NBA announcers suspended for Haddadi, Iran jokes
Two Los Angeles Clippers’ announcers, play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler and analyst Mike Smith, have been suspended for one game after the two shared an ignorant exchange more suited for shock radio than an NBA game.
(Discuss the Clippers’ Announcers’ foolishness in our forum)
The unfunny conversation involved 7-2 Iranian center Hamed Haddadi, the first Iranian to play in the NBA, when the Clippers took on the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, November 18th. Here is the 40-second exchange that got them into trouble:
Mike Smith: “Look who’s in.”
Ralph Lawler: “Hamed Haddadi. Where’s he from?”
Smith: “He’s the first Iranian to play in the NBA.” (Smith pronounced Iranian as “Eye-ranian.”)
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.”
Amazing the ignorance of the comments.
The sad part is that the exchange wasn’t even remotely approaching funny as they had hoped, just ignorant and foolish. The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in the game 106-91.
It seems as if the Clippers can’t even put together a good team on the court, much less off it.
I’m Iranian and honestly I don’t find any of those comments rude or ignorant. Ignorant are those who cannot rise above a joke or are too think skinned…like you Americans who are so touchy that you can’t get over yourselves. DO NOT put your asinine hyper-sensitivity and p.c. on us Iranians. We endure things you prissies cannot fathom!
November 21st, 2009 at 9:34 pm
They should be suspended, I am an Iranian-American and I found it quite disgusting. Things that only comes from white trash trailer park people with no education
November 21st, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I think one game suspension is the real joke.. at least 2 months suspension without pay for these racist idiots.
PS: Beli is not Iranian.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:08 am
i am an iranian and living in iran , two guys trying to be funny , and they are not , the just show that how shallow minded they are , it should not be made a big deal
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:09 am
I am an Iranian who lived in the US and is now back in Iran. I think these jokes are tasteless and even not funny, but give them a break at least they could spell Haddadi and know what and where Iran is which is a milestone on its own.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Back in the 60’s, they wore “hoods” and expressed themselves,they can not make comments about the minority now,because if they do, oops,”they get a new one”.KKK with “hoods or suits”still have to prove that they are alive and kicking!
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:43 pm
that joke was rude,offensive and disgusting.shame on them.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:19 pm
The issue is not funny or not, or even PC or not. What is going on is a display of an aspect of American society that has always existed; the racist, uneducated, arrogant, cracker culture that is violent, greedy, and obsolete. Iranians kicked you out of our country that you thought you owned. Now you are confronted with a strong Iran that refuses to kneel and obey your orders. That’s too bad because the age of America has passed and China is the next superpower, a country Iran just signed 135 billion dollar contract with.
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:41 am
I am IRANIAN,
Ralph Lawler & Mike Smith, I forgive you because you are punished enough.
November 29th, 2009 at 5:17 am