Yet another reason I thank the gods for HBO. Real Sports has some of the best sports journalism on TV. The correspondents pull no punches, and I like the way the show often profiles or puts a spotlight on stories I otherwise don't hear about. Bryant Gumbel's sometimes confrontational interviewing style really works for this show--or maybe it's just the nerd in me that loves watching puffed-up jocks squirm.

I had to start a thread about it because I caught this month's edition tonight, and there was a story that I found fascinating if not a little disgusting. Gumbel did a segment on Bob Sapp, a washed up NFL player who has become a freaking huge K-1 (kickboxing/mixed martial arts) star in Japan. More than that, he's a full-blown cultural icon...the guy is on Japanese tv almost on a daily basis and he pimps more products than Sam Jones III did on Smallville. I've heard of this guy before, as I'm a big Japanese pop culture freak, but this show was the first time I actually saw him sit down and talk about himself. I think his story affected me because he just struck me as being an incredibly sad and pathetic shell of a human being. Gumbel as usual was blunt with him, and this was one time I found myself agreeing with him. Sapp is the poster child for modern day minstrelsy. His persona is "The Beast", and--I shit you not--part of his shtick is that he runs around eating bananas and raw meat like a gorilla or something. The Japanese eat it up and he gladly plays Stepin Fetchit for them. When Gumbel called him on it, he made some lame excuse that Michael Clarke Duncan was in Planet of the Apes. (!) Bro is a total famewhore, he even said he hasn't said no to anything, and that there is literally nothing he won't do for a dollar (or yen, as the case might be). He is also very obviously on the juice, which is the only reason he wins any matches. Sapp has no skill or finesse whatsoever, he just tries to pummel the shit out of his opponents, and it usually works because he's much bigger than most.

All that said, I still feel sorry for him to some extent. He lives a very lonely life, there's no one he's really close to and all he has is money. It's like he sold his soul or something. The segment pushed my buttons, but in a good way. Can't wait for the next episode--one thing that irks me about this show is it only comes on once a month. But, the silver lining is that they can do more in-depth stories than other sports shows.

I'm not that big a sports fan, but I do appreciate the way the reporters on "Real Sports" get to the bottom of a story. I wouldn't want it to come on more often, because then they would just be doing the kind of crap that everyone does.

I saw part of this one, and it did shock me the things that Sapp allowed to occur in the interest of celebrity. Prior to this, I saw him a couple of times on Fox Sports, and he always comes across as this lovable lug who does this hyper-violent K-1 thing. Never mind that I didn't think the Japanese still went immediately to the racist imagery when it came to black people, the fact that he goes for it is insane.

How does he not even, at least, get to stay in a suite at this hotel? If he's going to humiliate himself like that, he should at least live nice. Why not just put the guy in a cage at the zoo, for the tourists to come see? That would be an opportunity. Say "yes" to that, why don't you.

The really sad thing about his story to me is that he doesn't realise the harm that he's doing to his own people . The Japanese are huge collectors of all things stereotypical of the black race. For instance, Sambo is huge over there. He is just perpetuating the myths and its only going to hurt him in the long run. I felt sad for him because he doesn't have anyone in his life. No parents, friends, or girlfriend. Unfortunately I can see a bad end for him. I think that he needs to lay down on someone's sofa for several long chats.

On the upside of the Real Sports eppie was the story of the Little League team for the handicapped kids that started in Conyers, Georgia. I loved the little girl with the red hair. I hope that they can find national sponsors because those kids deserve to have something of their own.

I just watched an episode that exposed the disgusting slave trade that goes on in the name of camel racing in the middle east (specifically, UAE). I cried and cried. If even one child is saved because of this report, then I think this show has been of the good, even if Bryant can be an annoying prig.

I may be one of the only people on earth to not find BG annoying. I have always admired his interviews for the way he calls bullshit, the fact that he listens to the answets given and adjusts his follow-up questions accordingly, and that he doesn't seem married to a predetermined narrative, and will let the interview reveal what it will.

Now, he may be an ass in real life, but in journalistic terms, I'd watch a million Gumbel reports before I'd watch one by Stone Phillips.

This show is a good showcase for his stuff, and it appears that the correspondents thrive with the format as well. And, it's a plus that they don't have to rely on pixelated body parts, bleeped vulgarities, and ain't-the-NFL-grand type boosterism to mollify sponsors.

