Le Basketbawl

Your Old Pal New York Vinnie grew up in the “Great American Melting Pot” New York City; therefore I have had friends my entire life from every Frickin ethnicity you can think of. In New York Vinnie’s neighborhood a person is not judged by the color of their skin or what religion they practice; instead you are judged by what is in your heart and your mind. True Friends come in all colors and all religions and all sorts of different backgrounds; just like Frickin PUDS come in all colors, religions and backgrounds. 

That is why New York Vinnie is not only puzzled but deeply offended by people who display racist tendencies. New York Vinnie truly can not comprehend how some Frickin people could be so Small Frickin Minded that they judge someone by their Frickin point of origin. It’s not only Frickin stupid when it comes right down to it it is Frickin evil. Now it is bad enough when you say that kind of Crapolla in a private conversation; but when you are professional Frickin broadcaster and you say it over the airwaves it is Frickin inexcusable.

The “Associated Press” has reported that a pair of veteran announcers for the Los Angeles Clippers were suspended for one game for making racist remarks. This was not a couple of Frickin kids making a rookie mistake; instead it was Clippers play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler and color-analyst Michael Smith. Lawler is 71 years old and this is season number 31 for him announcing games for the team. Smith is in his twelfth season as analyst for the team. These are two guys who should have known better.

Lawler and Smith were broadcasting a game between the Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies when Grizzlies reserve center Hamed Haddadi entered the game. The following is the conversation that took place on the air once Haddadi came on the court.

Smith: “Look who’s in.”

Lawler: “Hamed Haddadi. Where’s he from?”

Smith: “He’s the first Iranian to play in the NBA.”

Lawler: “There aren’t any Iranian players in the NBA,”

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.”

Now New York Vinnie finds that totally Frickin offensive and uncalled for. There is no Frickin room in an NBA broadcast for that kind of Racist Crapolla. That is just as bad as when that Frickin Pud Imus was talking about the women basketball players; and Imus lost his gig over that.

According to the report the pair were suspended from the broadcast on Friday night by their employer Fox Sports Prime Ticket after a viewer complained via e-mail. The cable network released the following statement about two and a half hours before the Friday broadcast. The statement read “We regret the remarks made by Clippers announcers Michael Smith and Ralph Lawler during Wednesday’s telecast. While we believe that Michael and Ralph did not intend their exchange to be offensive, the comments were inappropriate. We extend our apologies to Hamed Haddadi of the Memphis Grizzlies and to anyone who was offended. We have addressed the situation with Michael and Ralph and have taken appropriate action.”

If they did not intend for their comments to be offensive then they are just plain Frickin Morons pure and simple. Are they going to make comments like that about any other race? Of course not! But because he is from Frickin Iran it makes it “not offensive” ?  Are You Frickin kidding New York Vinnie? This is an NBA player, he is not the Frickin Ayatollah or their Frickin President. This guy did not deserve this; nobody does!

If New York Vinnie was running Fox Sports Prime Ticket those two Frickin PUDS would be out of work right now. This is Frickin unacceptable especially from a pair of pros like these two. We have enough Frickin problems in this day and age to have two Frickin Puds cause a Global Crisis!