM | Link to this
Think it will be a cold day in hell before that reporter ever gets another interview. Really stupid move for his career path.
By Roswell Ed
February 1, 2007 04:22 PM | Link to this
Saban is a jackass who has alienated pretty much everyone that has ever worked with him.
When asked if his coordinators at LSU would be interested in the Bammer jobs they both said emphatically- NO
By CJ2
February 1, 2007 04:22 PM | Link to this
So, Saban is a racist. Maybe he is more like the Bear than we thought.
This should do wonders for Bama recruiting.
By Dawgs2007
February 1, 2007 04:23 PM | Link to this
I do not have a clue as to what you are talking about. I have not heard anything about it until now. You could have filled us in with the basics. Steve from the Falcons beats always tells the same story over and over again when commenting on an issue.
As for the basketball team….the real Georgia team showed up last night. What do you expect from the two stiffs, Bliss and Newman.
It was fun while it lasted Chip, so please quit shoving it down our throats about how good this team is!
By Mike Shula
February 1, 2007 04:25 PM | Link to this
If Joe Biden can be treated like he said the n-word for calling Barack Obama “articulate,” shouldn’t Saban be killed for what he said? I mean, really.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
February 1, 2007 04:26 PM | Link to this
I did. It’s very hard to understand what they are thinking. It sounds as if they went back to schoolyard, play ground type of playing. Did Brown get trapped in the corner again or did he continue to keep on making a head fake before he goes up to the basket?……..Reporter…..one on one, I’ve always felt that the reporter had to agree to be “off the record” that just because somebody says off the record doesn’t mean anything because they are a public figure and what they say is open territory…..I held a press conference a long time ago in a nasty political race. All 3 TV stations plus every radio station were there to cover it……It was a personal item in my past that Ann Grimes was about to leak to the media. I couldn’t ask for the conference to be off the record, so I simply said in the begining, “if you think this is worth reporting or affects my ability to be a State Rep. then go with it. Not a single media outlet reported it….I got into with a Fla. coach because he said this is off the record but I never agreed to that. It’s a two way street IMO.
By Scott Case
February 1, 2007 04:26 PM | Link to this
Are you gay. The word was coonass. Who cares I get called white boy and redneck all the time and I don’t care. I’m not even a redneck. I just live in Decatur. It’s funny.
By GLB
February 1, 2007 04:28 PM | Link to this
Saban should be fed to Mike the Tiger after LSU romps Bama next year. He’s so lucky he doesn’t have to go to Death Valley this year, I don’t think he would emerge in one piece. Saban apparently has no issues with being a pile of dung, so apparently he is at the right school now.
By Well, well
February 1, 2007 04:32 PM | Link to this
What, he made a slur against Cajuns? That’s like calling me cracker, honky or whitey. Is that gonna hurt his recruiting? Bobby Boucher isn’t a real person. So maybe he can’t recruit Bobby Hebert’s relatives, but as an issue it’s a fart in the wind.
By godawg
February 1, 2007 04:46 PM | Link to this
Bottom line…if you don’t want to see it in print don’t say it.
By morris
February 1, 2007 04:49 PM | Link to this
If your a white man you can’t say a damn word anymore without being called a racist. All those people down there refer to themselves as ” coon asses”. They even use that term with a great degree of pride. Since saban coached down there and was part of that community then whats the big deal with him using the term? In the story he was telling he was referring to a cajun man. If that term invokes some kind of ethnic pride then why would someone be considered out of line for calling them a “coonass”. Oh I know because a white guy said it and its a chance to smear him in the press by calling him a racist. Why is it okay for everbody to refer to poor white people as trailer trash and rednecks? These are condescending and negative terms to describe poor white people but its o.k. for anyone of any ethic background to use them without fear of reprisal. I guess white people in this country are just held to a higher standard. Or does it mean that people of other races are weak and have to be coddled?
By Hershel
February 1, 2007 04:49 PM | Link to this
I don’t really understand why people get so upset about the “N” word. Blacks thenselves are the folks who use it the most. Just listen to almost any Rap song.
By Dr.Doom
February 1, 2007 04:58 PM | Link to this
Blacks need to get over their own sensitivity and stupidity and get with the program.
By toney L.
February 1, 2007 04:59 PM | Link to this
Mike Shula, he didnt call clinton, or edwards “articulate” funny mike shula, only blacks get called “articulate” by the way—your a bad coach!!!!
