When you’re in a conservative city on the border of the South and the Midwest, and that city has not one but two significant college basketball programs chock full of recruits from around the country, there are bound to be cultural conflicts between the city’s traditional base and the teams that are now a significant part of the city itself. That’s exactly what’s happening in Cincinnati, and the results are getting ugly. The latest proof? Conservative radio host Bill Cunningham opined this morning that University of Cincinnati basketball players are, “poppin’ those things (illegitimate children) out like cherry pits out of one’s mouth.”
(Meet the new Don Imus: Now with even more overt racism!)
He really said it, folks - we’re not making this kind of bigoted trash up, as you can see and hear at this FAN NATION post. In fact, the entirety of Cunningham’s quote was a lot more inflammatory than that. Here it is, though you might want to brace yourself to hear every rash, racist “player” stereotype that can get thrown out about African-American athletes. You can also hear it in a video clip right after the jump. Ready? OK, here we go:
“How many illegitimate children does the UC men’s basketball team have? I heard it’s more than a half dozen.” Cunningham responded to himself, ignoring his producer’s conciliatory reply. “So there’s some hangin’ and bangin’ going on at the Shoemaker Center after the game. … [T]hey’re poppin’ those things out like cherry pits out of one’s mouth.” Cunningham openly mused.
Clearly, Cunningham has gone way beyond the bounds of reasonable comedic radio journalism. In fact, he’s gone way beyond the bounds of taste and, in our opinion, employability. Clearly, he’s forgotten Don Imus and how his “nappy-headed hos” comment went down over at Rutgers a couple of years ago.
Cunningham’s timing is also so horrendous that it’s almost funny. Consider the fact that he’s posing a major affront to prominent members of the African American community just four days before the country inaugurates its first African American president. And he’s doing more than that: He’s alleging that — at a public university, mind you — college athletes are having sex with groupies immediately after games. That’s ridiculously callous, no matter how you slice it.
(Now we know why Cunningham campaigned so hard against Obama.)
For the record, we can’t believe that any of Cunningham’s comments about the Cincinnati basketball program are true. And — and please note, we’re saying this only for the matter of argument — even if the Cincinnati basketball team had fathered six children out of wedlock, the way in which Cunningham addressed it and essentially accused the team of fostering the kind of culture that breaks down the morays of American tradition is absolutely inexcusable.
Look, if Imus was fired for making clearly inappropriate comments about the Rutgers women’s basketball team, then how can Cunningham possibly not be fired for these comments? It’s as if he not only offering an opportunity to hang himself, he’s walking up the gallows with noose in hand.
Regardless of what color you are and what you believe in, there’s no religion, culture or way of life than can possibly condone what Cunningham said and still feel that it has respect for other human beings. If you listen to Cunningham’s show, now might be a good time to take a long look in the mirror and think about the man you tune into every morning. Then, hopefully, it might be the right time to turn him off tomorrow.
6:03 pm on January 15th, 2009
I’m not sure I understand how this is racist. Lots of people having children out of wedlock - white and black.
6:03 pm on January 15th, 2009
Maybe u the racist?
6:17 pm on January 15th, 2009
Why Imus got fired: He's in New York & has millions of listeners. Why Cunningham won't get fired: He's in Cincinnati and has less listeners.
6:26 pm on January 15th, 2009
I too wonder how this is considered racist. Can anyone say Tom Brady? What's the direct correlation between race and illegitimate children? Don't get me wrong, I'm sure this guy is a douchebag but jeez. Granted, I did not listen to any of the audio clips so if there is indeed more direct, racist comments, in apologize.
6:34 pm on January 15th, 2009
so saying college basketball players are "poppin’ those things out like cherry pits out of one’s mouth.” = racist? Really?
6:39 pm on January 15th, 2009
I've listened to Cunningham for years, so this kind of talk shocks no one in the Tri-State.
The comment might be uncouth, but the bigger issue is that he might be right about the children.
And if he was talking about the Bengals, no one would've noticed. But since it's college "kids", some people are more upset.
I doubt anything will come of it.
6:51 pm on January 15th, 2009
It's implied racism.
6:52 pm on January 15th, 2009
You're #1, Bill!
7:33 pm on January 15th, 2009
I live in Cincinnati…and this is a non-issue.
8:16 pm on January 15th, 2009
Bill Cunningham is a moron.
8:19 pm on January 15th, 2009
A conservative radio show host saying something offensive & racist? Shocking!
8:20 pm on January 15th, 2009
Wonder how many of those "things" Mrs. Cunningham "popped out".
8:34 pm on January 15th, 2009
Bill Cunningham is a
conservative radio personalityright-wing demagogue. He does the dirty work for his bosses at Clear Channel, which owns WLW.Clear Channel also owns a company that syndicates Rush Limbaugh (druggie/fascist) and Glenn Beck (chickenhawk/fascist).
8:56 pm on January 15th, 2009
So when does Bill Cunningham get hired by Fox News?
9:57 pm on January 15th, 2009
Just what this douche needs - more publicity.
10:00 pm on January 15th, 2009
hardly a racist comment. where’s the reference to race? oh, wait, we’re supposed to infer? A stupid hysterical post, Cameron.
