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Mike Greenberg apologizes for saying that thing he didn't mean to say

Jan 18, 2010, 9:00 PM EDT

47 Comments

I wasn’t going to post on this at all, because I consider it the broadcasting equivalent of driving a few feet with your baby in a car seat on the roof of your car. It’s scary, you certainly didn’t mean to do it, and is the kid laughing? By now you may have heard that ESPN’s Mike Greenberg tripped on his long, long tongue and made the most unfortunate of Martin Luther King Day gaffes, apparently saying “Martin Luther Coon Jr.” when he meant “King.”
Here’s the video. Judge for yourself.


Look, it happens so fast — and he corrects himself in the same breath — that one should probably just chalk it up to sun spots, or Monday morning. Irish cop: “Move along folks, show’s over. Nothing to see here.”
But then Greenberg issued a formal apology. Good going Mike; now the thing has weight. you’ve just made a non-story legit. “Gather around folks, show’s just starting. Plenty to see here.”
Greenberg, via ESPN MediaZone:

“I just came home from the Knicks game and found out about the mess that was created by my garbling a sentence on our show this morning; I apologize for not addressing it sooner.

And I’m sorry that my talking too fast — and slurring my words — might have given people who don’t know our show the wrong impression about us, and about me.

I feel horrible about that, because nothing could be further away from who I am and what our show is about.

I would never say anything like that, not in public, or in private, or in the silence of my own mind, and neither would anyone associated with our show, and I’m very sorry that my stumble this morning gave so many people the opposite impression.”

Last paragraph written by Paul Simon.
That Greenberg felt he had to address this is sad; and if ESPN pressured him to do it, that’s sadder. What you’ve got here is a baby in a car seat in the middle of the road, and the baby is unharmed, and even giggling (see: Raising Arizona). Pick up little Nathan Jr. and move on, people.
***
Debate rages over Mike & Mike’s Mike Greenberg Martin Luther ‘Coon’ moment [Chicago Sun Times Sports Pros(e)]
Mike Greenberg clarification [ESPN MediaZone]

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  1. Paul in KY - Jan 19, 2010 at 12:43 PM

    If he said that (and I can’t tell as my PC has no sound capability) then he should be fired.

  2. KMAC - Jan 19, 2010 at 12:56 PM

    Greenberg is a blowhard but not a racist. You, my friend, are the racist.

  3. Hoylt - Jan 19, 2010 at 1:09 PM

    Thank you … that is exactly what I thought at the time that he said it and in hearing it again it is exactly what I think now. I cannot count the number of times I have done just that when I am speaking too fast. This is the biggest NON-ISSUE of the decade to this point.

  4. Sensitive Steve - Jan 19, 2010 at 2:05 PM

    Greenie is not a racist. I think he gets along with everyone be it the Chinks, The Shines, The Beaners or the Tards. He likes everyone.

  5. john - Jan 19, 2010 at 2:31 PM

    its only racist because a white man said “coon”

  6. keith broadnax - Jan 19, 2010 at 2:49 PM

    This man said EXACTLY what was in his heart. Not a “slip” of the tongue. Blatant raceism on the air and from my point of view the station condones his comment. Guess he feels he owns the air waves and can perpetuate this kind of thing as opps I didn’t mean it like that…..BULL

  7. adam newman - Jan 19, 2010 at 3:45 PM

    Slip of the tongue in this case; saying “King” and “Junior” quickly together can lead to this unfortunate mistake. Regardless how sincere his apology is, there will be naysayers. Too many people use their imagination to ridicule and hurt others, saying coon instead of king as an example. But what Mike did was a mistake.
    Someone’s always trying to drive a wedge between people.

  8. freeperjim - Jan 19, 2010 at 4:12 PM

    If espn can fire Rush for criticizing the liberal sports media for its’ biased reporting of McNabb, then espn should fire Greenberg IMMEDIATELY for voicing a racist epithet. There’s NO EXCUSE or DEFENSE of such blatant racism….even for liberal media types.

