NFL on CBS football analyst, Terry Bradshaw got himself into a little bit of trouble last week with a comment he made in regards to Miami Dolphin running back, Reggie Bush.
While calling the highlights from the Dolphins-Colts game, Bradshaw said about Bush while he was making a dynamic run for a touchdown that it was “like he was chasing that bucket of chicken the wind was blowing.” Within minutes of making that statement, it went viral. When I heard it, I cringed. Then I listened to it again to get more clarity. I wish most people who were calling Bradshaw a racist would have done the same. Bradshaw’s partner on the set is none other that the great Miami Hurricane coaching legend, Jimmy Johnson. When Bradshaw apologized, he said he meant to say “you” as in talking about Jimmy. Critics will not believe Bradshaw made his statement towards Jimmy Johnson and not Reggie Bush. They will instead look at any opportunity to jump on a person and yell “racist.” But I ask the non-believers, why not believe Bradshaw? Why, as Blacks are we so quick to pull the race card, especially in sports? This wasn’t a blatant exercise of racism. This wasn’t a fan calling a player the “N” word. This wasn’t a television analyst saying that if Blacks “take over coaching like everyone wants them too, there’s not going to be anything left for the white people” ( see Jimmy “the Greek” Snyder). This in my opinion was an honest slip of the tongue and the omission of one word for the other.
I don’t know Terry Bradshaw personally and neither do the majority of NFL fans watching his show every Sunday. I can listen to statements when made in the “heat of the moment” and decipher if they were meant to be malicious or not. Bradshaw’s statements were not meant to be that way. Those that will call him a racist should listen instead of reacting and they will see the same thing.
The Sports Brothers, Jeff Fox & Ed Freeman, can be heard daily on WMEN 640 Sports.
Recent Comments