It wasn't marked on my calendar, but apparently Tuesday was "Michael Ray Richardson Offends Everyone Day." The former NBA All-Star who was banned from the Association for life for three drug offenses, is coaching his Albany Patroons (I don't know what that means) in the CBA playoffs. But before and during Tuesday's game against the Yakima Sun-Kings, Richardson decided to air some thoughts on Jews and homosexuals. Consider yourselves lucky, Asians and little people. You were spared. This time. Let's start with the homosexuals. From ESPN.com news services:
According to the Times Union, Richardson told a fan who heckled him early in Tuesday's game, "Shut the [expletive] up." And near game's end, he shouted at another heckler, "Shut the [expletive] up, you [derogatory term for gay men]."Any guesses on that one? I'm thinking it rhymes with "shag it," and is one of Tim Hardaway's favorite words.
And, as promised, let's not forget the Jews. Richardson was discussing a contract that was offered to him by the team with a couple of reporters (the CBA has reporters?) in his office.
"I've got big-time lawyers," Richardson said, according to the Times Union. "I've got big-time Jew lawyers."He didn't stop there. There's another whole paragraph about the craftiness of the Jew. In fact, one of the most amazing things about this is how, just like Dan Le Batard did in the Tim Hardaway situation, a reporter tried to a throw Richardson a life preserver, and he just shoved it away.
When told by the reporters that the comment could be offensive to people because it plays to the stereotype that Jews are crafty and shrewd, he responded with, "Are you kidding me? They are. They've got the best security system in the world. Have you ever been to an airport in Tel Aviv? They're real crafty. Listen, they are hated all over the world, so they've got to be crafty."
Here's a tip, pro athletes, retired athletes, and banned-for-life coaches: When a reporter says something to you like, "Hey, you know that might be offensive," it's probably in your best interest to just stop talking for a while. Sit the next few plays out.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-29-2007 @ 12:04AM
Micheal Ray Richardson said...
It's Micheal, not Michael.
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3-29-2007 @ 10:17AM
Ian said...
I dunno...most of those seem like PRO-semitic remarks. I'm proud to have those kind of stereotypes.
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3-29-2007 @ 2:57AM
robble donnert said...
micheal ray has it wrong. the jews are clever. the amish are crafty. i hope this settles everything.
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3-29-2007 @ 3:08AM
shoreke said...
Micheal Ray graduated from the same School of Racial Stereotypes as the late Reggie White.
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3-29-2007 @ 8:19AM
Unsilent Majority said...
"micheal ray has it wrong. the jews are clever. the amish are crafty. i hope this settles everything."
and the mennonites are shifty
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3-29-2007 @ 11:16AM
Rochal said...
Hey, I'm clever AND crafty. And seriously NOT offended.
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3-29-2007 @ 12:39PM
Not so bad said...
Mel Gibson's remarks were anti-Semetic. Richardson formed a stereotype - and not a negative one either. Sociologist use factor analysis and principal component analysis to form stereotypes.
Sorry folks, political correctness is gone awry again. I'm of Irish and Polish decent. On the average, do the Irish drink a lot? No - there is nothing 'average' about the amount the Irish drink - they drink a lot. Are the Polish stupid? Hardly, and the average Pole is smarter than the leader of the US.
By the way - there was a lot of truth to what Reggie White said (I didn't agree with his homophobic comments).
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3-30-2007 @ 9:14AM
Darron P. said...
Why are we surprised? Read this www.writestuf.com
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3-29-2007 @ 3:12PM
Don Babbitt said...
"Here's a tip, pro athletes, retired athletes, and banned-for-life coaches: When a reporter says something to you like, "Hey, you know that might be offensive," it's probably in your best interest to just stop talking for a while. Sit the next few plays out."
God forbid anyone should ever speak their mind.
What did Richardson say that's a problem? El Al has the best security world and Israel is the most hated country. He was stating facts. The 5 billion Jewish lawyers on the planet are laughing today....are they supposed to be offended by what Richardson said?
Get a life people. PC nonsense has taken over your minds...I'm sure more than a few of want government censorship to take over.
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3-29-2007 @ 7:12PM
Stacey Franchise said...
Intimidating foes with the implied usage of a Jew lawyer is an East Coast thing, sort of matched by the California equivalent of taking clothing with a tough stain to a Chinese laundry.
Notice that no one is suing Sugar Ray, as he effectively applied the Implied Use Of A Jew at the proper time for this particular situation.
You have to recognize that stereotypes exist, and then make them work for you. If I f***ed up something really bad, the first thing I'd do is search out a spokesperson... who, if I lucked out, would be a Jewish black woman in a wheelchair. It's all downhill after you find one of those.
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4-05-2007 @ 5:17PM
Jeremy said...
Actually, I think censorship is more Hitlerish than saying something a lot of Jewish people would agree with.
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4-14-2007 @ 8:04AM
white derrick said...
REINSTATE MICHEAL RAY NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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4-19-2007 @ 9:23PM
Steven Kalka said...
I think Michael Ray's comments about Jews, although stereotypical, contain a lot of truth and are positive. Do you know how much of the U.S. political left and so much of European opinion applies such a tougher standard in judging Israel than other nations?
Here you have someone who really praises Israel, and he gets canned. I happen to be Jewish, and I think he should be reinstated.
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4-25-2007 @ 12:27AM
RabidDog said...
Imus, being post-racist(ie, you can talk about and joke about race), also defended Micheal Ray when he made his Jew lawyer comments. He was calling it like he saw it. If Micheal Ray was a true bigot, he wouldn't have gotten Jew lawyers. In fact, the I-man ripped into the guy on his show for piling on, Imus didn't think it was a big deal.
Didn't realize Micheal Ray was suspended for those comments. That is lame lame lame.
Also lame to fire the I-man. Can you say prissy overreaction?
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