Kevin P. Chavous: College Readiness Is More Than Academics
If I were an old man responsible for managing Team USA's public image, I would be cursing Twitter every day of the week. Apparently, giving young, bold athletes instant access to media was a cruel joke orchestrated by both fate and Mother Nature. At any rate, the latest athlete to embarrass himself with his Twitter account was Danny Granger. Making reference to the fact that deodorant is not as popular in Europe as it is in the United States, Granger said that Europeans smell like "dead donkeys." Here are his exact words:
"i'm dying over here ..how come nobody in europe wears deodorant? guess they didn't get the memo – smellin like dead donkey..no joke"
On his day job, Danny Granger plays for the Indianapolis Pacers. Apparently, he hasn't been given enough media training to know that this is not the kind of thing to say in public. It is also disrespectful to people from other cultures, and likely reflective of a man who hasn't been exposed to very much in his life. He's 27 years old, so one would hope that, by now, he'd seen enough to know that people from different places are going to have different norms.
Granger's comment has infuriated people from Turkey. Additionally, Granger's comment fails to respect the sensitive nature of international competition. When you compete overseas, you are an ambassador for your nation, so these kinds of insults are uncalled for. I am sure NBA Commissioner David Stern is also wondering how Granger's remarks are going to affect the NBA's European fan base.
Note to Danny Granger: Keep your Twitter account quiet. Also, remember that while you are calling Europeans dead donkeys, they probably have a lot to say about black people. In fact, if a European player had said, "Black people smell like dead donkeys," we'd be absolutely furious.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (23)
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By: Rudy on 9/09/2010 1:54AM
Europeans are known to bathe only once a week: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/278989/top_10_reasons_to_shower_like_a_european.html?cat=69
However, I could assume that they sponge off their most vital areas daily.
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By: jsloroll on 9/10/2010 4:37PM
He is right, they have bad hygiene. The men and I heard some women don't wash their hands after relieving themselves. Just nasty!!! When they sneeze they don't cover their mouths. Who want's to get sick from their lack of cleanliness. He is right to speak out. Somebody has to say something. I wish they would post signs in restrooms to wash your hands with soap. Use deoderant when you're in public.
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By: ruth on 2/13/2011 5:04AM
danny boy i like you. to hell with all the pc lies. stink is stink. good for you. people are so scared to tell the truth anymore.
i guess the europeans history of not washing for many centuries explains this
i lived in africa for many years and they know how to wash there, they like soap and water thank god.
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