cryptique Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 A bit early to be talking about it, perhaps, but I wanted a place to post this: Friday, September 25, 2009 Pearl apologizes for off-the-cuff joke ESPN.com news services Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl is apologizing for an off-the-cuff joke he made about a rural area of the state at a charity fundraiser Thursday, calling it "inappropriate." Pearl, speaking without notes, was addressing Tennessee Valley Authority employees about the challenges he and his staff face in getting players from diverse backgrounds to play as a team. "I've got a tough job. I've got to put these guys from different worlds together, right?' 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.'' Later Thursday, Pearl issued an apology for the remark, which came in front of television cameras and was aired by WBIR-TV of Knoxville. "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. "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.'' But Doug McBee, a Grainger County resident and the father of Tennessee freshman guard Skylar McBee, said Pearl should not be misunderstood, according to The (Nashville) Tennessean. "There's no hard feelings at all,'' Doug McBee said, according to The Tennessean. "We are country up here, but we're not prejudice. It was a joke, and that's how I took it.'' According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau Web site, the population of Grainger County, which is northeast of Knoxville in Eastern Tennessee, is 98 percent white. The county's population is 22,333, according to recent census estimates. Tennessee announced in April that it had renegotiated a six-year contract with Pearl. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 I think that is funny. I suppose I'm a racist or somesuch. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 I think that is funny. I suppose I'm a racist or somesuch. I thought it was funny, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bjorn_skurj Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 John Wall! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IATTBYB Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I hate to admit this but I am looking forward to tonight's MSU-Gonzaga match-up. The one great thing about NCAA hoops is that teams have an incentive to schedule compelling out-of-conference games. This should be a good one. GO BLUE!!!! BEAT tOSU!!!!(after all, it is still football season) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
watch me fall Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 John Wall! ugh. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theashtraysays Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Today's headline in Lexington: "WALL-ELULIAH" If Coach Cal can keep everybody's head from getting too big to get in and out of the bus, we should have a pretty exciting season. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PigSooie Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Hopefully, we can put 5 out there tonight. Pel has no control of this team. Maybe Rotnei can drop 50+ again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theashtraysays Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Hopefully, we can put 5 out there tonight. Pel has no control of this team. Maybe Rotnei can drop 50+ again. Go Hogs! I root for anybody who's playing UL. It's just what we do here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouisvilleGreg Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 That Kentucky game last night was about as exciting as an early season game as your likely to see. It wasn't well played in spurts and the refs muted their whistles in several instances, but the 18 point comeback, the lights out 3point shooting of Miami (OH.), the crowd and that ending was just ridiculously exciting. I'm still not so sure about all of these freshman and I see impending losses to UNC and UCONN on the horizon, but I love the emotion they played with, especially Wall. I mean that was his first game and he was beating his chest and carrying on like it was the Final 4. I dig it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PigSooie Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 What a joke the razorback basketball team has become. Let's see if Kansas can stick up Memphis and coach Osteen's ass. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouisvilleGreg Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Long way to go there Sooie, it's only November. I'll think about you this Saturday when Lucero plays Louisville. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PigSooie Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Eg, it's not going to change. Most of the country has no idea what's going on with the basketball team. The off the court stuff is unbelievable. Trust me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theashtraysays Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Had tickets and saw the UK - Ryder game today. 30 point win, not all that exciting. I don't care if you love him or hate him, John Wall is for real. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bjorn_skurj Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 John Wall! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouisvilleGreg Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Kentucky still is nowhere near what they should (will?) be, but it's been an impressive week with big, big wins over North Carolina and now UCONN. They play erratic and inconsistent, especially when they have a sizable lead, but they also play tough down the stretch and John Wall very well may have the best season in UK history this year. He had 25 points in probably 26-28 minutes tonight and at the Garden to boot. Another big road game vs Indiana this Saturday. Going for 10-0. Keep it up Cats! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theashtraysays Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I enjoyed the thumping of Indiana yesterday (sorry, Scott). Pretty tough game at times, but a heckuva road win for the cats. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=5442858 2bobs, do you still write for your school paper? This seems pretty sleazy to me. Has he drawn any good recruits to FIU? I doubt a good college coach in the process of building a program has any free time to spend with another job. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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