I agree. Gumbel probably is a real life prick but he's a DAMN good reporter and TV personality. And this show is the best in sports.

Any comment on the crazy Christies? I just finished watching the most recent Real Sports and I'm torn, they are over the top but both seem pretty happy and articulate their positions without sounding too wacky and if they are hurting anybody I'm thinking people shoul leave them alone.

Bryant Gumbel is looking thin - in a bad way.

with the Christies, it is one of those things where what they're doing is really, really, really, really strange, but if you make fun of them, people are inevitably going to reply with the "if they aren't hurting anybody and they're happy, who cares..." stuff. I thought the piece took it fairly easy on them, though. The stuff about Doug not being allowed to talk with any woman when his wife isn't around has been pretty well documented. I can't imagine his teammates respect him at all.

I also thought that the Christie's were the least interesting part of the show. The story of Kassim Ouma, the former Ugandan child soldier turned boxer was a pretty amazing success story.

After watching the clip show, I believe I could watch Bernie Goldberg get smacked in the face with a dodgeball forever. And I totally wanted Vince McMahon to slap Armen. Not that the reporters aren't wonderful; it's a man-bites-dog thing for me.

I like Mary Carillo's new hair. Not fussy, not messy.

I thought it was interesting that they showed Maria Sharapova being asked whether she would rather win Wimbledon or get a check for $20 million. She said she would rather win Wimbledon because the millions would come later. That was pretty prophetic.

Fantastic fantastic piece this week on steroid usage in sports... if anybody is still lurking on these boards, I suggest you check it out. I must confess that I only watched it because of Bill "Sports Guy" Simmons' recommendation on ESPN.com, but I'm hooked, and I just set up my Season Pass.

Helloooo! Anybody?

Good ep this week. The amazing Zanardi and his collection of legs: I totally believed him when he said he felt the brake with his foot. Neil Leifer: is really tiny next to DeFord, but you gotta love 'im. MNF? Never watched it, so I don't feel the cultural shift Goldberg insists is afoot.

But the most provocative piece was on the 'paid girlfriends.' Would have loved to get an athlete's perspective --even a retired one! -- but am not surprised Armen was unable to secure it. The ex-wife's reference to the PGs, not as women, but as 'females' is interesting (and becoming a common usage, I think - ugh). Also of note is the unabashed cynicism of the two women. They don't delude themselves about any affection the guys may actually have for them or probably don't; it seems wholly beside the point. (Which mystifies me. Is 'stuff' more important than actual human connection?) Also, although their claim that the onus of cheating on his wife is on the man, not the PG, is correct, I found myself wondering what lengths these women might go to in order to overcome a player's unwillingness to cheat. And I wonder if these girls' 'careers' are now over.

I haven't seen the latest ep yet, but the piece Deford did a couple months back about the special needs kid that hit the three-point baskets had me bawling. Awe-inspiring stuff.

I caught this ep too. I enjoy this show if I catch it even though I'm the most anti-sports person I know.

I don't advocate the girls' lifestyle, but I kind of get their point. They know that they are basically long-term call girls and ultimately the guy is going to stay with his wife. I guess it's their way of putting up an emotional wall, and they aren't trying to pull the "I thought he loved me" mistress/babymamma stuff when the guy is in no way committed to her. Plenty of women are after these guys because of wealth/power/lifestyle as opposed to their charming personalities.
It was nice that Bryant mentioned that "paid girlfriends" goes on for white players too, but it didn't help my secondary embarassment as a black woman. And what was with the honey- colored weaves? Oy. The Kelly Rowland-looking one was so pretty otherwise.

Oh, I agree with the 'wall' aspect of what you say, but my question is a little different. If I'm trolling for a pro athlete, will any one at all do? Or do I pick one I might actually like (not love, but you know, have stuff in common and get along)? I got the impression that the former was the case with the women in the piece, that it didn't matter if he was handsome, or stupid, or mean, or delightful. Just there, paying the bills. I don't get that. (Which is probably why I don't roll that way, come to think of it.)

The story about the "paid girlfriends" reeked of ridiculousness for me.

Don't get me wrong; I know that the phenomenon exists. There was just something about the report that made the whole thing seem lame. There seemed to be a lack of real substance. It was as if the reporter happened to catch Kanye West's "Golddigger" video, and decided to turn in a report on that.

