In the case of “using outlandish excuses for one’s racism”, this one I’m about to share takes the cake.
The offending racist in this edition is Matt Rowan, an Oklahoma sports announcer who last Thursday was caught on video calling a high school girls basketball team the N-word during a break. It occurred while the young ladies from Normal High School knelt during the national anthem.
Rowan was heard asking if Norman’s players were kneeling on the court during the national anthem. Believing that his mic was turned off, Rowan spoke freely on how he felt. Check out his enlightened quote:
“I hope Norman gets their ass kicked. Fucking n——.”
And if that didn’t piss you off enough, wait until you get a load of Rowan’s full apology. Here’s the first half — when he should have just quit while he was ahead:
“During the Norman High School girls basketball game against Midwest City, I made inappropriate and racist comments believing that the microphone was off; however, let me state immediately that is no excuse such comments should have never been uttered.”
Now this is when it turned into a half-assed apology:
“I will state that I suffer Type 1 Diabetes and during the game my sugar was spiking. While not excusing my remarks it is not unusual when my sugar spikes that I become disoriented and often say things that are not appropriate as well as hurtful. I do not believe that I would have made such horrible statements absent my sugar spiking.”
Rowan went on to say that he is a member of a Baptist church (cue the eye rolls) and is not a racist.
I’m 47 years old, so I have been around a long-ass time. Growing up in North Carolina — after integrating a formerly white Kernersville neighborhood in 1978 — I’ve had my fair share of hearing white people (adults AND kids) say the n-word.
I must say this is the first time I’ve heard anyone blame a health condition for his/her racism.
I hate to break the news to you Matt, but your ass is a racist whether you care to admit it or not. Those white people I mentioned earlier during my childhood would never say they were racist. Hell, slaveowners never considered themselves to be racist (that is a historically-proven fact).
And I don’t know what is worse: Rowan’s blaming diabetes for his racism or him calling HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS the n-word in the first place!
Quick word of advice to racists and/or aspiring racists out there: blaming your racism on a health condition is ALWAYS a bad play. Don’t believe me, check this tweet from JDRF, a nonprofit advocacy group for Type 1 diabetes research:
Categories: women's sports
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