By Alabama Resident
February 1, 2007 05:16 PM | Link to this
With all this political correctness its gittin to the point where I cant call my kids retarded in public no more. Coach Saban done gone an insulted half of louisana — so what. They aint total goobers like them inbreds over in Tennessee. Dang. Tennessee is like a 3rd world country. I can think of lots of insulting words for Coach Fulmer. Most involve cussin. Coach Saban used a word that makes fun of the unedicated people of louisana that talk funny. Well they do talk funny - not Yankee funny. You know un-American funny. Almost like terrorists or something. And they eat weard stuff too. Why not make fun of people like that. Kids made fun of me all the time back in middle school. You just gotta be a man and live with it. Im proud to be from Alabama. You dont ever here anyone from louisana make fun of anyone from Alabam. They no they is funny and they is at least smart enought to keep there mouths shut cause we’ll bust them up if they tried. I cant wate for Coach Saban to start dominanting louisana state come football time. Roll Tide. and say what you want Coach Saban.
By Frank
February 1, 2007 05:16 PM | Link to this
If you beleive this
“The fact is, a reporter is a reporter and anything someone might say to a reporter or certainly a group of reporters should be considered on the record because the person that’s being interviewed is aware he or she is speaking to a member or members of the press.”
You need to go back to college and retake Media Ethics.
By profjeff
February 1, 2007 05:20 PM | Link to this
You use the term “bigot” in your headline and refer to a racial slur but do not tell your readers what was said, hiding behind “I don’t condone language like that.” That suggests something much more offensive than “coonass”, a term that is used with some pride by my fellow residents of South Louisiana. Shame on you for such a total lack of journalistic honesty. This is laughable if it weren’t done so often and so haughtily.
By Bruce
February 1, 2007 05:25 PM | Link to this
I go to Louisiana all the time and they all call each other coon asses. It’s like calling somebody a bubba or a redneck. Screw these politically correct chumps. I hope Saban’s recruiting ain’t too good, but not because of this….
By Jeff
February 1, 2007 05:26 PM | Link to this
First of all, it wasn’t the n-word. It was a phrase used to describe cajun people, and if you’ve lived in louisiana you know it’s not widely considered to be a derogatory term.
Second, it was probably poor judgment by Saban to repeat it, but this reporter held it almost a month, and leaked it a week before signing day because he has a clear agenda.
This is overblown. The idiots on cold pizza are is calling it a fireable offense. People hate Saban for many reasons, but primarly one of jealousy. Get over it.
By ConyersDawg
February 1, 2007 05:27 PM | Link to this
Chip, please look into the Caleb King report on gavsv making his score and being fully qualidied!
That’s apparently why they pulled the scholly on Rozeir.
Great news for us Dawg fans!
By JB
February 1, 2007 05:41 PM | Link to this
It really doesn’t help the situation when reporters use loaded language like “racial slur” to describe what Saban said.
By Mike Shula
February 1, 2007 05:46 PM | Link to this
Toney, I get it. And few people are more sensitive than me that whites habitually use (overuse) “articulate” and “dignified” to describe distinguished African Americans to the point that it becomes condescending. But, dang it, those are still positive attributes. Why treat a guy like he said the n-word for falling back on an overused term?
Oh, and by the way, it’s “you’re” a bad coach. And using more than one exclamation point is rude.
By Wozzo the Wonder Dog
February 1, 2007 05:52 PM | Link to this
It’s not like he gave money to a stripper. Let this one slide. Saban will be fired soon enough for not winning.
We should start referring to Bama’s coaches by roman numerals (Coach XXIV) like we do the Super Bowls.
By Raleigh Dog
February 1, 2007 05:55 PM | Link to this
It was a dumb thing to say but anybody who lives there knows that what he said does not mean what it sounds like it means. It’s a local phrase that is hardly complimentary but it does not mean what people are assuming it means. Check it out. Still, he’s an idiot for saying it. One teacher used a word in class that meant “cheap” that sounds like the “N” word. It didn’t mean what everybody thought but it was still dumb to use that word when “cheap” would have done just fine.
By Craig
February 1, 2007 05:55 PM | Link to this
A BAMA fan calling Tennessee a Third World Country? Imbred? Pot calling the kettle black much? What program has been under more NCAA scrutiny for every possible violation in the book? Why even Reggie Bush and USC took notes on how to scam from Bama.
