Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl has apologized for telling a joke in which he contrasted some members of his team as being from "the hood" and others from parts of Tennessee "where they wear the hood."
Speaking at a charity event Thursday morning, Pearl said, "I've got guys from Chicago, Detroit -- I'm talking about the 'hood! And I've got guys from Grainger County, where they wear the hood.'' On Thursday evening he issued this apology:
"This morning while speaking at a private kick-off event for a great organization that benefits many local charities, I made a statement in jest to describe the diverse group our staff recruits year-in and year-out, " Pearl said.Although Pearl obviously chose his words poorly in telling the joke, I think he can be given a pass here. He was actually trying to celebrate the diversity of his team, and the fact that he quickly apologized should prevent this bad joke from getting Pearl into too much hot water.
"Unfortunately while I was trying to excite the crowd and encourage employees to give, I made an inappropriate joke. I certainly did not intend to offend anyone and I apologize to everyone, especially the people of Grainger County.
"In no way am I trying to justify what I said, but I'm disappointed that the focus has been placed on me rather than the charities I was there to help. My only hope is that the visibility of this mistake will encourage those who can to give to those in need during these difficult times.''
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-25-2009 @ 7:22PM
pahtoo said...
Oh, come on! When I played in college (40 years ago), we had seven black guys and the three white guys on our team. We all would have laughed our collective a**es off at that one.
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9-25-2009 @ 7:36PM
Butch said...
Hey, what do you expect from a coach at UTrash .
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9-25-2009 @ 7:42PM
pupp657313 said...
None issue people ,, move on
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9-25-2009 @ 9:40PM
greatqb44 said...
Although Pearl obviously chose his words poorly in telling the joke, I think he can be given a pass here. He was actually trying to celebrate the diversity of his team, and the fact that he quickly apologized should prevent this bad joke from getting Pearl into too much hot water.
LOL..the mind reels at the hypocrisy and mental dishonesty but i do agree not much here
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9-25-2009 @ 10:29PM
paulieg12345 said...
I think its a shame that he had to appologize for making a joke, a rather funny one at that.
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9-26-2009 @ 1:18AM
Sweetcheeks said...
Though I fancy myself an independent, my bent is democratic rather than republican. Yet even I must say it is sickening how politicaly correct this country has become
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9-26-2009 @ 1:58AM
Janice said...
Well you can't accuse him of not being an equal opportunity offender!!!
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9-26-2009 @ 9:38AM
jim said...
The country has lost its sense of humor. We have become so afraid of offending anyone, We live in that fear and forget to laugh. Humor will always make someone mad. STOP APOLOGISING FOR A JOKE. really stop this and learn to laugh. Do you know the kkks favorite christmas song,,,,,I'm dreaming of a white christmas
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9-26-2009 @ 10:42AM
Peter said...
Pearle is a JOKE himself. This was degrading to the white people in Grainger County. To Hell with him and his ball bouncung IDIOTS
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9-26-2009 @ 10:48AM
dude said...
Everyone saying this is blown out of proportion is right..... to a degree.
The problem here is that the blatant FACT is that anytime a similar risque remark like this is directed towards and African American or African American group it is NOT taken as a joke. It would flood the media, would have "equality groups" (and I use that term very lightly) like the NAACP insisting that the coach be fired and would use the issue to play up the race card as long as they possibly could.
The problem here is that everyone is on edge these days because of the constant racial claims assault by "equality groups" that no one is able to take anything as a joke anymore.
You cannot expect people to see racial groups get front page news and get people fired for making jokes or comments aimed at African Americans while similar comments directed towards any other groups are not taken seriously and are expected to simply be brushed aside as nothing.
The double standard is backfiring finally and we have no one to blame but ourselves for letting groups like the NAACP and idiots like Al Sharpton cause this hypersensitive environment.
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9-26-2009 @ 9:26PM
boldbigman said...
Dude, I mean really dude did u listen to the clip he not only talked about his white players he also talked about his black players that "actually come from hood". Dam I know clowns like you wear blinders but I see u also hearing aids that allow u to hear only the crap u want to hear.....
9-26-2009 @ 12:42PM
mjsjr52 said...
More intense slurs have been passed and an apology was offered and accepted in some parts.
I guess the notion of saying" we have a great group of kids from various backgrounds and together that makes us a stronger team" is just too boring. would have kept his foot (with a shoe some Company paid for) out of his mouth.
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9-27-2009 @ 5:01AM
Don said...
Man, this country is thinner skinned than a circumcized penis. After all, it was a pretty funny joke. And more than that, ACCURATE. Get a life and screw political correctness, the ultimate oxymoron...
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9-27-2009 @ 9:38PM
ibbubs said...
Give me A break! Let's move on to more important issues!
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10-03-2009 @ 2:05PM
mkinzer1 said...
What he said wasnt harmful, except to the masses of candy asses who live by the "political correct" society we unfortunately live in today. I am a Memphis Tigers fan and cant stand the guy or UT but he didnt mean anything by these comments and shouldnt have even apologized for making the comments. Too many thin skinned wusses in this country we live in nowadays.
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10-09-2009 @ 8:31AM
nviceversa said...
Ask the player's if they were offended? I think not.
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10-15-2009 @ 10:01AM
raymond said...
its peopole like al sharpton&jackson that jump's on stuff like this,i find black's are more raciest a white person cant say not 1 thing about minority,but black people can joke about the white's and nothing is said or done,the white has lost there ball's and i can say most does look like they came from the hood 60 percent has tatoos and bad grades if it wasn't for sports be less blacks in school for sure,take football and basketball out,it look like white christmas every day on sport center,bruce your doing fine job you go, and piss on the media they just start shit what a dam shame,but that's the united states for you,all about every minority,what dam joke this place get to be,,
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