One week after taco talk got ESPN announcer Bob Griese suspended, another announcer is apologizing for a supposedly controversial remark.
CBS' Gus Johnson, well known for his, uh, emotional calls, called Chris Johnson's 59-yard touchdown against the Jaguars like so:
"First down and ten. Johnson . . . gets his shoulders square. Watch out! He's got getting away from the cops speed . . . touchdown!"
The call drew some criticism by some surprisingly sensitive souls in the blogosphere that wondered if a double standard was at play if Johnson didn't get in trouble. The broadcaster responded Tuesday.
"If there is a perception of racism in this analogy, it is not coming
from me," Johnson said. "People of all races have run from the law. However, to those
who are offended, I apologize."
Johnson's word choice may have been unfortunate -- although sorta funny -- but who is really offended by this? Delicate sports fans?
The argument seems to be that Johnson's words would have caused a bigger outrage if said by Jim Nantz, for instance. So what we're apparently looking for is more faux-outrage over silly comments to make things "fair." (Montoya, incidentally, later joked about Griese's comments.)
Gus Johnson chose his words wisely after the fact. Anyone perceiving race in his analogy is stretching for something pretty hard. It was a goofy comment made out of enthusiasm.
Anytime Chris Johnson and Gus Johnson get together, that should almost be expected.
Gus Johnson apologizes for touchdown call
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on November 4, 2009 2:32 PM ET
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54 Comments 
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Not that I would feign outrage over the comments...but come on. How many times have we heard about Black NFL players running from the cops vs White NFL players doing the same. I'd say the image conjured from that statement would definitely be a Black man running from the police.
C'mon. I'm not a big fan of Johnson, but critisizing him for this is over the top. Leave it alone, people.
I cant stand Gus Johnson. Not because he says stupid things(this was a non issue), its because his YELLING style of play by play is just annoying. Worst commenator in sports, besides the recently "retired" Bryant Gumble.
I am so friggin tired of people having to apologize for saying something in the heat of the moment. Next thing we will hear is "he scored a touchdown" and Al Sharpton will say that the mans civil rights were violated. Piss on all of these sensitive eared pricks!! People need to grow a set!!!!
Wrong Gus. Clearly your statement was meant to sterotype african americans since everyone knows that white people aren't fast enough to actually "get away" from the cops.
@Stone..yea you're right...the ONLY players who have ever been arrested are Black! IDIOT!!
the comment just meant that he is crazy fast..when you are running from the cops you are moving like hell to get away..thats it ppl!! nothing more, nothing less
White people don't run from the cops because they are too slow. He made an accurate statement. There's no racism in football.
Intelligent people are expected to make intelligent comments. Dumb people can say anything because expectations are much lower for them ....
I find that remark particularly appalling. I think Gus Johnson should go to racial sensitivity training to understand more about how blacks are treated in this country, especially in this era because of the rampant racism that has swept this country since Obama got elected President. His comment amount Chris Johnson should his subconcious racism that all blacks are criminals. When you think about it, they were way worse than Jimmy the Greek's.
I'm white. I've run from the cops before-- though its been half a life since I've had to. I also ran from a bear-- maybe-- once. Both times, I found a gear I didn't think I had. I can relate. Seems like a solid analogy to me.
Maybe Gus Johnson has never run from a bear.
Alot more blacks males are in jail than whites, so I can see why this would raise a lot of eyebrows. Pretty funny analogy, it'd have been alot funnier if it was about Ricky Williams (speeding tickets), Chris Henry (name it), or OJ Simpson (creating human volcanoes).
statistically who runs from the po-lice more? just a valid question.
Johnson should not be criticized for this, but then again neither should any other announcer if they said the same thing - however does anyone seriously believe Nantz or Simms or any other white announcer wouldn't be called on the carpet if they said the same thing? - hence, the double standard...
One of the worst all around sport announcers I have ever heard. Whether it's a fight or a guy that gains 3 yard carrying the ball this guy makes the call bigger than it was & most of the time is wrong & it turns out to be aanother dud. Nothing worse than having to listen to a bad announcer, than having to listen to him kill multible sporting events with his bad announcing. Where are the days when 1 annoncer could do the entire game. Now we have to listen to 2 or 3 guys blowing smoke up the viewers asses. If I wanted opinions I would go to a bar & watch the game with everyone else. I just want thes guys to call the play, tell me what down it is, etc. Not some story he thinks he is seeing.
I'm white and I've ran from cops lots of times! It is ridiculous to make a racial thing out of that.
Leave it to Lord Florio to fill his blog with some of the stupidest stuff ever written!
Gus Johnson needs to make quasi-controversial remarks to get ink... Talk about the Invisible Man...