By Doug
February 1, 2007 05:59 PM | Link to this
No way should Saban be fired for what he said, but he’s still an idiot. You can say “off the record” all you want, but you always check to make sure the tape recorder isn’t running.
By bobby
February 1, 2007 06:07 PM | Link to this
coonass in no way is a “racial slur”. it does not have anything to do with people of color. if you think so, then go ahead and live in ignorance and let anything you aren’t sure of the meaning insult you.
By Hunk Erdown
February 1, 2007 06:40 PM | Link to this
The big news of the day is Joseph Biden calling Barack Obama a clean African-American and Nick Saban telling a joke that calls a cajun a coon-a*… Unreal…
I lived in La several years ago and coon-a* was more of a term of endearment than a cut-down or slur. I am against racial slurs and prejudice, but this is ridiculous. Next thing you know they’ll want to throw Foxworthy in prison. Folks need to lighten up.
By Will
February 1, 2007 06:44 PM | Link to this
Coona$$ refers to the people of the area, not to people of color. Louisiana cajun coona$$. This is not the same thing as calling a black person a coon. Not even close, and the guy from Louisiana who said it is offensive is nothing more than a bitter LSU fan. People in Louisiana use it regularly to refer to their neighbors living in the swamp regions who can barely utter the english language. Personally, I feel that the majority of LSU fans are too stupid to be offended by anything of that nature, so what’s the big deal?
By Gator Guy
February 1, 2007 07:24 PM | Link to this
Hunk Erdown——I was scrolling down the posts looking for one that best said what I was thinking. Your post wins. I have known a lot of expatriate Louisiana natives over the years, and all of them uniformly referred to “coonasses” with a sense of wonder and endearment as a unique white ethnic group in a state filled with interesting characters. I suppose that it could be insulting if it were delivered in a demeaning tone, but, yeah, people do need to lighten up … . especially if this is what now passes for big news in sports reporting.
By War Eagle
February 1, 2007 07:30 PM | Link to this
Coach Saban should not be taken to the ropes over this matter of words. Anyone who lives or is famliar with cajuns know they are called coonass. Is it racists? No,Black rappers slur all the time, nothing ever mention in the news media. Check out Chappell, Mad TV etc. or whoever and see respect towards blacks. The reporter was looking for a story and got it.
By Hunk Erdown
February 1, 2007 07:44 PM | Link to this
This is not even a close call, not comparable to any racist activity at all. This is more like getting mad because someone called the guy at the drug store making milkshakes a “soda jerk” or someone from Vidalia a “country boy”. Ignorance is bliss.
By Hunk Erdown
February 1, 2007 08:04 PM | Link to this
Don’t miss next week’s AJC in depth, undercover story on Vince Dooley who was secretly recorded at the local jiffy lube referring to one of the workers as a “grease monkey”.
By WMFDawg
February 1, 2007 08:15 PM | Link to this
Off the record = don’t repeat, print, or play on the radio what I’m about to say. Journalists are pieces of crap who have no ethics. No wonder we hear the same drool from Tiger Woods every Sunday. He knows that the media will take anything and twist it for their benefit. The guy who needs to be fired is the lame reporter who broke the trust of his interviewee because he was p** Saban left the Dolphins.
By AltamahaDawg
February 1, 2007 08:22 PM | Link to this
Hunk, that not near as bad as an AJC blog writer calling folks “Ayatolla” for not wallowing in the mire he tried to create.
By AltamahaDawg
February 1, 2007 08:23 PM | Link to this
The other one , Chip.
By AltamahaDawg
February 1, 2007 08:31 PM | Link to this
here’s that dangling “h”.
By Hunk Erdown
February 1, 2007 08:46 PM | Link to this
I hear ya Alt-
The last thing I want to do is run Chip off after we finally got him instead of who we had on these blogs.
My advice, Chip? Keep doing the fine reporting and blogging on real stories and leave this kind of garbage to Terrance Moore, this story was made for him to overblow.
By Mark
February 1, 2007 09:38 PM | Link to this
Chip, I feel like your lead in to this blog was journalisticly irresponsible for your misleading comments using the term “racial slur.” The term coonass is not a “racial” slur. Some people in Lousiana call themselves that term with pride. It is a term to describe citizens in the Lousiana area. Did Saban use poor judgment? Yes. However, he is once again being slammed by a media that fails to present all sides of the story. Not to mention that he has been hijacked by Jeff Darlington of the Miami Herald who betrayed his confidence by taping the conversation. Darlington should be held accountable. I don’t think there is any confusion as to what “off the record” means. Chip, if a coach said off the record to you and you taped it the conversation and then gave the tape to talk radio show (which is exactly what happened in this instance), I am pretty sure your career would not go far in this business. Dan Patrick said he could do 6 hour shows on “off the record” stuff he has heard. Based on the context of the statement, I consider it ludicrous that this has gotten to this point.
