Why Is 'Castle' Kissing Someone New?
Lawsuit: County Morgue Lost Woman's Body For 14 Months
Breaking News: 9/7/10 - 11:47 a.m.: Dan Hampton apologizes for comments about Hurricane Katrina
NFL Hall of Famer Dan Hampton has a great deal to apologize for this week. During a broadcast of an NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints, Hampton thought it would be funny to bring up that little thing called "Hurricane Katrina." Making reference to the fact that the Vikings needed to show up with their A-game, Hampton said, "The Vikings need to go down there and hit that town like Katrina."
Bad move, buddy, bad move.
There isn't much to say about Dan Hampton other than the obvious: It didn't take him long to realize that it might be inappropriate to make jokes about an event that led to the death and displacement of tens of thousands of people. Hurricane Katrina affected lives in a very real way, and Hampton needs to understand that.
Additionally, invoking Katrina into the fantasy world of professional football is only productive to the extent that the success of the Saints has helped to heal the hearts of New Orleans residents who've lost everything. So if you can't bring Hurricane Katrina up in a positive and uplifting way, please don't bring it up as a joke.
Even going further on that point, for Hampton to make a joke about Katrina would be like making a joke about 9/11. Katrina was our 9/11, and although our nation doesn't talk about the pain of New Orleans residents anymore, the struggle continues. In fact, the suffering is likely magnified in light of recent numbers showing that black unemployment rose 700 percent more than white unemployment during the month of August.
Many of the faces of Katrina are black, and the suffocating grip of racial economic oppression is rarely stronger than it is in New Orleans. While Dan Hampton is not responsible for all the world's agony, he should realize that his platform should be used to support and uplift NFL fans and not remind them of the most horrible experience of their lives.
Dan Hampton, I forgive you, but you should certainly be suspended and encouraged to get some sensitivity training. You also owe the people of New Orleans a sincere apology. Football might be a game, but Hurricane Katrina is not.
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: (29)
Add a comment
By: Kencahu on 9/07/2010 3:09PM
Did I read that right? "Katrina is our 9/1." Dr. Watkins has made an abundance of ludirous statements but that one rises to the top of the class. There is no comparison between 9/11 and Katrina for reasons far to many to address here. However, the most obvious one is that 9/11 was deliberate and Katrina was not. Katrina does not belong to Blacks any more than an earthquake belongs to us. Nor does 9/11 blongs to whites for that matter. I don't approve of what Dan Hampton said, but I don't of what Dr. Watkins said either. Should he be suspended? Furthermore, I wish Dr. Watkins would express as much concern about the victims of black crime in New Orleans as he does about the feelings of the victims of Katrina. Worrying about the comments of Dan Hampton is indicative of misplaced priorities involving the city of New Orleans.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: jeromequigley on 9/08/2010 3:04PM
Kencahu, that could not of been said any better!! 9/11 does not belong to "whites" as DrW seems to stear readers. 9/11 effected EVERYONE in this country Dr W!! Katrina effected a lot of peepz, of all colors!! So where does Dr W get the gall to make some kind of "black tragedy" out of some thing that hit ALL how lived there??? Did Dan say some thing before he thought it out, Yeah!! But who the heck gives DrW the right to say he deserves to be suspended?? That joker has lost his mind!! This is one person who is bent on trying to become some kind of "BLACK LEADER" and will throw any one under the bus to get to the point!! He is a danger to not only black society but to society as a whole! See how he had to throw in his BS stat of "black unemployed rose 700% more than whites", that is such a BS number to make people mad. And notice that he never compares the unemployment rates of Asians, latinos or any other race?? Things that make you go HMMMMM!! But see how he just injects things that have nothing to do with the story that he puts there just to prod blacks to get really angry at his the peepz in his story! Be very careful Dr W, some one is going to call you out on your misguidance of the black community and you are not going to have a good excuse!!!
Report This
By: lockfashion on 9/09/2010 10:27PM
please check my name to link our SITE
The cool sexy summer style for you
we got lots brand summer t-shirt (b a g) (s n e a k e r) (s a n d l e) (s u n g l a s s) (c a p s) etc...
All famous brand and hot (style)!!
[n i k e ] [ j o r d a n ] [s u p r a ] [S h o x ] [P u m a ] PRICE 35 U S D
[l v ] [c o a c h ] [p r a d a ] [c h a n e l] [g u c c i] [ h a n d-b a g] 33U S D
[c h a n e l] [g u c c i] (p u r s e) 15U S D
[D & G] s u n g l a s s e s U S D
(new e-r-a c-a-p) 10 U S D
p a y p a l Accept,Door to Door
nbf nm vnmgh mnm vhft
Report This
By: midnitecowboi03 on 9/07/2010 4:06AM
I thought the same thing when I heard his comments and reference to Katrina. Katrina and its aftermath is most definitely comparable to 9/11. Part of the problem with many Americans is their lack of concern for people who don't look like them or have the same social status. Tragedies that happen to people "like them" touch them while other events that are just as tragic barely make them pause. I'm glad somebody is pointing this out.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: BillSchrier on 9/07/2010 4:51AM
Watkins is morphing into another Sharpton or Jackson. Who is he to come out and "forgive" anybody for a remark. Watkins has elevated himself to being another race-hustler-God.
Tell you what, Watkins. YOU have a lot to apologize for with your race hustling articles.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: David Forde on 9/07/2010 10:48AM
I think it's called the 1st Amendment ... however, on a much simpler note, it's also clled disagreeing without being disagreeable. Meia announcers (most notably for the NFL) have made gaffs. Cosell's "That little Monkey", or Tom Brookshire's (notably during a Saint's broadcast) as stating " The the University of Louisville's basketball team as possessing a collective I.Q. of 40."
You'd think that the league would have morality clauses in the contracts of its vendors, as does for its players. Those comments devalue its brand - that's just good business acumen. Often times, it takes one fro outside an organization to bring to its attention that it may function within asocially responsible manner. How so you may ask? Well, say if the citizens of say the Gulf Coast did rail against BP for the latest Gulf disaster, then many would may still be purchasing gas from BP brands i.e. Atlantic Richfield (ARCO).
In a free market system, thats how it's supposed to work (a very Republican concept). No one's compelled you to read Dr. Watkins' commentarries. Instead of voicing dissent re: Watkins' critique ... find a way to defend Hampton's comments. That's also very American, as that's how our criminal justice system operates.
Report This
By: BillSchrier on 9/07/2010 5:18PM
How was Tom Brookshire's stating " The University of Louisville's basketball team as possessing a collective I.Q. of 40." a gaff. I'm sure that's true ... aren't they 90% black?
Report This
By: black man on 9/07/2010 5:07AM
just like bill clinton said sen. byrd (democrat)had to join the k.k.k. he had to get elected.that statement did not bother not one democrat.not one drive by liberal media person and it never will.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: bro man on 9/07/2010 5:16AM
Katrina our 9 - 11.Watkins are you sure you went to school? Bad move buddy,bad move.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: BillSchrier on 9/07/2010 5:41AM
" Katrina was our 9/11..."
Why wasn't 9/11 your 9/11? Aren't you an American? Oh, I forgot, you are AFRICAN American, so you are above other Americans. Those OTHER Americans have their own 9/11.
APOLOGIZE for this insulting remark, Watkins.
Reply to this Comment | Report This