ROFL, not as bad as 'look at that little monkey run' statement that did in Howard Cosell.
Wow. The NFL is becoming a pussy league, and I guess the fans are turning into pussies as well. Come on, really? This is a harmless comment and an orignal way to say that CJ is fast. I sure as hell don't want to hear "he's turning on the jets" or "he's turning on the afterburner" or "he's flying down the field" for the millionth time. I see no problem with this comment and anyone who took offense to this is overly sensitive. It there such thing as too politically correct?
DJSlyBri,
You are kidding, right? You don't think that Gus Johnson is aware of how blacks are treated?
Alot more blacks males are in jail than whites, so I can see why this would raise a lot of eyebrows. Pretty funny analogy, it'd have been alot funnier if it was about Ricky Williams (speeding tickets), Chris Henry (name it), or OJ Simpson (creating human volcanoes).
There are more blacks in jail then whites? Weird considering there are so many more whites.
We'll see what happens the next time Chris Johnson squirts out on a jailbreak blitz.
If he would have used this same choice of words for Wes Welker we would not be having this discussion.
Isn't Gus Johnson black? So now we have black announcers being called racist for saying something about black athletes? Let's see if Al Sharpton calls for his ouster much in the same way he would if the announcer was white.
And so the general pussification of the country continues. For crying out loud, people - stop being so god damn sensitive...oops, I said 'god damn' and didn't capitalize 'god'. Now I'm going to have the religious zealots all over my ass.
And please, every race of people has at one time or another ran from the cops...it's just that the blacks are better at it.
Not weird, just the evidence of how screwed up our economy is, and who it benefits, and shows how tough it is to make it out of poverty.
If you have money, it's alot easier to make alot more of it. If you don't, you barely survive. If you have a job, and if you have health insurance. etc...
I thought the comment was funny and a good analogy, but I can see why a black person would take it the wrong way too.
He should have said "running away from bear speed" lol
Statistically......Chapnasty is an idiot....and white.
Observational humor at its finest here. This man deserves an Emmy!
twiz "lord florio" didnt write this blog anyway so don't know where you're going with that.
does it mean anything at all that gus johnson is black himself? it amazes me that these people who enjoy such a rugged sport like football can pick apart and cry about such a trivial detail in a broadcast. get over yourself, its 2009. i feel like we're taking two steps back. everyone is so uptight and determined to make something out of nothing. for christ's sake, the people who are offended by it are the real racists because they took it that way.
this is as stupid as people getting pissed about the dallas cowboys cheerleader that dressed up as lil wayne for halloween...because, gasp, she wore blackface makeup to make herself appear more like the character she was dressing up as!!
@ smiley
Statistically, I'm right. You must be one of those fans who doesnt think that stats prove things right?? And yes I am white, was poor and although not rich, I am better off than I was. In America race is an excuse.
One of the best calls i've heard in ages. Love that Gus Johnson.. How can fans not appreciate this guys enthusiasm for the game.. One of the best NFL announcers we have. I mean this is the Titans 0-7 against the Jags 2-5 and he's freaking out about big plays. People who think its racism are stupid..
I have no doubt that the comment was not intended to be racist. That said people need to understand something: What is perceived by one group of people to be an innocent/funny comment may indeed be perceived as an insensitive/harmful/bigoted/racist comment by another group or culture.
So foul on both sides here really. There is a comment that could easily be perceived as racist/insensitive that was made, and there is clearly an over-reaction by people who see offense where clearly none was intended.
I love watching people accuse a black man for racism because of a comment he made about another black man. Seriously, who cares? There's way too many over-sensitive babies in this world. People's grandfathers were beaten by cops and sprayed with a waterhose and would have gotten shot for talking to a white girl. Now racism and keeping brothers down consists of shockjocks and announcers making off the cuff remarks that aren't even racist. Rampant racism since Obama took office? Where? When? Who?
I think it's racist to think his comment is racist.
Seriously. You have to be predisposed to thinking anyone running from the cops is automatically black. That is a better example of racism than Gus's joke, which by the way, I thought was funny as hell.
Gus Johnson is black. Can he be racist against black people? What am I missing?
Like others have said, Gus Johnson is black. What is going on here? lol. I love the emotion he puts into play calling. He's great. Maybe not one of the most knowledgeable announcers out there, but certainly one of the most entertaining.
This is clearly Chris Johnson's fault. If he had average speed, Gus Johnson would not have felt compelled to compliment his speed on air.
Shame on you Chris. Shame on you...