By Bayou Bengal
February 1, 2007 09:46 PM | Link to this
I’m an Irish Catholic with no cajun blood in me but I lived forty-eight years in South Louisiana. Nick Saban’s comment isn’t considered derogatory by a very large majority of Cajuns. In Louisiana we don’t call a cajun a Coonass as an insult. It’s not the “C” word as compared to the “N” word.
It’s a slang term that many Cajuns use to refer to themselves and not just amongst each other (again like the “N” word). In fact I’ve seen many a vehicle in South Louisiana with a bumper sticker or license plate that has the phrase “Registerd Coon A*” on it.
By Gen Neyland
February 1, 2007 09:59 PM | Link to this
Chip
Hope you enjoyed your trip to the Top of Rocky. Don’t lose the roadmap. You’ll need it this coming OCT…BTW, Rocky Top is but a frame of mind, a mythical place in the Tennessee hills. Did you notice the Orange and White..?
By **By Chip Towers**
February 1, 2007 10:44 PM | Link to this
Good, lively discussion, people. Perhaps “racial slur” was not the best choice of words. However, the term IS offensive to some.
From Warren Perrin, president of the Council for Development of French in Louisiana: “I routinely state that the use of that term is highly offensive to descendants of Acadians, who are commonly referred to as Cajuns.”
From Nick Saban himself (in a statement Wednesday): “It can be taken as derogatory by some people.”
By MPYDAWG
February 1, 2007 11:23 PM | Link to this
It’s shocking to see Slick Nick let himself be exposed for the person he really is but he’s probably feeling invincible right now. Alabama will do there best to sweep this under the rug afterall don’t you know that ‘Savior Sabin’ can do no wrong! I find it hilarious that they feel like Dennis Franchione did them dirty but it’s ok that they did the same thing to two coaches that never should have never hired. Then you have the whole Saban fiasco when he left the Dolphins essentially the same thing Franchione did to Bama but it’s OK because there getting there ‘guy’. Saban probably won’t be there to long because when things don’t go perfect the big money boosters will pull Mal Morre’s stings again. Another likely scenario is when the Nictator doesn’t get his way or what he wants form the boosters often enough he’ll look leave to say USC, Norte Dame, Florida if there head coach moves to the NFL. Also don’t rule out the NFL again if say the Cowboys go in the tank then Jerry decides to go get big name again.
However I like many others could be wrong about that theory because one could surmise this whole thing was orchestrated. It goes like this Saban isn’t 100% happy at LSU the Bama job comes open but how can you leave after winning a National Tile. Around the same time Hizengua come calling Nick tells him hey I’ll take your job (money) but I might want come back to the college game (Alabama) one day. Bama somehow got wind of this then found a reason to fire Mike Price then hired David Shula knowing full well when Nick was ready to come there he’d be gone. So when they went down this year instead of giving Shula time to have at least one class of just his recruits they cut him loose. To make it look good they go after Rich Rodriquez knowing full well he’s not leaving his dream job & home. It may have been all coincidental or it may have been even more involved than descripbed. So maybe Nick & Bama always wanted this so he’ll stay there a long time but just like Fulmer’s dirty dealing has caught up to him the dreams Bama has may go up in smoke due to karma. If that happens then look for Sabin to jump ship sooner rather than later.
By E Mutz
February 1, 2007 11:45 PM | Link to this
How does Mr. Saban’s comment affect his ability to win a national championship?
By Sautee Dawg
February 2, 2007 12:04 AM | Link to this
Hey Chip
Heard anything on Caleb King and his status? Wouldn’t UGA have been more asserative in the recruiting of running backs if he hadn’t done well on the tests? What are your thoughts on this?
Hoop Hounds had a off day in Tenn. Don’t give up on them though. As for Saban and his comments, I agree with a previous post. If Saban didn’t want his words reported he should have kept them to himself!!! Anybody in the public eye should know that. Especially someone like Saban.
