How does this writer make racists comments and keep his job?

Question

After UK coach Tubby Smith left Kentucky for Minnesota, Sports Illustrated ran a column containing this paragraph:

"Of course, some racism also was involved. In the rural areas of the state, where poverty and ignorance have been chronic problems, Smith was never accepted because of his African-American heritage. This is a state, remember, where right-wing religious zealots dominate the debate over flag-burning, prayer in the classroom and same-sex marriage. Thankfully, however, such narrow-mindedness and intolerance no longer represents the majority. Even fans who didn't like Smith's coaching or recruiting had to concede that he was a superior human being."

Full story at: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/ncaa/03/22/tubby.smith/index.html

How does he still have a job?

Since posting this question, SI did delete part of the column, but they still included the part equating "rural Kentucky" with ignorance and racism without providing the basis of this fact. It is an opinion bashing impoverished people because the writer wants racism to be a factor in Tubby Smith leaving.

Another modification: The question should be: "How does this writer make stereotyping comments and keep his job?"

Answer 1

As a Kentucky fan all of my life, I can honestly say that the ONLY people in UK who didn't like Tubby Smith as a person were Louiseville fans!

Seriously, while certainly there are some ignorant fans in Kentucky, they're also all over the country, and by the tone of his article, he makes it sound like anyone who opposes same sex marraige must also be a racist! Also, I don't personally think opposing flag-burning is narrow-minded, does anyone else? (I don't want to get into a political discussion, but opposing flag burning is a far cry from homophobia!)

What's worse? He's insenuating that racism was at all a factor in the school and booster's decision to allow him to leave. While, there is no doubt that ignorant fans privately harrassed Tubby Smith, any minority coach has to deal with those same exact issues, especially with such a prestigous and recognizable program like University of Kentucky basketball. He's giving UK a bad name, undeservedly so, by making such wild and unfound accusations.

This guy SHOULD be fired, and I hope he duly is. There are ignorant people all across the country, not just in Kentucky.

AS OF 1:35 PM EST it's been changed. But, the damage is done, because it's already circulating over the internet! I wonder if SI is going to issue a public apology to Smith, the program and the state of Kentucky. Oh, and the guy was only a guest columnist, so my guess is he won't be invited back.

Answer 2

Because he wrote the TRUTH,period! No matter how you folks try to change reality or history you can't. He reported on racism at uk and the rural area of the state of Kentucky, he didn't make a racists comment.I live in Kentucky and racists have a lot of power in this state including uk basketball. That's why coach Smith left there! His biggest problem was he was coaching at uk while being BLACK,period!

Answer 3

Is "rural Kentucky resident" a race? There's nothing racist about this statement. Racism entails denigration of a person or class of people based on their race. That's not being done here. At a stretch you could argue that the writer is being classist, but even then he is making a statement based on what he has observed as a journalist. I didn't read the article and maybe he doesn't cite evidence or quotes from a resident knowledgeable in local opinion to support the above quote. That would make him sloppy, but not so sloppy that he deserves to lose his job. Enough with the knee-jerk political correctness. Are his facts wrong? If so, set us straight with evidence and real world examples to the contrary. Better yet, set sports illustrated straight. Free speech kicks ***!

Answer 4

I don't think the writer is racist, he is just stating some unfortunate facts about some people in Kentucky. Tubby will turn around Golden Gopher basketball. However, any coach who takes the Kentucky job will have a great deal of pressure and will be expected to be the second coming of Rick Pitino and Adolf Rupp.

Answer 5

That is not a direct quote. The quote from the article ends at ".... Smith was never accepted because of his African-American heritage." (Page two of the article this question asker posted, right at the top).

He says nothing about flag burning, intolerance, or anything along the lines of "superior human being." What is your source, because the link you posted had nothing racist in it. It was all factual, and no opinions at all, as it should be.
He is not being racist at all, so if you have another link, post it, and we can react appropriately.
If you don't have a veritable source, why are you attempting to incite racist ideas, and in that, trying to damage the name of the author of said article?

Answer 6

I wonder if this guy ever went to the rural areas of Kentucky or if it's just his own stereotyping that is making those statements. It's irresponsible for any respected news source to allow this to be released. I'm surprised and dismayed.

How can he keep his job is a good question. My question is how can the editor who allowed this article to be released keep his job!

Answer 7

He wasnt being racist, he was just saying, part of the reason he left was because of the racism in the area. I don't know what in the article would make you think these are the actual views of the author, he is just saying that is why Tubby decided to go to Minnesota.

Answer 8

Racist. R un blind. This is a fine article.

Answer 9

cut it with the racist crap it will always be brought up