Free Speech Epic Fail

In the age of Twitter, the public seldom has to wait long to get a newsworthy quote from a newsworthy person. Often, newsworthy Tweets have lead to controversy. Recently, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison made his inflammatory comments about NFL commissioner Roger Goodell the old fashioned way: in a magazine interview.

Harrison's incendiary rant on the league commissioner included vitriol and bodily functions. It was the first truly juicy NFL soundbite/quote available to the public since Steelers running back and Harrison teammate Rashard Mendenhall made controversial remarks about the 9/11 attacks following the death of Osama bin Laden.

Today, we are going to take a look at some more memorable quotes that have thrusted sports figures into the spotlight, even if they wanted to pull the plug on the spotlight, right away.


James Harrison, on Roger Goodell (2011)

Quote: "If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn't do it. I hate him and will never respect him."

Result: Time will tell, but Roger Goodell's best move, possibly his only move, is to do nothing. Any action Goodell takes against Harrison for remarks made during a lockout on his own time about Goodell will not go over well among players or in the court of public opinion.

James Harrison will not play fireman with Roger Goodell. 1

Rashard Mendenhall, on Osama bin Laden and 9/11 (2011)

Quote: "What kind of person celebrates death? It's amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We've only heard one side.... We'll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style."

Result: Free speech is not always free. Sporting apparel maker Champion cut ties with Mendenhall shortly after the controversial remarks. This cost Mendenhall an endorsement and a source of supplemental cash.


Former Atlanta Braves relief pitcher John Rocker on the possibility of playing in New York (2000)

Quote: "I'd retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the 7 train to the ballpark looking like you're riding through Beirut next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing... The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country?"

Result: Rocker became public enemy #1 in New York. In spite of issuing an apology soon after the incident, his appearance in the Mets' Shea Stadium necessitated more than ten times the normal level of police protection and special protective devices for the Braves' dugout and bullpen.

Free speech was not free for Rocker, either. Rocker was suspended for the first 14 games of the 2000 season.

Rocker didn't exactly take great pains to bridge the divide between himself and the fans of New York. 2

Former CBS football commentator Jimmy "the Greek" Snyder (1988)

Quote: "The black is a better athlete to begin with because he's been bred to be that way — because of his high thighs and big thighs that goes up into his back, and they can jump higher and run faster because of their bigger thighs. This goes back all the way to the Civil War when during the slave trading, the owner — the slave owner would breed his big black to his big woman so that he could have a big black kid."

Result: Wow! You know, for something that this country was founded upon as being "free", speech ain't cheap! Snyder was fired very shortly after the controversial remarks. I, personally, have always had sympathy for Snyder since this incident. He was a fixture on CBS' "NFL Today" show. The man was a sports commentator, not a keynote speaker. Had he simply used phrasing like, "I think the breeding of slaves may have had an impact on the disproportionately high number of blacks succeeding in sports," as opposed to the sweeping statement he made, I doubt that he would have been fired, or even disciplined. By all accounts I have read, Snyder was a decent man, not a racist, and appears to have quickly and sincerely regretted what he said.

It isn't like this is the scene at the line of scrimmage. 4

Golfer Fuzzy Zoeller, following Tiger Woods first, ever, major win at The Masters (1997)

Quote: "He's doing quite well, pretty impressive. That little boy is driving well and he's putting well. He's doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year. Got it? Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve...."

Result: The cost of free speech is a little more than pocket change. K-Mart and Dunlop Tires dropped Zoeller for the racially tinged remarks. The marginally relevant golfer became a punchline as a person making racist comments, but soon faded into oblivion, where the PGA would agree he belongs.

I'll bet Fuzzy would have a stroke if the brothers started repping his Vodka like "Gin and Juice". What a stupid jackass.... 3

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1) Image from creativestickers.com
2) Image from si.com
3) Image from proof66.com
4) Image from foolscrusade.blogspot.com