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Breaking: ESPN Suspends Analyst Rob Parker for Insulting Redskins QB, RG III
Cable sports network ESPN has suspended its commentator Rob Parker following his offensive racial tirade against Washington Redskins player Robert Griffin III. In a segment on yesterday’s First Take program, Parker said that the rookie quarterback was “not one of us” and that he was only “kind of black” because he is engaged to a white woman, is rumored to be a Republican, and has spoken in favor of racial neutrality, sentiments that the sports analyst derided as “cornball.”
“Following yesterday’s comments, Rob Parker has been suspended until further notice,” network spokesman Josh Krulewitz said in a statement. “We are conducting a full review.”
Yesterday, the suspended-but-not-fired analyst made a number of negative remarks about Griffin, questioning whether or not he behaved and spoke the way that Parker appears to believe a black person should:
But time and time we keep hearing this, so it just makes me wonder deeper about him. And I’ve talked to some people down in Washington D.C., friends of mine, who are around and at some of the press conferences, people I’ve known for a long time. But my question, which is just a straight honest question. Is he a brother, or is he a cornball brother? [...]
Well, he’s not really, ok he’s black, he kind of does his thing, but he’s not really down with the cause, he’s not one of us. He’s kind of black, he’s in a—but he’s not really like the guy you’d really want to hang out with, because he’s off to something else. [...]
Well, because that’s just how I want to find out about him. I don’t know, because I keep hearing these things. We all know he has a white fiancée. There was all this talk about he’s a Republican, which, there’s no information at all [about that]. I’m just trying to dig deeper as to why he has an issue. Because we did find out with Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods was like ‘I don’t wanna, I’ve got black skin but don’t call me black.’ So people got a little wondering about Tiger Woods early on about him.
Asked about Parker’s remarks, Robert Griffin II, the quarterback’s father declined to take offense:
“He needs to define what ‘one of us’ is. That guy needs to define that,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it’s racism. I would just say some people put things out there about people so they can stir things up.
“Robert is in really good shape on who he is, where he needs to get to in order to seek the goals he has in life … so I don’t take offense.”
DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association was not nearly as forgiving in an email he sent to the Washington Post:
“Robert can certainly take care of himself. Nonetheless, I hope that our men and for that matter, my own kids, will never beg for authenticity from someone who can only talk about the things that other people have the courage to do. People need to be held accountable for the offensive things that they say.”
Diann
December 14th, 2012
Turns out this racist prick is from Detroit, so cut him some slack. He probably can’t even read at a seventh grade level.
Bob M.
December 14th, 2012
WHY does ESPN employ so mnay racist black men? HMMMMMMMMMMMMM???
Johnny Pickleduster
December 14th, 2012
Ignorant racist toad. Fire his worthless ass. Oh wait he’s “African” American which means the can’t be fired only white people.
grayscape
December 14th, 2012
Pure racism. Democrats must be bursting with pride.
dude
December 14th, 2012
Don’t suspend, Fire his ass!
Anonymous
December 14th, 2012
WTF ! Suspended?! What would Parker have to do to get fired, incite black on white crime ?!
Maybe an ESPN employed white former QB should encourage current NFL QBs to only throw to white receivers? Would that meet ESPN broadcast standards?
4inchtoenails
December 14th, 2012
RGIII’s mommy and daddy are black – therefore he’s black. It’s really as simple as that. By my calculations… that makes him twice as black as our beloved president.
When will the racists stop this kind of crap. Devisive class warfare is all this is.
Smaj
December 14th, 2012
“Suspended until further notice” is ProgTalk for Parker to lie low for a couple of months. He’ll be back on the air by February. A white guy would be out on his ass already.
Troy
December 14th, 2012
Obama: ESPN acted stupidly…
Troy
December 14th, 2012
Why is he wearing a suit and tie?
Isn’t that the uniform of the white devil?
A crackah?
A honkie?
Doesn’t he know they gonna put ya’ll back in chains?
Tim
December 14th, 2012
He only likes cornhole brothers like Reggie and Barry …
Oh, wait, that’s cornball … shouldn’t that have been cornbread? You know, like “cornbread and chitlins wif gravy?”
sablegsd
December 14th, 2012
“Down with the cause?” What cause? Is this numbskull stuck in the ’60′s?
Anonymous
December 14th, 2012
Watching the clip, Parker teaches us that if a brother wears braids, he’s considered “urban” and can be assumed to be ‘with the cause”.
It’s a shame we can’t resurrect Jimmy The Greek Snyder and puts some braids on him.
Racism aside, one can see why ESPN wants to retain Parker, who’s obviously an encyclopedia of good sports information.
Anonymous
December 14th, 2012
Didn’t Mike Tyson go down with the cause? Or did he go stupid from the clap?
I Luv Bacon
December 14th, 2012
Maybe RG wouldn’t let this ignoramus sniff his jock long enough.
It would be ironic if this putz sucked a white espn dong to get his job, cause it is guaranteed he’s taking on all comers to keep it, now..
Maudie N Mandeville
December 14th, 2012
Fear not, Rob. You’re black and obviously liberal. If ESPN doesn’t put you back on, someone else will. And if ESPN doesn’t, I’m sure they’ve got a generous separation package for you so they won’t get sued. Black and liberal, it’s a win win in media no matter how incompetent and racist you are.
Rio
December 14th, 2012
Seems some/most blacks are obsessed with the issue of race.
Toxic racism. is harmful to your health.
Pearl Clutcher
December 14th, 2012
Wow, I love this young man’s story. Race is irrelevant, but his family is not as it is a rarity in today’s society. His family is a throw back to the 50′s so depressing when you think about it Reg3′s family should be the future not a reflection of the past.
Pearl Clutcher
December 14th, 2012
Wow, not sure why it embedded the video and not just a link sorry folks..
Bad Brad
December 14th, 2012
They’ll do their best to haul him back to the plantation.
grayscape
December 14th, 2012
I guess MLK wasn’t “down with the cause” either.
Dadof3
December 14th, 2012
Grayscape, I’m sure he would be called an Uncle tom in today’s world.
Stranded in Sonoma
December 14th, 2012
Sounds like Parker stepped on his Olbermann.
Maudie N Mandeville
December 14th, 2012
Awww, he speaks ‘white’. No wonder Rob doesn’t like him. He enunciates.