A Miss on Miss Alabama
Political correctness went too far when ESPN apologized for its broadcasters' appreciation of Miss Alabama's beauty.
A Miss on Miss Alabama
John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
One (of many) of the bad parts of politics is the out-of-control enforcement of political correctness.
And there is no better current example than the ruckus over broadcasters' comments on the beauty of a beauty queen during Monday night's national collegiate football championship game.
A news story in Wednesday's New York Times is one of dozens carrying headlines such as "Musburger Under Fire for Remarks During Game."
If you missed it -- and don't see how you could have -- ESPN issued an apology for veteran Brent Musburger's remarks regarding the girlfriend of Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron. She was sitting in the stands with her boyfriend's parents. She happens to be the current Miss Alabama.
As the camera focused on 23-year old Katherine Webb, Musburger and broadcast partner Kirk Herbstreit traded comments regarding the plainly obvious fact that she is gorgeous.
"What a beautiful woman," said Brent.
"Wow!" said Kirk.
"You quarterbacks get all the good-looking women," said Brent, a reference to the fact Kirk was an Ohio State QB who married an Ohio State cheerleader.
"AJ's doing some things right down in Tuscaloosa," said Kirk.
Now maybe it's me but I think that a beautiful woman who enters beauty pageants probably is used to and doesn't much mind the attention of those who appreciate beauty.
In fact, even though some labeled Musburger as "gushing" and "creepy," the lovely Miss Alabama later told the Associated Press, "I didn't look at it as creepy at all...it was kind of nice."
So who is ESPN apologizing to? College football fans who don't want to look at stunning women?
Or was it just that Musburger's in his 70's and Webb is in her 20's? And, if so, shouldn't there be some group complaining about charges of ageism?
Give me a freakin' break. There are enough real problems in this country to worry about. And sports broadcasters (or anybody) who harmlessly express appreciation of natural, God-given gifts, are not among them.
Yeah, Musberger gushed a little too much. But it was humorous, not offensive.— everydayguy- at the very worst, it was a tad creepy being as mussy in his 70's and she is only 23. however, the comments were in no way derogatory, lewd, or sexist. this is just another classic example of why i hate ESPN. they apologized for him as a means of generating a story about themselves in which they and others could cover! they are a joke of a sports station and i hope that another sports station can overtake them! — theeducator
- It seems to me Musberger was just stating the obvious. He didn't pull a Hefner and marry her.— Bruce in NM
- I thought Joe Biden was doing commentary at that point.— LouDiamondPhillipsheadScrewdriver
- Hmmmmm, I wonder who's going to win the Miss America pageant??????— Cuddles
- i too was amazed at the ridiculously tame comments made given all the "fuss" made over his comments. once i heard the actual lines, i had no idea what peoples' problem is— raynesrock
- I bet the real reason the NY Times and other have an issue with this is the fact that she an "oh wow" looker. It is the old sterio type of the jock getting the girl. Yet the NY media goes nuts all the time about their athletes and who they date. Nobody really cares. I just am glad to get the chance to see people like her in real life instead of the trussed up botox queens on TV.— Dutch-wayne
- The game was so boring, there was not much else to talk about.— phillyguy36
- I thought Mushberger's commments were acuarate,entertaining,and neither offensive nor creepy. What's wrong with a sports commentator stating the obvious, beuaty queens are often beuatiful, and often date athletes?— diverjm
- The game was out of hand and terrible by that point. I would have started talking about how my food looked coming out last night at that point.— suporma
- Any slight bit of fame he woman has is because she enterd beauty contests. He commented on her beauty. It's not like she was a Nobel prize winning physicist. Who complained and wonder what they look like.— dontavoidtheobvious
- Yeah, he didn't go into admiring body parts. He admired the beauty of a young woman. He should not have been penalty flagged/flogged. He's over 70, but he's not dead!— nsidious48
- Meh, She's no Lydia Callis !!— fat tony
- Musberger is horrible at his job. Other than he's a dirty old man, there is no issue here. let's move on.— Tyrone Biggums
- Dead on, John!— blipster
John is the author of the book "On The Front Lines of Pennsylvania Politics: Twenty-Five Years of Keystone Reporting" (The History Press, 2012). Reach John at baerj@phillynews.com.
