Possible rascist remark live on SSN just there

Nunu

I ain't a rugby fan but I had SSN on there and there was a live report regarding Lions squad. The Rugby correspondant and a rugby expert(Dick Best, I think?) were on location and the parting question to ask Dick was why he had included Delon Armitage instead of some other player in the team

He answered by audibly whispering and then chuckling to the correspondant "well you always have to have a coloured boy in the team". Pretty sure he thought they were off camera. It immediately went back to studio to presenter Mike Wedderburn(who incidentally is black). He looked mightily pissed!

I'm sure the **** will hit the fan over this.

Cuchulain

Wow thats a serious boo boo by SSN, there will be more about this id safely say.

swalsh

Oh no, not needed at all before the announcement today. Serious reprocussions to follow methinks.

gucci

Oh dear god....what an idiot. How do people say such stupid stuff?? For a tour going to South Africa with all its problems, it dosent need this bad press before it even starts.

buck65

I was at the RDS in 2006 before the HCup semi at a reception and Dick Best was guest speaker. Apart from being very bland he proceeded to tell 2 jokes that were like something from Bernard Manning , the hall was full of kids and parents who struggled to explain what a 69 was.
Tool. Where the hell the Leinster branch and Setanta dug this guy up from is anyones guess.

Judgement Day

What a stupid prat! I think the inclusion of Delon Armitage has more than a little to do with him being a really exciting world class player! :mad:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delon_Armitage

Nunu

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/sports/sport/rugby-union/best-in-armitage-racial-slur-$1289523.htm

Former international rugby coach Dick Best is likely to come under fire after making an on-air racial slur directed against England full-back Delon Armitage.

Best was being interviewed by Sky Sports News at Heathrow ahead of today's squad announcement for the British and Irish Lions.

And after his choices for the Lions' first XV were published on-screen, which included Armitage out of position on the wing, Best was asked why he had selected the England man over impressive Ireland winger Tommy Bowe.

"You've always got to have a coloured boy in the team," Best remarked.

Coverage then cut back to a visibly shocked presenter Mike Wedderburn, who is black.

Soon afterwards Wedderburn's co-presenter Millie Clode issued an apology, stating: "[Dick Best] made remarks that he thought were off-camera.

"We would like to apologise for any offence this may have caused."

Best is a well-respected name in rugby circles, having been on the England coaching team under Geoff Cooke as well as a member of the 1993 Lions tour staff in New Zealand.

He has also worked as a journalist, broadcaster and an agent.

barnesd

Judgement Day wrote: »

What a stupid prat! I think the inclusion of Delon Armitage has more than a little to do with him being a really exciting world class player! :mad:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delon_Armitage

I don't think his rugby knowledge is the issue here. It was a joke, albeit in poor taste.

Nunu

barnesd wrote: »

I don't think his rugby knowledge is the issue here. It was a joke, albeit in poor taste.

Agreed. If I recall correctly it might have been presenter Wedderburn back in studio who asked the question and it then cut back to the other 2 at Heatrow. Best leaned over and made his remarks to the Sky correspondent believing they were off camera, a joke at Wedderburns expense because he had asked the question?

toomevara

Nunu wrote: »

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/sports/sport/rugby-union/best-in-armitage-racial-slur-$1289523.htm

Interesting isn't it? Its alright to make the remarks off camera, as if you should just turn on your PC sensors when the camera's switched on...the fact that the guy could make a remark like that, camera or no camera, tells you all you need to know about his personal belief system....pathetic

Noopti

He is now the Ron Atkinson of rugby. What a tool and I agree, just because he thought he was off camera is no excuse.

chupacabra

Haha, what a disgrace. Regardless of whether he thought it was off camera or not, who the fúck does he think he is?

CJhaughey

Who he thinks he is is of no import now, what he is is hopefully an out of work pundit.

gearstick

i doubt he'll be asked his opinions on any forthcoming lions tours anyway...:D

buck65

A racist prat off camera is still a racist prat.

anonymous_joe

The really depressing thing is if we were talking about South Africa he'd be right.

*sighs* Horrid thing to say, especially in this day and age. And that we're playing, well, them.

thomond2006

Anyone who thinks Best is a racist pillock, off camera or not say aye.

AYE!!!!

Chucky the tree

Dick by name...