HBO's Gumbel: Lack of Blacks Makes Olympics 'Look Like a GOP Convention'

Newsbusters.org ^ | 2/16/05 | David Pierre

[Airborne1986]

There were some eye-opening remarks from Bryant Gumbel on the most recent episode of HBO's Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel. According to a transcript posted by a television columnist named Seth Frelich, Gumbel said the following in his closing monologue last week (emphasis mine):

"Finally, tonight, the Winter Games. Count me among those who don’t care about them and won’t watch them ... Because they’re so trying ... Like, try not to be incredulous when someone attempts to link these games to those of the ancient Greeks who never heard of skating or skiing. So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world’s greatest athletes, despite a paucity of blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention. Try not to point out that something’s not really a sport if a pseudo-athlete waits in what’s called a kiss-and-cry area, while some panel of subjective judges decides who won ... So if only to hasten the arrival of the day they’re done, when we can move on to March Madness — for God’s sake, let the games begin."

[From The Deer Stand]

Haven't seen too many blacks on the Chinese or Japanese teams either - they must be racist countries. Also, Dumbell, er, Gumbel, should take a look at the NBA and NFL.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Gumball is an idiot.

[FormerLib]

This from the guy who dumped his black wife for a white blonde woman.

Yeah well...uh...maybe he was making some kind of social statement there.

[dfwgator]

I would agree that the Olympic Winter Games jumped the shark with the inclusion of all the X-Games crap.

[Txsleuth]

OOO...now that was an UN PC remark!!! LOL

[Kirkwood]

To paraphrase Gumbel: White people should not be allowed to participate in sports.

What a racist jackass.

[r9etb]

I have a vague recollection of Gumbel hosting the Olympic coverage during the Seoul Olympics in 1988.

Yup. He was trying and failing to be funny during the opening ceremonies, when he should have just STFU. It's the day I decided to dislike him. Haven't regretted that decision since, nor had reason to revise it.

[cpanter]

I'm so glad someone posted this. I emailed that elitist bas%$&^& and HBO about this very thing after I watched Real Sports this past Saturday. Still waiting on my reply. Doubt I ever get it.

I told him he should read his correspondent's books (Bernard Goldberg) if he wanted to learn something.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Perhaps Rush will pick this up and run it over and over and ove...

[Dane]

Gumbel is a moron. I have a vague recollection of Gumbel hosting the Olympic coverage during the Seoul Olympics in 1988. He had a Korean tailor brought on camera during the show so Gumbel could hassle him over some suits Gumble ordered but that were not yet delivered. Gumble even pulled out a wad of cash like the stereotypical ugly American. The media did not pick up on that either

I was working at a sports bar during the 88 Seoul Olympics and we got the uneditied NBC satellite feed and watched Bob Costas primping himself before he went on.

It was hilarious watching him take out his big vanity mirror from his side drawer and make sure everything was just perfect during the commerical breaks.

[SoFloFreeper]

I guess Gumbel has never heard of:

Lynn Swann
Ken Blackwell
Michael Steele
Thomas Sowell
Clarence Thomas
Colin Powell
Condoleeza Rice
Armstrong Williams
J.C. Watts
Alan Keyes
Starr Parker
Herman Cain
Rod Paige
Alvin Williams
Cynthia Jenkins
Thomas Stith
Winsome Sears
Rogers Johnson
Sherman Parker
Yvonee Brown
Or any other hardworking African American Republicans in America!
These people aren't attention or media whores, like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Instead, they apply themselves and work hard for their constituents and clients. And they get results.

[BadAndy]

"Hey Gumbel: Perhaps more black people should have trained and qualified for the olympics then."

Don't you know that the concept of "qualifications" is racist?

[dfwgator]

How about, "Lack of Black Makes Gumbel's Wife look like a GOP Convention."

[csvset]

Liberals are obsessed with race.

Diversity on slopes an uphill climb Ski resorts, clubs work to fight the myth that winter sports aren't for minorities

[TheBattman]

Gumble has been drinking the coolaid so long, that he now spouts it out like a fountain..... And his punchbowl has a turd in it.

[peacebaby]

How rude Gumbel is! I had the "opportunity" of speaking with him on the phone during the Atlanta Olympics, and when I didn't jump up and down and squeal when he introduced himself, he was sooooooo put off. And then when I said I thought Mat Lauer was so cute, he was really put off.

Idiot. Gosh.

[RedCell]

Well said!

[moondoggie]

It's Bush's fault that blacks don't excell in winter sports.

And, who the hell is bothered if Gumbel isn't interested in watching them?

His arrogance knows no bounds.

Sheesh!

[Airborne1986]

"What about the NHL? Where are the black ice hockey players?" Gold Medal Winner Jarome Iginla