By Hooper
February 2, 2007 12:06 AM | Link to this
so anyone can call a white person a cracker, or a redneck but calling a cajun a coonass or as the dictionary refers to am Offensive Slang term Used as a disparaging term for a Cajun or a noun Vulgar, Disparaging, and Offensive, can’t be done?? Until the speech police begins to police everyone on every word that is considered disparaging bite me. Sounds stupid doesn’t it?? Now really bite me. everone needs to get over it!!
By FOOTBALL FAN
February 2, 2007 01:21 AM | Link to this
BEING A BLACK MAN I ADMIT I DO USE THE “N” WORD FROM TIME TO TIME BUT THAT IS ONLY WHEN I AM DESCRIBING ONE OF MY OWN PEOPLE WHO ACTS LIKE A STR8 DUMBA$$ TRYING TO GET OVER, WHO ACTS IGNORANT, AND IS NOT WILLING TO WORK FOR ANYTHING AND WANTING STUFF HANDED TO THEM. I AM IN SCHOOL FULLTIME AND WORK 40 HRS A WEEK TRYING TO GET MINE SO MY FUTURE KIDS AND THIER KIDS CAN HAVE SOMETHING AND KNOW HOW TO KEEP IT LIKE SOME WHITE PEOPLE TEACH THIER CHILDREN. OH BY THE WAY CAN A WHITE PERSON PLEASE DEFINE THE WORD THUG FOR ME AND THEN ILL TELL YOU WHAT IT REALLY MEANS SINCE SOME OF YOU CALL A BLACK MAN WHO GETS IN TROUBLE WITH LAW ONE?
By Buck Cochran in the NW
February 2, 2007 07:11 AM | Link to this
In 1998, I worked in New Oleans and the term “coon a$$” was used all the time by everybody. No one took offense. Cajuns, blacks whites and all mixes of race in between must have ben bigots. The entire state has, IMO, the most colorful and interesting people of any in our country. The “off the record” is another issue.
By steve
February 2, 2007 07:17 AM | Link to this
“reporters” go too far in trying to get their name in the limelight; if you give them a story,& if it’s not sexy enough, they’ll “tweak” it to their taste; nobody said saban’s a saint, but if that’s the worst thing the guy ever sez off the record, he’ll be fine; i’m thankful people in ga. would never report or say anything derogatory about anybody; find something else to report, maybe how the ref’s “stole” the game vs. tn. the other night……
By Hey **Chip Towers**
February 2, 2007 07:54 AM | Link to this
Please learn whatever it is you need to learn to put your name in BLUE when you post, like all the other AJC bloggers. That way we know it’s really you. Maybe the AJC offers through HR a remedial blogging course.
By tenndawg
February 2, 2007 08:11 AM | Link to this
Hey Chip,
What’s going on with the blogs not being able to print? I click on the “print” icon, but it won’t bring up the blog to print.
By Eric
February 2, 2007 08:13 AM | Link to this
He could be Osama bin Saban and it won’t matter to Bama fans if he can beat Auburn once in a while. Those poor rednecks are desperate.
By Scott
February 2, 2007 08:29 AM | Link to this
The Dawgs will be ok, and will end up in the NCAA tournament. I’m disappointed in the way that it sounded like they played (via radio), but it happens. We’ll see the Dawgs’ true colors tomorrow night in Nashville. Sic ‘em.
By godawg
February 2, 2007 09:41 AM | Link to this
Scott, Georgia is better than the game they played Wed. night. I was there and nothing would drop, 1 for 14 from the arc just first half. I was dying. They had the size advantage and some success inside but would not abandon the three and never got it going. People here are amazed that Georgia didn’t just go to the boards and pound them underneath.
It was just one game and I agree that I think we’ll be OK. Go Hoop Hounds!
By matt
February 2, 2007 09:46 AM | Link to this
This is like calling a person from the south a “hillbilly” or a “redneck”! Was it the smartest thing to do? Not really but i’m not sure how it’s a racist slur or an expression of bigotry! Now the Cajun community is upset? I didn’t know that we now had to be sensitive to people who are from a particular area. Beware all cowboys, southerners, surfers, farmers, and new englanders!! I also heard that the “fast-food community” is upset over a Kevin Federline commercial airing for the Super Bowl!! Is this really where we are today?!? Becoming sensitive to peoples professions and areas from which they are from?
By reality check
February 2, 2007 09:58 AM | Link to this
Anybody heard from Cuz? I hope he’s all right.
Maybe he’s just lost interest since Chip took over.
