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Maybe sports commentator Chris Myers should stick to talking about sports. There's a lot going on these days: LeBron James will be a free agent soon, the Yankees came from behind to beat the Red Sox and the Pacquio-Mayweather fight may actually go down.Instead, while filling in on the Dan Patrick show, Myers took a shot at Hurricane Katrina victims, comparing them to victims of the recent Tennessee floods, Meyers said:
My best is and maybe it's a little corny, but I like it. It's a great country here. We have disastrous issues, where people pull together and help themselves, and I thought the people in Tennessee, unlike, and I'm not going to name names. When a natural disaster hits people, we're not standing on a rooftop trying to blame the government, okay. They helped each other out through this.
Middle Tennessee, where a lot of hardworking, tax-paying, legal American citizens have been affected by the floods and are trying to rebuild their lives, and they are helping out, and I think that other people around the country, of course the music industry in and around Nashville, [is] helping, without making a big deal out of it, and I think that's a good thing.
Myers' comments are obviously coded racial language for black and white. Myers is pitting the "poor" residents of New Orleans against the "hardworking, tax-paying and legal" residents of Tennessee. The implication is that if those poor people in New Orleans had their stuff together and had been more hard-working, more patriotic, more dedicated, not undocumented immigrants, they wouldn't need help from the government.
Earth to Myers: Hurricane Katrina was one of the greatest disasters in American history. Why is government assistance for people who are stranded on a rooftop without food or who lost everything bad? Why is government money to repair infrastructure and to prevent a repeat of the events after Hurricane Katrina wrong? New Orleans residents from all classes and races suffered from the aftereffects of Hurricane Katrina.
Maybe Myers doesn't realize that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has already approved $100 million in assistance to more than 16,000 people in several Tennessee counties. President Barack Obama has asked for $5.1 billion in additional money for cash-strapped FEMA. At least some of that money will go to those hard-working, legal residents in Tennessee.
And what's wrong with questioning if the government could have done more to prevent the flooding that occurred after the hurricane? How does Myers expect things to change if citizens do not challenge their government?
As the folks at the Big Lead pointed out:
It's amazing how a certain segment of society has conveniently grasped the "teach a man to fish" parable, yet entirely missed the rest of the New Testament where Jesus helps and heals people regardless of whether they deserve it.
Maybe Myers should face the same fate as NBA player Paul Shirley. He was let go from ESPN after he blamed Haitians for the major earthquake that struck their island earlier this year.
So, for all the sportscasters who are thinking of making a foray in to social commentary beyond the boundaries of sports, don't do it unless you know what you're talking about. It didn't work for Rush Limbaugh, and it won't work for you.
Comments: (29)
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By: Joe on 5/20/2010 6:59PM
If you listen to Myers and think about the 2 situations involved his comments make sense. He says (in essence) they had some readiness in TN and are not waiting for the government of Ray Nagen and Kathleen Blanco to come and clean out their houses and start to rebuild (woe is me). TN people trying to do some things for themselves. It's the people in LA that are doing nothing and did nothing that are the problem. No quarrel with those French Cajuns like me who tried and did help themselves. Too many politians screwed up the good folks in New Orleans. And too many people looking for a handout not just a hand up to recover.
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By: Larry on 5/20/2010 10:16PM
Chris Meyers has apologized to the people of New Orleans , but we can't wait til Fox sends his sorry behind to do side-line reporting at a Saints game next season.
Ironically , the city of New Orleans gave him his start in broadcasting.He was a sports reporter for our local CBS affiliate.
Also , the difference between Nashville's floods and the flood after Katrina was the reason those people were on the rooftops : the water was up to the rooftops. For weeks.
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By: Snaffu on 6/04/2010 4:30PM
Look Here Larry...
All in LA had plenty of warning for them to leave with transportation in many cases. Emergency crews stayed behind to help those that couldn't, not those that wouldn't.
And you heard of NO Looting, and Rape and other terrible deeds by those in TN as you did the ones in LA. In an emergency when you have no food or electricity you don't need electronics, Alcohol or unwanted Sex.
And those in TN went out to lend a hand, not look for a hand out!
Like it or not...There's your differences!
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By: cj on 5/21/2010 5:11AM
A lot of TRUE COLORS are coming out. We have experience many outcomes in life after the Civil Rights movement in which people have forgotten. They wish to have their CHILDREN not to know about what they did in the past to COLORED PEOPLE. Many are outraged about the what is now. They pretend, tolerate because of a LAW. But, deep down they do not want have anything to do with US. The only time that RACISM will stop, is when the world comes to an end. No more Whites, no more Blacks/Minorities. Simple.
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By: Paul Harris on 5/22/2010 1:26PM
Definitely he should stick to sports. The right wing politicians and media in San Diego pulled a similar thing during our firestorms. People were evacuated to Qualcomm Stadium and were given massages and supplies of all types were readily available. The right wingers then tried to compare this to the Superdome (where I was a stranded tourist) and say that they had performed so much better during a similar situation. Most people saw what fools they were and that there was no comparison.
Paul Harris
Author, "Diary From the Dome, Reflections on Fear an Privilege During Katrina"
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By: Paul Harris on 5/22/2010 1:33PM
Blackbear72, just wanted to say that we did not have a lot of time to evacuate. The minute the evacuation order was given I took a cab to the Amtrak/Greyhound station Sun. morning. Both had closed the day before. Later learned the airport shut down as well on Saturday. This was 2 days prior to Katrina hitting landfall and a day prior to the mandatory evacuation order. All rental cars were also gone.
Paul Harris
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By: W H Grant on 5/23/2010 1:49PM
Chiris: The only preposterous thing you said was in your apology. Why apologize for telling the truth. I agree with your original statement.
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By: Snaffu on 6/04/2010 4:12PM
I Applaud you Chris. Those that don't cannot do what you do.
So sad. Still playing the race card. You cannot complement one group of people from an area, who are by the way Black, White, Latin, Asian, etc. without others being offended because they were dealt a poor hand. Thats just not good Sportsmanship!
Let me tell you what you don't want to hear and why you cannot compare the disasters.
1-Black, White, Rich, Poor, All affected.
2-There was a Major Storm warning by the News, Weather and State and Federal Agencies. Hmmm, maybe we should leave. Transportation Provided.
3-Riots, Rape, Mayhem.
That should cover it.
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By: Joe on 6/25/2010 8:28PM
Jeff Mays. You are way off base. There is no racism when you are presenting the true facts. Folks in Nashville are independent and community oriented. They helped one another in time of crisis. In New Orleans the majority of folks were on welfare. They have a totally different set of values. They had little that they worked for and valued, and the expected Mother America to continue breast feeding them. When it didn't happen they moved to places like Houston, Shreveport, Atlanta and other points inthe SOuth. We know. They have been added to our welfare rolls and have brought lots of crime, drugs and other values to our communities. I live in Atlanta and almost all my new New Orleans neighbors have settled in on welfare and NACA loans. Just the facts. SO get off Chris's back!
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