I have the feeling that these girls are not as "connected" as they stated; "professional golddiggers" don't go public, unless they are getting out of the business. These two struck me as a couple of chicks that the reporter probably came up to in a club and jumped at the chance to go on television.

Also, although I haven't seen an athlete admit to such activities in an interview, I've seen a number of athletes talk about the phenomenon. There was a special - I believe on HBO - that discussed athletes and sex; I seem to recall John Salley talking about the trouble that some guys get into. With all of the former athletes turned broadcasters, I find it hard to believe that there wasn't one person that would talk about it.

It seemed like BG wasn't all that impressed with the report either, what with all of the disclaimers and clarifications that had to be made: yes, we named and/or displayed a lot of athletes, but none of them are involved. And this isn't just limited to the black community. And it only shows a small contingent of women who are only in it for the money, avoiding those who might want a relationship (or just a story to tell).

Anyway, I would like to meet the [expletive deleted] worth throwing down $25K and a Mercedes. Not to spend any money, mind you. Just curious.

The world is full of lazy-ass hos, you're just in the other 75-80% (tm Huey Freeman). Hef's got a similar situation on "The Girls Next Door".

The paid gf's mentioned that they're grad students so I guess this is easier than getting a real job. There was also mention of "bettering your position in life". I guess if you sell the cars and pay off loans or invest you'd be "bettering yourself" but somehow I get the feeling that these are materialistic women who aren't helping themselves in the long run.

attica finch,

Some interesting comments.

I was thinking about it, and it's surprising to me how the majority of professional athletes in the United States are actually pretty anonymous. There are perhaps 30 or 40 in each sport that are instantly recognizeable, and the rest tend to fall into the "I've seen that dude somewhere" catagory.

I'd tend to think that it's more the access to a good bit of money, more then anything else, although i'm damn sure you can get just about any type of drugs you want really easily.

Kudos to radio talk-show host Larry Elder for publicizing some eye-opening remarks from Bryant Gumbel on the most recent episode of HBO's Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel. The comments have received scant coverage, with the San Francisco Chronicle (in a betting column) and The Columbus Dispatch (in a "People in the News" column) among the few outlets that have even mentioned the episode. According to a transcript posted by a television columnist named Seth Frelich, Gumbel said the following in his closing monologue last week (emphasis mine):

"Finally, tonight, the Winter Games. Count me among those who don’t care about them and won’t watch them ... Because they’re so trying ... Like, try not to be incredulous when someone attempts to link these games to those of the ancient Greeks who never heard of skating or skiing. So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world’s greatest athletes, despite a paucity of blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention. Try not to point out that something’s not really a sport if a pseudo-athlete waits in what’s called a kiss-and-cry area, while some panel of subjective judges decides who won ... So if only to hasten the arrival of the day they’re done, when we can move on to March Madness — for God’s sake, let the games begin."

I saw the ep, and giggled at BG's umbrage. Sure, the Winter Olys are pretty pale, but it's not like it's skiiing's fault that there is no snow in latitudes and equatorial regions whence many black athletes come. No, it's not diverse, but it's not discriminatory, either.

I understand the purist viewpoint about any competition that is subjectively judged is not 'sport', but can anybody look at the flexibilty and strength of the boarders and skaters and not understand that these are, indeed, elite athletes? (I read that Sasha Cohen leg-presses 300 lbs. All 100 lbs of her.) Are their performances less compelling or thrilling to watch, even if the judging is less than precision-timed?

I get his argument; I see his point. I don't agree with his outright dismissal. On the other hand, when the WGs are over, Baseball season starts! Whee!

Well, there's also the implication that these Olympians can't be athletes because they're, er, white.

That's the part that surprised me. On everything else, I agree.

Or wearing sequins.

Here's a view tangentially related, from Slate.

Nope, Bryant was talking about the tooty frooty figure skaters. Wasn't Bryant the anchor for one of the Olympics? Outside of Track & Field and Basketball, the Summer Games are just as white as the Winter Games.

Instead of denigrating the Games, Bryant and his sour grapes should give some props to the non-white athletes who participate. If I were an Olympic athlete of any kind, Winter or Summer, I would boycott Bryant. Don't crap where you eat, brotherman.