Cuz, if you are lurking out there I think it is still okay for you to come on here and call Carter an ignorant slut. He’ll be happy to be remembered I’m sure.
By gdawginkalamazoo
February 2, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this
Sure he used it but he is a bold face liar. He said a friend from LSU told him that joke recently. I wonder which friend he was talking about? Was it the one who lit the effigy of Saban when he left LSU? The one holding the feathers, or the one holding the bucket of tar?
IMO if you don’t want it “off” the record don’t say it.
By gdawg
February 2, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this
As usual, the liberal press has blown a simple comment into a national story. Who the HELL cares what he said. He’s a grown man and can say whatever he wants. If he offends you, write him a letter and tell him to kiss your a*.
By Mike the Tiger
February 2, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
I did not know that you could slur cajuns. This is all new to me. I have always found them to be in good taste, or is it that I have always found them to taste good? BTW, are there strip clubs in Tuscaloosa?
By gdawg
February 2, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this
While I’m on the subject, it is much more offensive that John Kerry(while in Switzerland no less) called America a bunch of international pariah’s. But you will never hear about that from this liberal rag…Now that’s bigotry.
By Mikey
February 2, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
For those of us that are familiar with the South, there was nothing wrong with Saban’s comment. However, you can’t really expect the national media to understand that “coonass” isn’t a racial slur. You also can’t expect the national media to ignore a perfectly good opportunity to indulge in a feeding frenzy.
As an Auburn Tiger that bleeds Orange and Blue, I think this is a delightful little ruckus. Fair? No, but it couldn’t happen at a better place than Bammer. Couple this with Saban’s utter failure in his first year of recruiting and it’s just like Christmas came early!
By Spike
February 2, 2007 01:19 PM | Link to this
Oh Please!!!! We are the United States of the Offended! Can’t anybody say anything without some unamed group being offended or upset? I am no Saban fan after he dumped on the Dolphins, but lighten up and get a thicker skin. And reporters who do this are vermin. Chip, let this non story rest, please!!
By Old Dawg 55
February 2, 2007 01:21 PM | Link to this
Glad to see that the term “coonass” has been put in its proper perspective..that from a resident of Arcadia Louisiana for half a lifetime…definitely not even halfass racist! …and Auburn fan, Saban has had a fantastic recruiting time since he arrived at Bama. Those reporters who thought they had a story just look stupid now. My family..half at least..are proud to be coonasses!!
By SunDawg
February 2, 2007 01:47 PM | Link to this
In my dealings with the press I’ve used “off the record”, “background only” and finally “for the record.” Have I been burned? Oh yes, but not that often.
Folks down here (I’m in Fort Lauderdale) HATE Saban for leaving like he did. Thinking he was “safe” in a crowd of Miami reporters is like feeling “safe” treading water amidst a school of sharks.
I don’t think he should be reprimanded but he should get the “Dumba$$ Award” for not realizing the situation.
By American Coona$$ Association
February 2, 2007 03:20 PM | Link to this
As the delegated spokesperson for the ACA, I wish to request that Nick Saban offer a formal request to coona$$es everywhere. We would not be caught dead in Alabama. It is too low rent.
By johnmrog
February 2, 2007 03:24 PM | Link to this
I would LOVE for all you people who think it is “no big deal” because “people down there call each other that all the time” to take a few days off, travel down to the Acadian parishes of Louisiana, and just walk up to random people and say to their face “how’s it going, you ol’ coonass” and see the reaction you get.
I would absolutely LOVE to see that. I think you ignoramuses (closet racists?) would be surprised (really surprised) by the reaction that you personally would get.
(And, yes, I do have family from New Orleans.)
By Buck Cochran in the NW
February 2, 2007 05:14 PM | Link to this
johnmrog, I’d never heard the term until I moved to New Oleans. No one seemed to take offense didn’t matter where I was in the city. Now, I’ve never been in the Acadian parishes so I have no idea what their reaction would be. When people
By jim
February 2, 2007 10:02 PM | Link to this
Whenever someone says “off the record” to reporters what they really mean is “I want to make sure you hear and print this.” Nick is no dummy. If you think different check his bank account. He knows what to say and when to cut and run. One more year in the NFL and he would be like Quincy Carter, looking for a Arena II team.
