The University of Southern Mississippi has revoked the scholarships of five members of its pep band who took part in the heckling of a Puerto Rican-born Kansas State basketball player at last Thursday's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game.
The school announced today that the five students also were removed from the band and will be required to complete a two-hour cultural sensitivity training course this week.
Hopefully the USM students will also get a geography lesson and learn that Puerto Rico is part of the United States and people born in Puerto Rico are American citizens!
Southern Miss issued an apology last week to Kansas State point guard Angel Rodriguez after he was the target of chants of "Where's your green card?" during the Wildcats' 70-64 second-round victory in the NCAA tournament.
Here's what Ed said about the incident on Thursday night's show:
Imagine just for a moment, you`re a college freshman -- college freshman starting, like Angel Rodriguez. You and your team make it to the NCAA tournament. I mean, it is the big dance, the big show. It is a dream come true.
And while you`re out there on your court making your school proud, having a highlight in your life, you hear a bunch of bullies from the other school shouting "where`s your green card."
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Yeah, just like Rick Santorum saying that if Puerto Rico wants statehood then they all have to speak English and declare English their official language. Apparently, Mr. Santorum doesn't know about New Mexico (a state last time I checked) that declares Spanish and English as official languages and their state constitution is written in Spanish and English. Racism is rearing it's ugly head again because of the elected officials who are waging war against immigrants, specifically Latinos. This is 2012 right? I thought that America was bigger than that. Apparently not. And, it would figure it was a southern school. At least the officials acted swiftly and sent a message loud and clear that such behavior would not be tolerated. And maybe a United States history test for incoming students. Apparently they were unaware of Puerto Rico's status? Unbelievable. A two hour sensitivity class? Are you kidding me? Two hours to undue a lifetime of prejudice and intolerance of other cultures, and anyone who isn't white? Well, at least it's something.
No lorakittle, it is nothing like Santorum's comment about language. Those were a direct personal attack; your attempt to belittle or equivocate this to anything Santorum has said is to reduce the gravity of the comment!
On the other hand, I agree with CATT (#5), any of us that have played in tournaments know there will always be those that will try to break your concentration with mindless insults. Angel seems to have ignored it, as he should.
I didn't know about New Mexico's declaration. It was Ma Ferguson, governor of Texas that is reported to have said, "I've read the Bible, and if English is good enough for Jesus Christ, it's good enough for them Mexicans!" Like CATT said, consider the source.
My point is racism is racism any way you slice it. And when you have supposed leaders exhibiting this behavior, why won't the kids? This country is made up of immigrants, unless you are Native American, you are or your relatives are an immigrant. I don't know how or why people got it into their heads that white skin, English speaking people are superior to anyone else. It just boggles my mind.
Mississippi is just one of those RED southern states, that has an abundance of un-educated racist, bigoted adults, who are reaping the fruits from the example that they have set for these young people. Even the adults need to get some civics education.
Puerto Rico are American citizens, and the stupidity of the racist bigots goes marching on.
Yaaa Hoooo, What took them so long. My hubby graduated from K-State. Played basket ball, once when they were traveling many years ago with their team into the southern states. They stopped at a restaurant for food. Because they had a Black guy on their team, he was told he had to go to the back door and eat out back. They were appalled at this request and the entire team ate out back. They would have gone to another restaurant but they were in the middle of no where.Come into to the real world people and cut out racism at it roots.
The bigotry in Mississippi runs deep.
It will come as no surprise when these offenders end up blaming every minority around them for their own personal lack of integrity and thus their “punishment” is doomed to failure.
Taking away scholarships is not the way to teach civility.
However forcing them to walk a few miles in the shoes of their victim might be a more creative way of teaching them the reality of their intolerance and how it affects people out in the real world, beyond the “limits” of bigotry cultivated in places like Mississippi.
A world in which, if we want to live a full and complete life, it is imperative to understand that learning to live together is essential.
…Don’t mind me, I’m just thinking out loud…
It isn't just at Mississippi. Duke is known for their offensiveness.
I don't think the player should let it bother him. It only has the power you give it. I wouldn't give those self-proclaimed morons the time of day. It's like they said, look at me, I'm a racist moron!!! Two weeks of cultural sensitivity class? Really? 18 or more years of trained insensitivity won't be cured in two weeks. Reporters shouldn't flock to the victim, but rather the perpetrators. Shine the light brightly on them and what they stand for.
If it's tolerated there, it would be tolerated everywhere. He shouldn't let it bother him? Oh, I suppose an American citizen that isn't white should be okay with and expect bullying and taunting by others who "think" you are from another country? And it's a two HOUR class, not two weeks. I agree it won't change their behavior, but by taking their scholarships it sends a very loud message that this won't be tolerated, period.
I took note that one of the fellow players gave him a "we are with you " tap of assurance when the rant was going on. It was a free throw.....be good sports and shut up......scholarships are pretty valuable now a days.....but shunning is so effective. Angel has been there many times before......he takes it like a man and with the win, he knew a better way to dish it back. He didn't have to say a word. Those bullies were like the brainwashed zombies we are always dealing with.
These Goofballs Must Part Of "The Upper Crust" At Least Within Their Heads = THEY Must BE Sons And Daughters Of gop-re-baggers !!!!!! THEY Hold Their Noses High And Pier Down Their Lengthy Noses As Though Others Are Beneath THEM !!!! HA !!!!!!
Hey, Hey, Hey,......be back later. Good to see ya!
