http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf
“I just got caught up.”
Joakim Noah offered his apology, saying he “just got caught up.” That, of course, is nonsense. We all say things in anger, but not all of use slurs like the one Noah used — or others harmful to other groups.
For a word like that to pop out of Noah’s mouth in anger means it is part of his working vocabulary. He needs to own up to that and not just apologize for saying it.
But this post is not just about Noah’s comments and apology. It also is about the quick shift made by ESPN’s hosts, who focused not on what Noah said but on his possible lack of focus. He shouldn’t have let the fans get to him — which may be true, but it is beside the point here.
Noah — and Bryant and the 358 others who play this kids’ game for a living — need to look at themselves and ask themselves why words like those used last night by Noah come so easily to their lips.
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