By Journalist Are Scum Bigots themselves
February 3, 2007 09:45 AM | Link to this
Consider the source. A burned and upset Fl. “journalist” who is unethical to their oath of keeping things off the record. And Chip you’re a liar to say it is fair game to use off the record material in a story. Let’s see you do that to Felton/Petrino and see how they work with you over the next two years. Saban was leaving, the journalist had an axe to grind, was jealous of the money that Saban makes and said, I’ll never need him again, screw him. With all journalist it’s about the take-down. Insight into humanity be damned. I need to get paid. Nothing like paying a guy $45K a year to hang around millionaires to get some crossing of moral boundries. Do we write how many times sports journalist step out on their wives while on the road? Now THAT would be news wouldn’t it?
By Cuz
February 3, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
Reality Check, I am still out here. For some reason my AOL is not letting me post on the AJC, either that or Carter, T.I.S., has found a way to ban me. Using a different provider for now.
All this furor over that one comment by Saban. I guess now I should be offended when someone calls me a redneck. PC is getting way out of control.
By reality check
February 3, 2007 01:02 PM | Link to this
Glad to see you hanging in there Cuz.
I don’t think Carter would have had you banned. I still think he had some kind of side bet with Terrence Moore about who could get the most insults and Carter got bonus points every time you called him an ignorant slut.
My hunch is Chip is trying this coonass thing just to rile things up some, but it just doesn’t work as well as saying something stupid about the Dawgs. I’ve got to hand it to Carter, he was in a class by himself when it came to that.
By Cuz
February 3, 2007 03:46 PM | Link to this
Carter made Forrest Gump look like a Mensa candidate when it came to blog topics. I will give Carter props on one thing, he does his research and writes usually good articles. He just is flat awful as a blog topic writer.
By reality check
February 3, 2007 07:33 PM | Link to this
I agree his articles are good Cuz. That’s the very thing that makes me think maybe he was writing the incredibly stupid stuff just to get you to call him an ignorant slut.
Those guys at the AJC probably laugh their asses off at us.
Now that our man Chan is secure in his position at Tech I think we out to convene a meeting of the Fans of Chan at an Atlanta watering hole to celebrate.
I’ve got to travel on business this week, so maybe we can float the idea on a blog sometime later this week or next
By deronroberts
February 3, 2007 10:16 PM | Link to this
“Coon A*” is a Louisiana term referring to cajuns in the state. Having grown up in south GA, I was schooled on this when I moved to New Orleans three years ago. I heard someone calling a person a “Coon A*” I thought it was racial slur. It’s not. Everybody and their mother uses it around here.
By Huskdawg
February 4, 2007 08:02 PM | Link to this
johnmrog, like Buck, I agree. My neighborhood is 300k+ and a lot of my neighbors are from loo-sana. They are all friends of mine and use that term all the time. Now it may be a term that is germain to that particular area, as I am guessing there aren’t a whole lot of Acadian’s(sp?) moving to the surburbs of Atlanta. Anyway, the liberals control the media;Chip, I don’t see how you work at this communist paper, but how stupid am I for posting on it. At least you give us an outlet. That’s the only thing that lib’s have gotten right, and if they could take it away, they’d do it in a second(sorry guys for the political paragraph, I just really hate the hard left).
By Huskdawg
February 4, 2007 08:14 PM | Link to this
The ONLY reason I threw the 300k thing in there was in defense of cajuns. Not ALL people who are referred to as coonass’s are poor.
By Cuz
February 4, 2007 08:38 PM | Link to this
A FANS OF CHAN board meeting would be loads of fun, but being able to get together the members during the off season would be difficult to say the least. Atlanta would be the perfect site as it is the home of the soon to be Saint CHAN. What a man, turns down the NFL so he can continue to bless North Avenue with his wisdom. Oh and so he can go to the Varsity and get a naked dog walking.
I know it would be impossible for godawg to make. You can’t blast geechee off the beach.
Reality, have they announced the date for the G-Day game. That may be an option for a FANS OF CHAN reunion.
By Bibble
February 6, 2007 09:11 AM | Link to this
It’s important to keep in mind that sports reporters, like other journalists, tend to be liberal and very socially sensitive (unless the offending party is a Democrat politician. Then the “slur” is glossed over and/or ignored altogether. See comments made in recent years by Joe Biden, Robert Byrd, Hillary Clinton, etc.).
As an example, look at the contrived flap over the Rush Limbaugh controversy, where a remark slamming the media was spun into a racist slur against Donovan McNabb. Bottom line is, if you are a high profile football coach like Saban, then say speak to the media at your own risk. Their job is to sell papers or air time, not to make you look good.