B.G. is very explicit that they are NOT the world's greatest athletes, because of a paucity of blacks. Various winter olympic sports, specifically bobsledding, have recruited football running backs and track sprinters, many of them black. I believe there is a black female bobsledder on the USA team at present.

Next month B.G. will complain that the black bobsledders "sit in the back" and "have to get out and push".

In a revealing interview once when he was establishing his heavy news cred. he mentioned that his father was a member of the Daley machine in Chicago, stating that he had met leading political figures and politics was discussed in the home. It appears to me that everything in his life in analyzed in the framework of urban Democratic politics.

What does that even mean? So any sport that lacks blacks isn't a sport? And the participants aren't athletes? While he may have a point about the subjectivity of some sports, (which is also in the Summer Olympics) to not call them athletes is bullshit. Are hockey players not athletes? Bryant Gumbel is an asshole. I don't hear him complaining about the lack of blacks in golf, yet I guarantee you he'll be the first one to defend it because he likes the sport. He's been awfully quiet about the lack of blacks in NASCAR, CART or the IRL. Fucking idiot.

BWAH. I want Jesse Jackson standing at the top of every run with a calculator and a camera crew from the WB.

I would have agreed with the point "sports" do not depend on " a panel of subjective judges deciding who won" ... until last month when I watched Super Bowl XL. At least figure skating has 9 judges; an NFL game has only 5 judges for 22 players, and only 1 or 2 on instant replays.

Ooh, burn! Good point, that, SamPJackson!

Also, last time I checked, prizefights have three judges sitting down by the ring JUDGING a fight. Try telling someone that boxing is not a sport.

That said, I kind of liked his comments otherwise. As a sports fan, I can follow some of the Winter Games, but these people I know(most of whom are not serious sports fans) that pretend to really be into these games are a little annoying.

Yeah, but that happens at every sporting event that becomes a cultural one, (the Super Bowl, March Madness, etc.) people with little to no knowledge of the sport are suddenly interested. But that's okay, because it's only two weeks every four years. (At least the Olympics, there is nothing more annoying than losing an NCAA pool to some girl who picks the winners based on the name of the school/their colors.)

Back on Gumbel, could you imagine if a white broadcaster had said the same thing, but about the NBA. If Bob Costas had said, "I can't get into the NBA because it's so dark, it looks like a NAACP meeting."? The shit would hit the fan. But I can't imagine anything materializing out of this for Gumbel.

And like on of my black friends just told me on IM, "Who the hell is Bryant Gumbel to talk? The man is as black as a my iMac."

I can't imagine any white broadcaster being that stupid to say that on air. But I can imagine a whole lot of white viewers thinking that and avoiding the NBA because of it.

That being said Gumbel was wrong and I admit to be taken aback when he brought up the lack of black athletes when I saw this episode last week. I am surprised it took the media so long to catch on to his comments. Gumbel is a huge baseball fan. I hope he embraces spanish speaking/spanish surname black players because I think the MLB is close to having less non-Hispanic blacks than this current class of Americans in the Winter Olympics.

Now to be fair to Gumbel I will say that in his two minute speech about his disdain for the Winter Olympics, the "race" thing was a very minor point in his overall argument, but some are making it out as if the lack of black athletes is the only reason he dislikes the Winter Games. And when Gumbel made what I took to be disparaging comments about NBA players not too long ago I didn't recall any media firestorm.

Its amazing. This show is one of the best news shows on TV for years. I was surprised to see there had been such little activity for its TWOP forum all this time. Now with the Gumbel rant against the Winter Olympics it has essentially doubled in amount of posst overnight.

I agree that HBO has excellent sports news and analysis programs, and that Bryant Gumbel is a good sports reporter and analyst. But, there seem to be some blacks who believe blacks are athletically superior to whites, just as there appear to be some Asians who believe Asians are mentally superior to whites. When one of them expresses these beliefs to a multi-racial audience, it's news.

It came off to me as Gumble wanted to find a new angle on being "does anyone care about the winter Olympics" turd in the punchbowl and crossed the line here.

I saw Rick Reilly give a lecture and he talked about doing a story on him and his mother basicly split her heart about what a jackass Bryant is.

I can't believe Gumbel is complaining there are not enough black athletes at the Winter Olympics. How would he feel if somebody said there are not enough white athletes at the Summer Olympics? He's an idiot.

