How Is This Offensive?

[Reephdweller]

Clippers play-by-play man Ralph Lawler and color analyst Michael Smith met with Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4531/;_ylt=ApHyBI0kl6fRtdCqgVD2Rt2LvLYF)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4531/news;_ylt=AgGUQrFRZ7ATP1omd.swAvGLvLYF) before Sunday’s game at Staples Center, where they expressed regret for an incident that earned the TV broadcasters a one-game suspension.

The transcript of the conversation between Lawler and Smith, which occurred late in the Grizzlies game, was printed on the Los Angeles Times’ Web site:
Smith: “Look who’s in.”
Lawler: “Hamed Haddadi. Where’s he from?”
Smith: “He’s the first Iranian to play in the NBA.” (Smith pronounced Iranian as “Eye-ranian,” a pronunciation that offended a viewer who complained.)
Lawler: “There aren’t any Iranian players in the NBA,” repeating Smith’s mispronunciation.
Smith: “He’s the only one.”
Lawler: “He’s from Iran?”
Smith: “I guess so.”
Lawler: “That Iran?”
Smith: “Yes.”
Lawler: “The real Iran?”
Smith: “Yes.”
Lawler: “Wow. Haddadi that’s H-A-D-D-A-D-I.”
Smith: “You’re sure it’s not Borat’s older brother?”
Smith: “If they ever make a movie about Haddadi, I’m going to get Sacha Baron Cohen to play the part.”
Lawler: “Here’s Haddadi. Nice little back-door pass. I guess those Iranians can pass the ball.”
Smith: “Especially the post players.
Lawler: “I don’t know about their guards.”

One viewer was offended by this interaction, not even the player was bothered by it. I honestly have no idea how this is offensive in anyway or deserving of a one game suspension? If anything it appears to be light-hearted commentary at best.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-clippers-announcers&prov=ap&type=lgns

[sailor]

assuming all iranians can pass?

[TripleSkeet]

Im guessing it was the Borat reference? I dont know. Im a grown man with a set of testicles. I dont know how to get offended.

[GregoryJoseph]

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c34/Gvac/EasilyOffended.jpg

[epo]

They deserve suspensions just for working for the Clippers, much less their hack-comedy routine about Hamed Haddadi.

For some background on him, here is a really good read on Haddadi (http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2009/11/no-pressure-big-guy/).

[A.J.]

I'll bet Donald Sterling didn't see a problem with it. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Sterling#Racist_housing_and_apartment_renta l_practices.2C_Court_order_to_stop)

[Meataball23]

Im guessing it was the Borat reference? I dont know. Im a grown man with a set of testicles. I dont know how to get offended.

Love the -can I borrow a feeling?


And I think it was the Borat reference. Again...not a big deal at all but it was probably that. If/when I get laid off, im going to watch tv all the time and look for random clips I can complain about. Sounds like a productive way to spend a lot of time.

[TripleSkeet]

They deserve suspensions just for working for the Clippers, much less their hack-comedy routine about Hamed Haddadi.

[/URL].

Someone has to do it. If anything they deserve medals for having to sit through 80+ Clippers games a year.

[Marc with a c]

at least they didn't call him fat.

[Bob Impact]

Smith: “He’s the first Iranian to play in the NBA.” (Smith pronounced Iranian as “Eye-ranian,” a pronunciation that offended a viewer who complained.)

Mystery solved.

[STC-Dub]

Perhaps the back-door pass part?

[Reephdweller]

Mystery solved.

What's the proper pronunciation?

EAR-ranian not EYE-ranian?

:lol:

[Reephdweller]

at least they didn't call him fat.







http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/LPIPOD/BN367_301-FB.jpg

[sailor]

Mystery solved.

you can suspended for incorrect pronunciation now? fez would owe years for all the row-butts alone.

[underdog]

you can suspended for incorrect pronunciation now? fez would owe years for all the row-butts alone.

If they talk about this on the air tomorrow, I bet Fez will be happy that he was suspended.

[GregoryJoseph]

you can suspended for incorrect pronunciation now? fez would owe years for all the row-butts alone.

How about Bin LOUDen?

[sailor]

If they talk about this on the air tomorrow, I bet Fez will be happy that he was suspended.

How about Bin LOUDen?

yeah, that's the one someone needs to call in with. good call, gee-jay.

[Bob Impact]

you can suspended for incorrect pronunciation now? fez would owe years for all the row-butts alone.

:lol:

[Chigworthy]

Next thing you know eye-talians will be in the NBA.

[Bob Impact]

Next thing you know eye-talians will be in the NBA.

I'm offended.

[keithy_19]

I'm offended.

Me too. Keep them in IT-ly.

[Slumbag]

It's offensive because the announcer is white, and the guy he was talking about isn't.



Duh.

[Snoogans]

apparently its offensive, but not to Haddadi.

They talked to him last night before the game, and he said through his translator that he saw the transcript, watched the video, adn thought it was really funny. He isnt mad at all and everything is fine.

Such a non issue

[Death Metal Moe]

apparently its offensive, but not to Haddadi.

They talked to him last night before the game, and he said through his translator that he saw the transcript, watched the video, adn thought it was really funny. He isnt mad at all and everything is fine.

Such a non issue

Yea, that should be the criteria in every case. If the person being talked about wasn't offended, then other people shouldn't be allowed to be offended for him.