Even funnier that Gus Johnson is black! Maybe when Tom Brady scrambles next he can say,
"Tom Brady steps up, running like a coked up supermodel looking for her high, he dives for the line
FIRRRRST DOWWWWWNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Gus Johnson went on to say, while calling the touchdown play:
"....the 40, the 30, he accidentally drops the leather glove that doesn't fit, the 20, he was just chipping golf balls in his front lawn, the 10, he's going to be looking for the real killer, touchdown !!"
returner8685 says: November 4, 2009 3:52 PM
twiz "lord florio" didnt write this blog anyway so don't know where you're going with that.
________________________________
Just because there is a diff name on it, are you 100% sure it was not done by Lord Florio?
All the criticism (most well deserved) that Florio gets here, it is entirely possible he wrote it and put Rosenthals name on it.
Rosenthal's blogs are generally well thought out, well written and are not about stupid stuff.
I rest my case
There are no stats on who runs from the cops...u could use resisting arrest but that covers other areas. Statistically speaking....blacks are are arrested and imprisoned at a higher percentage compared to their respective total. But there just as many whites committing crimes as blacks. If you start looking at "types" of crime whites commit more violence in pure numbers. Blacks commit drug crimes in greater numbers. Go to an Irvington,NJ school and tell me about excuses. I am white and perform financial analysis everyday...that includes statistics. I apologize for calling u an idiot it just pissed me off. Most people just want to earn a living and enjoy life...just as we do.
Sensitive people offend me.
I take three issues with this comment.
First, since when does "getting away from cops speed." signify fast? That's a broad range, covering everything from mildly athletic to NFL running back.
Secondly, I am a white male, I grew up in the suburbs. I've run from the police on multiple occasions, it's called High School.
Finally, if your first thought about the statement in questions is the image of a black man.....well, then it's probably you who is a little bit racists.
@ smiley
I apologize for thinking you were an idiot and not saying it.... there are some people on here that actually know what they are talking about. you just restored my faith in humanity.
That is some funny s%&t right there. Todd Marinovich probably wishes he had Chris Johnson speed.
Strange call but come on, it's not racist.
Too many people are out to play the "gotcha" game these days. I guess it makes them feel better about themselves to tear down others. Any chance and they're all over it.
I actually thought this was about Gus Johnson's TD call on another Chris Johnson run where he stepped out of bounds like 4 times between the 15 and 10 before jogging into the end zone. Gus started going berserk about Chris' TD run before realizing it obviously wasn't a touchdown. I guess he just needed something to yell about on that one. Didn't understand why he'd be apologizing for it though.
Gus Johnson is a great announcer who makes some less-than-exciting games quite exciting. There is no way he intended to be racist because, well, he is black and I doubt he'd be making racism comments against his own peoples. I can't believes the idiots here that said this was racist. Get a life.
Gus is also great the NCAA tourney. I think the people that don't like him would prefer some old stuffy white guy like Dick Enberg, who doesn't even know what down it is half the time or what half it is.
Maybe he thought it was Pacman Jones.
Anyone offended by this should not be watching football.
I just thought, what would happen if he had said, "look at whitey go!" or something around those lines. I gurandamntee you that no one would say a word. or even "run forest run" regarding a mentally handicapped individual. the double standard is terrible
The reason why Gus Johnson should be sorry for what he said is because he makes life harder for single black moms in cities like his home town, Detroit, trying to convince their impressionable, fatherless, teenage son to do right. Gus Johnson may not be someone that kids look up to like an athlete but he is the voice for the network and the league who make these athletes stars. To a kid it's all one in the same. He should feel a sense of responsibility for his words.
lastshot54 - are you frickin' kidding me? That is about the most illogical thing I have ever heard. Gus Johnson isn't responsible for the 'single black moms' idiot kids - the problem is they ain't go no daddy around to teach them. They breed and leave, how about teaching those so-called 'moms' about birth control or just closing their legs? You are a total idiot.
All I'm gonna say is "I HATE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS!" - This country is so overly sensitive about ANYTHING & EVERYTHING. Grow some fuckin' balls and stop crying.
this was much ado about nothing.
there was no reference to him being black - but it is widely known you have to be fast to outrun the cops.
its funny, not malicious, and the ones who are offended are the ones that drew the racism out of it.
the taco comment wasn't bad either, IMO. are you telling me that JPM doesn't eat tacos? WHO doesn't eat tacos? lol
it was a crappy stereotype at best as griese had it wrong, but it's not racist. griese thought he was mexican, mexicans eat tacos. are the offended people telling me mexicans don't eat tacos? Griese could have said JPM was having some coffee, but no one would have gotten that joke, and cocaine references are obviously taboo.
people need to lighten up. the political correct movement is nauseating. you CHOOSE to be offended.