  9. Mega - Jan 19, 2010 at 4:21 PM

    He meant it!!
    The truth slipped out and was caught on tape. Whoeven uses that word? I know who, racists and bigots do! Bad timing, and the worse possible day, and he should be fired. Its obviously a word he has used before and is within his vocabulary. I guess they dont teach you tto thinkbefore you speak at that fancy broadcasting school Greeney, the jokes on you, the Gilbert Arenas of sportscasting.

  10. lipglossdoll - Jan 19, 2010 at 4:23 PM

    It’s clear that he was getting ahead of himself and saying King with Junior. I am black, I am not offended, I dont believe he is racist. End of Story.

  11. HUH? - Jan 19, 2010 at 4:57 PM

    way to play the race card and then say “white people” in the text that you did, that’s reverese racism, and that’s racist….you are an idiot and points-of-view like yours are just as bad if not worse than the viewss of “caucasian” people who ACTUALLY are racist towards african americans. Still laughing?

  12. Ko - Jan 19, 2010 at 5:09 PM

    He should be fired and the apology was not enogh. iA slip only happens if you have used it before. Anyone who has study Psychology before knows your subconscious suppresses your true self. Meaning behind closed doors that is who he is. He needs to be fired.

  13. Holycrapuareallstupid - Jan 19, 2010 at 6:02 PM

    I cannot believe this comments section. First off, WOW is suffering from an overly acute case of racial prejudice himself, so don’t even start on ‘White People’. Is Kanye West, the super-douche, posting under that alias or something? Secondly, To compare a slip-of-the-tongue to the statements made by Imus (which were intentional, blatant, and executed with no regret) shows exactly how naive and childish people can be. Third, It says clearly in the bible “He who is without sin cast the first stone”. Well, that knocks out everyone I have ever met, heard, seen, encountered or even though of. So, take your hatred of ‘White people’ that stems from actions of our forefathers long before you, your parents, and your grandparents were ever even BORN and shove it up your ass. I am tired of feeling like I have to tiptoe around African Americans (is that the politically correct term for this week?) or else sound like a racist. I hate all stupid and ignorant people equally, regardless of color, national origin, religious beliefs or any other factor. Keep encouraging the stereotypes and bigotry. Dumb ass.

  14. Foolio is here - Jan 19, 2010 at 6:33 PM

    You got to be kidding me if you think it was no big deal

  15. BeReasonable - Jan 19, 2010 at 6:46 PM

    Imus meant what he said. He went through those words in his head, and the words that came out of his mouth were his own. What happened to Mike Greenberg happens to every one of us often in our daily lives. His slurring of speech was innocent and it was only the unfortunate coincidence in the random vowel sound he produced that has thrown people into an uproar. Try to understand the situation in context rather than jumping on the opportunity to turn this non-issue into a nationwide witch-hunt.

  16. Dave - Jan 19, 2010 at 7:48 PM

    How dare he say such a thing on James Earl Ray Day.

  17. Tyrone - Jan 19, 2010 at 10:04 PM

    You sound like an Uncle Tom.

  18. Dave Hart - Jan 19, 2010 at 10:09 PM

    Listened to these guys for years, there’s no story here.

  19. Corvinus Black - Jan 19, 2010 at 10:11 PM

    The only mistake that Mike Greenberg committed was by saying “coon” on the show…he only revealed his true identity a skinny little racist! :(

  20. Tyrone - Jan 19, 2010 at 10:27 PM

    A slip of the tongue? Does he know someone name “Martin Luther Coon JR.?” Cause I don’t know how get the word “coon” from “King.” I could understand it if he had said Martin Luther ping, ting or something like that. But Coon? Sounds, to me, like he and his white friends were telling black jokes about Martin and when he came on the air he wanted to share the Joke with his buddies. He has the right to do that. Just like I have the rights not to watch his show.

  21. Mike - Jan 20, 2010 at 1:37 AM

    Everyone is racist. It is unfortunate another one has revealed himself publicly. I do not expect ESPN to punish him. He should take himself off the air for a week if he is truly sorry. They just lost a loyal long-time listener. So what if it is just one listener. I think you have to follow your gut feelings.

  22. anubis13 - Jan 20, 2010 at 1:40 AM

    Why should anyone lose their livelihood because of something they said that someone else doesn’t like. Even if the first amendment protects him from prosecution, losing your income due to speech is a poor example of “freedom” to say what you want in a “free’ country.

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