Dan & Keith covered this on the radio today, echoing the very sensible postings here (great minds and their similar thinking!). Keith mentioned that BG's comments were getting both hammered and praised by lefties and righties alike in sites he looked at.

Dan raised the "should HBO fire him" question, but I don't know that there's anybody who thinks they actually will. This might fall under the 'no publicity is bad publicity' heading for them --controversy will goose ratings of the re-airs, after all.

It's odd to that he mentioned Jarome Iginla in one of his final thoughts, saying it was great that more black players are in the NHL. Iggy is a star on this Canadian Olympic team.

...or as my best friend said "...or look like Thanksgiving dinner at Bryant's in-laws house"...Do I need to mention that my best friend is black...and a skier?

I had two black linemates in hockey. Guess what our line was called.

That's not at all what he was doing. This whole thing has been waaaay overblown on message boards by people who only read that "transcript" on a message board but have never actually seen an episode of real sports. What Bryant was trying to do in that show ending rant was make the (now cliche) joke about how the winter olympics not for sports fans, but is instead aimed at the Oprah/Lifetime movie of the week soccer moms who give the figure skating such high ratings.
The ill advised throw away line about the lack of blacks (which doesn't translate to a written transcript) was, IMO intended to be part of the humorous observation. It was NOT meant to start some civil rights discussion or imply that blacks are being discriminated against.

I think it's fair to say that none of us knows what Bryant meant, but regardless, his words were inflamatory and very racist, IMO. I like the Winter Olympics because I like watching those sports. I don't care if the Greeks didn't imagine them in the Ancient Games...this is the MODERN Olympics. If he didn't want to imply it, then he shouldn't have "played the race card," as they say.

He was disparaging athletes who train incredibly hard to excel at their sport. I don't think Golf is a sport and I think Boxing is barbaric, but those are both considered sports. In his ending rant, the man destroyed any respect I had for him left over from when I used to watch him. His comments were an example of why white people aren't the only ones delaying equality in this country.

I am, though, curious as to what Vonetta Flowers thought of his comments. (First female black athlete to get gold in Winter Games, in Salt Lake)

We've got people competing in skeleton with minimal training. (some of) The Snow boarders are notorious for their slacking/dope smoking/etc. Trust me, it is mockworthy. Just as mockworthy as the baseball team Greece fielded in the most recent summer olympics (they don't play much baseball in europe, so greece's baseball team was filled with 3rd generation american construction workers and stock brokers who played college baseball and had brown hair).

Yeah, when I've got Soccer moms asking a bartender to change the TV from college hoops to people snowboarding down a hill, there's a problem. Yes, these games are very mock-worthy, which I agree is all Gumbel was doing.

I wonder if B.G. will mention Shauni Davis winning a gold medal ??

After all of this, he absolutely has to. I still agree with the other points he made about the Olympics. But all that matters now is that Bryant Gumbel hates white people.

I am sure he's regretting it. Its clear that the reason you see few indians, brazilians or australians and lots of scandanavian countries represented is because....

IT SNOWS THERE MORE!

Well, he sure has a funny way of showing it.

Anyway, I guess this is what happens when someone not known for being funny - particularly in a racial sense - makes an attempt. Many people have made jokes about the snow-whiteness of the Winter Games. Granted, none with the positioning of Gumbel, but still. I need to actually see the comments, to make my own inference as to intent, but it doesn't bother me.

I haven't seen the episode, but with the comments I've seen, I think BG was working on a different angle that everyone knows about. Although now he has to be careful with Shani Davis winning the gold medal. Its not a shock as well that the other shows are whipping NBC's asses because the Winter Olympics are regional, not race.

What's ironic is Gumble's been charged with being an Uncle tom for years.

chris rock: "I'm talking about the man that tells us if you squeze a black piece of coal it will turn into a shiny white diamond! Which proves if you put enough preassure on any black man he'll turn into Bryant Gumble!"

Vonetta Flowers.

In 2004, she was the first black person (not first black woman or first Afircan American, but first black person from anywhere) to win a medal at the Winter Games. She was the pilot.

Didn't Debbie Thomas win a bronze in 88. She was an African American. Did Flowers win gold? She might have been the first black person to win a gold. What Gumbel said was dumb, but not outrageous. Still, he should probably know better.