If he mispronounced Iran then he can be told "you said that country name wrong" off air and that's the end of it.

Plus these play by play guys have to talk for HOURS on end. I'm sure there's moments where they're kinda grasping at straws, looking for shit to keep talking about. Give them a break. Same idea as Imus, he went into a touchy area with the Nappy Headed Ho's stuff but he talks for like 4 hours a morning, he's gonna say some weird shit every now and then.

People looking to be offended will eventually find something to be offended about.

[SatCam]

We should ban Dude!
for a week
for his use of the word
mooslims

[GregoryJoseph]

Do you say "Italia" or Italy?

España or Spain?

Deutschland or Germany?

Of course we say the names of other countries in our native tongue.

Maybe Iranians say "Eeee-ron" but we say "Eye-ran."

Deal with it.

[underdog]

Do you say "Italia" or Italy?

España or Spain?

Deutschland or Germany?

Of course we say the names of other countries in our native tongue.

Maybe Iranians say "Eeee-ron" but we say "Eye-ran."

Deal with it.

"Eye-ran" is the incorrect way to say it, even in English. It's not the same thing as your other examples.

And I'm pretty sure Iranians do not pronounce it "eeee-ron", either. They probably say it in Farsi.

[Marc with a c]

flock of seagulls didn't get in trouble for it.

[underdog]

flock of seagulls didn't get in trouble for it.

They did get AIDS, though.

[underdog]

People who say "Eye-ran" sound like Palin supporters.

[sailor]

"Eye-ran" is the incorrect way to say it, even in English. It's not the same thing as your other examples.

And I'm pretty sure Iranians do not pronounce it "eeee-ron", either. They probably say it in Farsi.

Might want to check a dictionary before spouting off uninformed. Both pronunciations are acceptable in English.

[underdog]

Might want to check a dictionary before spouting off uninformed. Both pronunciations are acceptable in English.

If I stopped spouting off uninformed, I'd have nothing to post.

[underdog]

Might want to check a dictionary before spouting off uninformed. Both pronunciations are acceptable in English.

And actually, the "I" always makes the "eee" sound, so "eee-ran" is a correct way to say it, along with "eee-ron". I-Ran" is not a correct way to say it.

Might want to check a dictionary before spouting off uninformed.

[Death Metal Moe]

Some people are just white bread, and it's not really their fault. I just got used to people mispronouncing my name day in and day out.

[Marc with a c]

moohamed?

[GregoryJoseph]

And actually, the "I" always makes the "eee" sound

In Spanish, yes.

Obviously not in English.

How do you pronounce "I" as in "I went to work today" or in "iodine"?

[Marc with a c]

there's no 'i' in team.

[Jujubees2]

there's no 'i' in team.

But there is a "me"

[GregoryJoseph]

Lousy weather here in the tree state area.

[underdog]

In Spanish, yes.

Obviously not in English.

How do you pronounce "I" as in "I went to work today" or in "iodine"?

I meant when pronouncing the word Iran. I looked it up in the dictionary.

[GregoryJoseph]

I meant when pronouncing the word Iran. I looked it up in the dictionary.

I did.

It's shown with both the short and long "I" as being acceptable.

[underdog]

I did.

It's shown with both the short and long "I" as being acceptable.

Here you go (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/iran).

You can even listen to the pronunciation.

[hanso]

Can Iran say nuclear?

[GregoryJoseph]

Here you go (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/iran).

You can even listen to the pronunciation.

Just because the pronunciation only speaks one or two of the acceptable ways doesn't mean anything.

FROM YOUR LINK -

I·ran (ĭ-rān', ĭ-rän', ī-rān')

[underdog]

Just because the pronunciation only speaks one or two of the acceptable ways doesn't mean anything.

FROM YOUR LINK -

I·ran (ĭ-rān', ĭ-rän', ī-rān')

Ok. I'll continue to say it the way I do.

Also, I don't find it offensive if someone says it the other way. Just want to clarify that.

And while you're at dictionary.com, you should look up the word "compare", hitler.

[sailor]

And actually, the "I" always makes the "eee" sound, so "eee-ran" is a correct way to say it, along with "eee-ron". I-Ran" is not a correct way to say it.

Might want to check a dictionary before spouting off uninformed.

if i stopped spouting off uninformed, i'd have nothing to post.

[underdog]

if i stopped spouting off uninformed, i'd have nothing to post.

Exactly.

[Reephdweller]

I guess this means that Andy Samberg needs to be suspended for "Iran So Far Away" and SNL should be taken off the air (well it should)...

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[GregoryJoseph]

Ok. I'll continue to say it the way I do.

Also, I don't find it offensive if someone says it the other way. Just want to clarify that.

And while you're at dictionary.com, you should look up the word "compare", hitler.

Did you hear Ron "compare" homosexuals to Nazis today on the show?

I thought of you immediately!

[sailor]

Did you hear Ron "compare" homosexuals to Nazis today on the show?

I thought of you immediately!

which is he?

[GregoryJoseph]

which is he?

Ha!

[underdog]

Did you hear Ron "compare" homosexuals to Nazis today on the show?

I thought of you immediately!

It makes me happy that you think of me. :wub:

[underdog]

It makes me happy that you think of me. :wub:

But seriously, no, I did not hear that. What did he say?