Dean Jones returns to the microphone (made "terrorist" remark during a broadcast)

Cricinfo ^ | 26 September 2006 | Cricinfo staff

[BaBaStooey]

Commentator handed lifeline after 'terrorist' gaffe

Dean Jones returns to the microphone

Cricinfo staff

September 26, 2006

Dean Jones, the former Australia batsman turned commentator, will return to the microphone after being sacked last month for an offensive remark he made while commentating on the second Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa in August.

When South Africa's Hashim Amla, a devout Muslim, took the catch to dismiss Kumar Sangakkara, Jones was heard to say "the terrorist has got another wicket" although he maintained that it was an off-air jest to his fellow commentators.

He was subsequently dismissed by Ten Sports, but has found employment with Australia's Southern Cross radio, with whom he has signed a two-year contract, and he will also work for an Indian network for the 2007 World Cup.

"I've been asked to come back already for next year," Jones told the Sydney Morning Herald. "I've been asked to come back for the Champions Trophy and work in India but fortunately I've been booked to do many other things - coaching, appearances and all that through October - and I didn't want to cancel them. So it's sort of done and dusted a little bit now.

"Two other networks have been after me but I don't want to say who. [Commentating] is where I make most of my dough, so I'll definitely be going back. We've got the World Cup coming up."

He added that he had spoken to Amla "three times and everything's fine". He added: "In the long run, I wasn't even really referring to him. What was my comment? And who got the wicket? Amla got the catch, Nicky Boje was the bowler. Just listen to the comment. The terrorist got a wicket. Who got the wicket? I'll leave it up to you to work out who I was referring to."

The issue caused outrage in South Africa with viewers jamming the switchboards of Cricket South Africa and Supersport, whose feed broadcast the gaffe to South African audiences.

© Cricinfo

[BaBaStooey]

Here is the FR thread on the "terrorist" remark when it happened:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1679315/posts

[BaBaStooey]

Cricket Ping

[vimto]

Well thanks for the post because I missed that one. Good to see a bit of common sense has prevailed. If it had been Boycs in the UK he would have had his chips (as they say). We are unforgiving on the PC agenda. All of us could learn a little from down under.

Mind you a cricket/terrorism thread is a rare bird hey what?

The summer is over and the cricket season officially closed. The swallows are flocking and another year is turning.

Oh well - just have to settle in for the Ashes!

[AFreeBird]

I thought they were talking about this Dean Jones..

[Joe Marine 76]

I thought exactly the same! Anyway, for our Christian Freepers, a friend of mine loaned me a tape of the Actor Dean Jones and his solo act called: "St. John's Exile to the the Island of Patmos." He is a devout Christian, Catholic, I think. He gave an outstanding and VERY POWERFUL rendition of St. John's exile to Patmos. Worth the while if you can find it.

[BaBaStooey]

Nope, the article (and the one before it on FR) were referring to this Dean Jones:



Although I agree, the actor Dean Jones from Herbie: The Love Bug ... fantastic, just fantastic. I bought the 2-Disc version on DVD, and the commentary with Dean and Buddy Hackett is just great.