10:08 pm on January 15th, 2009
Cameron, lighten up, Francis. At least go do some factchecking and offer up some proof before you throw the race card. Did you go out and do any research? Is it completely false? Can I 'imply' that the current Cincy players all practice safe sex 100% of the time? Cameron, maybe you can start a sports blog over at MoveOn.org.
10:10 pm on January 15th, 2009
Not racist at all. Simply calling a spade a spade!
10:40 pm on January 15th, 2009
As a regular listener to "Willy" this is a non-issue because it was most certainly tongue-in-cheek. He's just stirring the pot. Isn't he a big Xavier fan?
12:43 am on January 16th, 2009
Willie is a HUGE Xavier fan, always has been, always will be. For years he has disregarded UC's success with "thugs" but applauded XU's classy "little engine that could." THAT's the issue, not race.
7:33 am on January 16th, 2009
First, Cunningham's statements are based on fact. Are you going to dispute that fact? No, you can't because it's true. Second, The I-Man's comments were directed at a group of black women basketball players, making light of their hair style and calling them whores. If I-Man would have stopped at 'Nappy headed", all would be good. The difference with the comments these two 'media' people is actually, er.. black and white.
8:37 am on January 16th, 2009
I also live in Cincinnati. Cunningham is a Xavier alum. This is typical schtick for him. Nothing will happen to him. You should hear how Willie talks about some of the female TV news and weather anchors in Cincinnati. If he ever gets fired for anything, it would be for those comments.
8:50 am on January 16th, 2009
How is this racist? His comments could have been just as accurately pointed towards the (probably) all-white baseball team. Would that have been racist? I don't read this website for political opinons. Please stick to sports, or at least to non-political sports gossip.
10:24 am on January 16th, 2009
And here i expected his comments to actually sound racist. That was nothing. Seriously, stick to sports. I too do not come to this website for politics. Everyone has a right to their opinion but you obviously do not possess enough political intellect to be taken seriously on this matter. I saw ZERO racism there. FYI: its ok to criticize a group of African Americans. They are human. And humans can be criticized.
10:32 am on January 16th, 2009
Not quite sure I see racism in these statements. You may not like the guy's politics but let's not put meaning behind words that isn't there. Stick to sports.
11:37 am on January 16th, 2009
To understand Bill Cunningham you have to understand Cincinnati. From the second you arrive there, you realize something just ain't right. It's a big city that is ultra-conservative, and that's strange enough, but there is something else you can never put your finger on. It's an exciting place to leave.
12:44 pm on January 16th, 2009
i don't understand how that was racist. it is racist to think that all basketball players are black.
who ever posted that is an idiot
12:47 pm on January 16th, 2009
Again, this site is showing its gutless politics. Because he's a conservative, he's a racist. What cowards.
1:17 pm on January 16th, 2009
OMG…you are right! We shouldn't be so quick to judge. If he is a conservative, then there is a 2% chance that he is not racist. If he is a conservative from Cincy there is about a 0.50% chance that he is not racist. My apologies.
2:51 pm on January 16th, 2009
I dont know that his comments are true or not…..if not, then he should fact-check before making accusations. However, if true, how is it racist to be pointing out the truth? Just because the players are black? Are we so buried under a large pile of politically correct BS in this country that white folks can no longer make factual observations about black folks when they are making poor choies? And what does Barack Obama have to do with this?? I am sure he would encourage young black men who dont have jobs and no current way to support a family to keep their d***s in their pants.
4:05 pm on January 16th, 2009
RACE WAaa…ait…….
8:54 pm on January 16th, 2009
seeing that white infertility is on the rise, Cunningham's comment could be considered a compliment at best, envy at worst…
10:35 pm on January 16th, 2009
I'm a black man… that isn't racism. He didn't say anything about black guys, he was talking about a group of stupid kids who don't use protection while having sex. When you get all up in arms about these innocuous comments you give these guys fodder for talking about the liberal media. So they don't feel bad when they actually do say something racist. Black people don't want to be treated any differently than whites, but every time you get up in arms about someone speaking the truth about what happens to be a group of black men you just turn black men into some special group that you have to treat with little kid gloves. If you went to an African American beauty salon and the women were opining about how the team was made up of a bunch of man-whores with multiple players having multiple pregnant sex partners, you wouldn't call that racism would you? If you really want to stop racism and stereotyping by conservative jerks you should try and figure out why they think they can make these types of generalization. Why are black athletes, who wouldn't otherwise qualify for these universities, so ill equipped to receive higher education and live in this spotlight.And please don't say it is because black minds are somehow inferior to whites.Let's try the 3rd world education and living conditions that they are raised in right here in America. I would hope that everyone stops making these things into "a black thing." This is a big dumb idiot thing. If this were a team full of white guys it would just be a jock thing, but for some reason when it is a team full of blacks it gives everyone an excuse to pull the kid gloves out, or the big paint brush that paints it as a black issue. Hate the man if he generalizes about all black people, not if he makes a perfectly valid observation about a group of mainly teenage athletes that have apparently never heard of condoms (who just happen to be black). He never said black…you did. He didn't imply anything, you inferred black. Sounds like you were all thinking what you assume he was.
8:27 pm on January 17th, 2009
what an embarassing post…. apparently everything is now racist….