Det/Oak Gm 2

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

It is my opinion that the only two taboos in speech should be:

1) yelling "fire" in a crowded building, and

2) threatening any act of terrorism.

But Steve, this harkens back to a recent thread which developed a discussion on freedom of speech. Fox Sports has every right to fire whomever
they choose, and to decide what comments are "inappropriate" when
broadcast on their network.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Absolutely. They have every right to fire whomever they choose. I just think they overreacted. Like I said, that's just my own opinion.

[GarthB]

Steve, apparently you didn't read the last lines of my post...the only ones that were serious.

When broadcasting on the public airwaves, unlike joking around with the guy at the bar, you don't know your audience and the smart broadcasters understand this. Lyons did not. From insulting a Jewish ball player for observing the holidays to his remark about/to Pinella, who is partially of hispanic heritage, he was oafish and, as Fox decided, being inappropriate.

This has nothing to do with people not being willing to take a joke at their expense (many are not) and everything to do with not alienating the audience Fox is attempting to reach. This was a business decision, pure and simple.

As I tell coaches, "fair" has nothing to do with the rules. They are what they are and intelligent people understand that going in.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I had never heard about Lyons insulting a Jewish ball player about holiday observances. I would find that very offensive as well. If he has a pattern of insulting remarks, then perhaps Fox was justified. I do feel that Pinella opened himself up for remarks by speaking Spanish on an English speaking broadcast. If it had been Richard "Frenchy" Fuqua, speaking French, a surrender joke could well be in the offing. I didn't use the SAP function on my TV for a reason. I didn't hear Jose Mota speaking Spanish tonight.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Say, reminds me, stop me if you've heard this one....two Jews, a mentally retarded kid, a pregnant Latino and the emperor of Japan are in a row boat......

I'm still trying to figure out the punch line.