Bob Costas Offers Wager To His Gun Critics
BY Herschel Smith
10 years, 8 months ago
Sports broadcaster Bob Costas is not backing down in the face of criticism for his outspoken advocacy of gun control. In fact, he’s challenging his critics to a bet.
Costas was asked about the controversial political positions he has taken on the air, including gun control, in an interview with “Late Night” host Seth Meyers, and said it’s very much an issue in sports that deserves to be talked about.
“Here’s what I would say to anybody who any time they hear the word guns automatically goes off, like, ‘Oh, they’re going to repeal the Second Amendment,’” Costas said. “Let’s make a bet, you and me. Let’s say over the next five years we’ll do a Google search. We’ll have an independent party monitor it. You keep track of how many good and constructive things are associated with athletes having a gun, and I’ll keep track of all the tragedies and criminality and folly. And let’s see who comes out ahead or behind as the case may be.”
Costas said regardless of Americans’ positions on gun control generally, it’s undeniable that sports has a “gun culture.”
“Sports has a gun culture.” Well so does the South, Bob, and I can say that because I live here. Why, just a few minutes ago I was shopping online at Hyatt Gun Shop (2330 hours) and more than 5000 people were online doing the same thing. We don’t run around shooting each other like you seem to think athletes do. What I think you’re really saying is that professional athletes can’t be trusted, and that makes you a racist.
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On April 4, 2014 at 12:05 pm, Ned Weatherby said:
In sum, Costas’ opinion is, all “athletes” are morons, and thus cannot be trusted without adult supervision. Of course, he’s talking about the athletes in the games that he covers.
Wonder what the percentage is of minority vs Caucasian athletes he’s speaking about. Racist, much?
On April 4, 2014 at 1:20 pm, Archer said:
I’ve said it elsewhere, but here it is. It’s pretty clear that when he says “athletes,” Costas actually means “professional athletes.”
So for this little exercise, scholastic-level athletes, who not-uncommonly use firearms for positive purposes, or their coaches – who presumably have some experience in the sports they teach – need not apply.
Nor do any folks engaged in any of the myriad “shooting sports.”
And using Google to count? I hope the “independent party” is willing to comb the depths of the Internet for positive stories – which is what it will take – and discount the hundreds or thousands of reports of professional athletes misbehaving (see: Plaxico Burress).
On April 5, 2014 at 12:21 am, TiredOfBanksterScum said:
Who cares what Bob Costas has to say about anything? He’s nothing more than a noisy little lap-dog making background noise.
If the man had any brains or talents he wouldn’t be a sports announcer. He would be doing something with his life that mattered. When Bob dies, no one will remember who he was after a week.
On April 5, 2014 at 9:29 pm, Rob Crawford said:
The problem isn’t with the guns, it’s with the jocks. You give teenagers everything they want, you get spoiled creeps.