“ESPN/ABC college football analyst Bob Griese, brought a reminder that one thing remains banned in mainstream TV sports – any refer to race or ethnicity.

During ABC’s Ohio State-Minnesota football game Saturday, there was an on-air promotion for the network’s NASCAR coverage Sunday that included a reference to Colombian driver Juan Pablo Montoya not being among the top five drivers in the NASCAR standings. Which led to Griese saying Montoya isn’t in that top five because ‘he’s out having a taco.‘” — [ READ MORE ]

When a guy in a bar has a lapse in judgement and makes a racist joke, you can blame it on the booze or on the collegial and informal setting.

But when a football analyst makes a juvenile and racist joke on live TV, it can’t be so easily excused or explained away. Griese is a broadcasting professional who knows that if he makes an inappropriate comment it’s going to reflect badly not only on himself, but on ESPN and the network’s advertisers.

There is simply no excuse or justification for Griese’s racist comment, he should be suspended by ESPN. Griese apologized for his comment during the broadcast, but it’s too little too late. Griese should have apologized immediately after uttering his racist joke.

Juan Pablo Montoya is a world class race driver who has achieved success in NASCAR, Formula One and CART. He’s a professional who deserves respect, and he’s more of a gentleman than Griese can ever hope to be.

UPDATE: Bob Griese is Suspended

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