Southern Bigotry And Racism Rears Its Ugly Head Once AGAIN !!!!!! TYPICAL !!!!!!
TM = Thank-You = Yes I Have Been Released From The Avery !!!!! xxx ooo = NICE AVATAR !!!!!!
Its A Good Thing That These "BAND" Members Weren't Carrying 9mm Handguns - Hey !!!!
MD:You should be more like me keep your beak shut at times!
just to put it out there, you two (MD/MI, xxx ooo) are going to confuse the heck out of all of us now with those similar avatars...
Ha Haaa = OK !!!!!
At least they don't make you feel terrorized, catt. lol
Take their scholarships, thats fine. They poorly represented the school, and that's the school's right to do. You can't wear the uniform of the school, and then act like an idiot while wearing it, and expect to get away with it.
But for Ed to project on this kid "Imagine how you would feel"...speaks that Ed was never an athlete. if so, what thin skin he must have had! an athlete would block it out, or would listen to it and then go light it up on the court, shutting the crowd up. It's like the Jeremy Lin situation, where everyone felt the need to feel "offended FOR him"...Lin wasn't offended, and this kid, there is no indication that he is offended...so why are we trying to project our "feelings" onto him???
I was called plenty of nasty stuff during my athletic career. I learned early on to laugh it off. hopefully this kid Angel Rodriguez learns that as well, or his athletic career will be very short...Hopefully Rodriguez is a tough athlete, and not the thin-skinned ninny that Ed projects that he is.
Bullies have always been around. they always will be. no amount of "sensitivity training" will ever change that. Suck it up, buttercup...
what, was that offensive to flowers???
Some people wear thin skin better than others. I think the kid gave what he got. He beat the socks off of them. Seems the mississippi pep band only saw the color of his skin......too bad for those wild flowers.
i agree TM...it seems as if he rose above it, and they won the game...
my beef was with Ed, and others who would say "imagine how he must feel"....
please...
the kid will be fine, he is a tough kid- you have to be to make it and play on a D1 sports team. i am sure he handled himself with class and dignity...its all the others around him whining about "how he must feel"...they wont he game, I am sure he feels GREAT!!!
I know how he feels, It hurts, but then you just have to keep telling yourself.....I am a secure worth while person, and they aren't. It does not stop the pain. Ed is just trying to wake up the IGNORANT!
no, it doesn't hurt...not when you are an athlete...its almost a compliment...when i heard people yelling "break #12's leg!" or had stuff thrown at me from "adoring" fans (things like soft drinks, not flowers), it energized me. I had French-Canadian fans cussing me out in French, and calling me anti-French names...
it didn't "hurt", and I SURE AS HECK didn' t need "I'm good enough, and gosh darn it, people like me" affirmations to make me feel better...
again, i have no doubt this kid is tough and can deal with it. he probably laughed when he heard it...i know I would have, had I been in his shoes...
I agree that the kids from Miss. were stupid. anyone with a brain sees that, and any athlete worth his salt shrugs it off.
think what Jackie Robinson went through...now THAT was a real challenge, and a REAL man to stand up to it and pursue his dream when it would have been SO MUCH easier to "sit down and shut up"...his job would have been SO much harder if talking heads on TV had said "Imagine how he must feel"...
Being an "athlete" allows you to hide the hurt. It still hurts. ANYBODY with human emotions feel the pain. That doesn't meen you don't do your job.
If you have a beef with Ed, take it up with him. He give an e-mail address.
Being an "athlete" allows you to hide the hurt. It still hurts. ANYBODY with human emotions feel the pain.
Only if you are weak...
they are just words...sheesh...this "kid" is an adult...he's not 7, hearing it for the first time from little JOhnny on the playground.
The fact is those screaming the insults are the ones with the real problem.....Angel took it like a man.
This sort of thing is common at DUKE UNIVERSITY. I am sorry that this young man had to deal with this sort of ignorance.,
It should become un-common at Duke and everywhere else in America. God didn't just drop us in this place yesterday and we haven't learned anything. I know some people are brighter than others, but this is suppose to be "The Melting Pot"?
Tell that to the Duke Rugby players that were falsely accursed of rape!
This students will now be playing a different tune, For being out of tune! I hope they get a kick in the brass!
ht
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Are you sure you have all the facts? Just thought you may consider that something has been left out of the story, before you form a lynch mob.
MD/MI, you might consider xxxooo's comment (4.8) before forming the posse (8). You do seem awfully quick on the blanket aspersions (4.3/5).
Capt = Who Asked Ya ?????? Just Sayin' !!!!! Who Directed This 1 Man Lynch MOB ????? Just Askin' !!!!!
OOps = Wrong Post !!!!! Butt It All Goes Together !!!!!! Doesnt It !!!!!
Capt. WTF! He shot the kid dead. He said he did. He's a KILLER and I guess its like war and you shouldn't feel anything RIGHT!
I though we were discussing the behavior at the game..... what is this about a lynch mob.......did the kkk arrive? What am I missing.......must have been a regugnant remark.
Angel is going to be alright, Angel stayed focus on the game. You learn to ignor all the comments and play your game. Once you get angry, you lost.
Don't judge the states for some of the fans, who are brutal. There are more good people there.
These kids should be brought in front of there peers and explain why they thought this statment was a funny thing to say to this young man playing a basketball game. This is what's wrong with our kids today, they aren't held to do the right thing anymore..