As we reported yesterday, CBS college hoops analyst Doug Gottlieb got the side eye while making an ill-placed joke about bringing the “white man’s perspective” to a set that included an all black group that included: Greg Gumble, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Greg Anthony.
“I don’t know why you guys ask me, I’m just here to bring diversity to this set, give kind of the white man’s perspective,” he said during the show
Gottlieb has since issued a statement apologizing.
“It was not a smart thing to say and I apologize,” he said.
Later in the broadcast Charles Barkley came to the defense of Gottlieb, whose comments got plenty of attention on social media.
“I know this has nothing to do with the game; I want to say something about Doug Gottlieb,” Barkley said. “He made a joke earlier tonight and people are going crazy. All those idiots on Twitter, which I would never ever do, all you people at home who’ve got no life and are talking bad about Doug Gottlieb, get a life. It’s over with. It’s no big deal.”
I know that Gottlieb was just making a joke and did not mean to offend anyone, but it’s always important to remember that as long as people are discriminated against because of color, racial tensions will always be high and remarks like this will always be viewed offensive to some. I also agree with the argument that if a black analyst on a white panel said that he was bringing the “black man’s perspective” there wouldn’t be as much hype, but I think it’s important to think about racial sensitivity and why it’s here. We are less than 50 years removed from not being able to drink from a white water fountain, and the historical context of racial discrimination in this country is what makes remarks like this offensive. Did some make a bigger deal out of this than there should’ve been?…Yes. Do I think Doug Gottlieb is a racist bigot that was trying to be offensive?…No. But should Gottlieb have apologized for an ill-placed attempt at sarcasim…Yes.
http://youtu.be/u47kCSWikJE
