Nice lei.
Hawaii head football coach Greg McMackin dropped the f-bomb during a WAC news conference today, referring back to his team’s embarrassing loss to Notre Dame last December.
“I know most of the coaches in the country are rooting for us to beat Notre Dame,” McMackin said. “Charlie gives this talk, ‘We do something special at Notre Dame,’ and (the players) get up and they do this little cheer … this little faggot dance.”
The jackass then asked reporters to not write about his use of the word “faggot” and said he would deny it:
“Don’t write that ‘faggot’ down. I was misquoted,” he said. “Just please … cover for me,” McMackin said Thursday. “Go ahead, say ‘faggot dance.’ No. Please cover for me on that, too - right Karl? I’ll deny it. Anything else?”
Thankfully, the journalists in the room ignored his request and reported on the issue. Fifteen minutes later, the coach was back to apologize for being caught:
I want to officially, officially apologize. Please don’t write that statement I said as far as Notre Dame. The reason is, I don’t care about Notre Dame. But I’m not a … I don’t want to come out and have every homosexual ticked off at me. You know what I mean. Because I don’t have any problem with homosexuals. But I apologize for saying that and I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t run that word. If you said dance, that’s OK. But don’t use the bad term that I chose, please. Thank you.
Once the Hawaii athletic department got hold of him, he later added another apology, this time proclaiming nothing but respect for homosexuals and Notre Dame. I’m not going to post the content here because it’s another bullshit non-apology.
Is he crazy? First he uses the term “faggot,” then he calls us “homosexuals,” which is usually code for “I have a problem with gay people.” When the words come out of his mouth that casually, you know he’s yelling “fag” this and “sissy” that at his players. Hopefully the university that years ago dropped “Rainbow” from its “Warriors” nickname because it was too gay will force him to a real mea culpa and a little sensitivity training.
You can reach Athletic Director Jim Donovan at (808) 956-7301 or via email at athdir@hawaii.edu. Other Hawaii athletic department staff contact info, including McMackin’s contact info, is here.
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I feel like “faggot” has become just like the word blacks hate others to say. For me, I use the word and I don’t care. There are so many people that use that word in our community, so how can we get upset when others use it?
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
John, sometimes it bugs me and sometimes it doesn’t. This time, his use of “faggot” didn’t really bug me, but his “I don’t want to come out and have every homosexual ticked off at me” really irked me. Listen, the guy shouldn’t be fired or suspended or anything like that - but a real apology and some “you really can’t do that again” needs to happen.
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
BFD.
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
It’s a common term around sports. Unfortunate fact in today’s society.
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
John, I’ve never called my gay friends fag or faggot, playful or otherwise. So…
CollegeKid just becuz the term is commonplace doesn’t necessarily make it right. Coaches/teammates need to realize that there’s a chance that one of their own is gay. Just like I’m sure a coach today wouldn’t use the n-word to describe a specific opponent such is the case w/ the term fag or faggot. Hopefully one day it becomes outdated & simply inappropriate to use it.
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
its not that bad1 he is a coach and sometimes coach say things to down another team when they are in the heat of the moment, but if people want to be angry with the coach they can, i just dont want someone to get fired over it hell the coach is new adn should be given a chance
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
He said it to reporters at a news conference. There was no “heat of the moment.” In fact, there’s no excuse whatsoever. Heat of the moment? Not an excuse. He’s new? Actually this is his second year. Even so, not an excuse. Gay people use it? Not an excuse. It’s a common term in sports? Not an excuse. “BFD”? Not an excuse.
You may not think he should be fired, or punished in any way, but that doesn’t mean it should just be ignored.
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Of course, if it were a slur on just about any other group of people, he would already have been fired.
on Jul 31st, 2009 at 2:11 am
I had to look up what BFD meant. I personally don’t care in this case either but I also think most people hate people and will try to kick anyone who is different around when they get the chance. And you have to be able to deal in order to survive. if he is fired will it make a difference? Gays and lesbians taking self defense classes and going to the gun range will make a difference in my opinion. Refusing to pay taxes until we are treated like equal citizens would make a difference. Not treating each other like crap and drugging our lives away because some straight assholes thinks we’re “faggots” would make a huge difference. Meanwhile, I’m going to play the lottery tomorrow because my chance of winning is probably better than anything I just said.
on Jul 31st, 2009 at 8:03 am
Apologies in the sports world are hilarious.
on Jul 31st, 2009 at 11:21 am
What would the reaction be if he used the “N” word or the “J” word in place of FAGGOT??
I hope his team loses most of it’s games and he gets FIRED!
on Jul 31st, 2009 at 12:04 pm
The apology, naturally, compounded his problems, just as Cyd said. Guess what, coach? Now you DO have a lot of us ticked off at you. In a perfect world, this would become blackboard fodder for the rest of the WAC, and I’m pretty sure at least one WAC coach will find some way to use this as a motivator during football season.
on Jul 31st, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Could we ask him for a demo of the ‘faggot dance’. I’m not sure what it is, I’m hoping he can enlighten me. He could next mention that some of his best friends are homosexuals.
on Jul 31st, 2009 at 3:22 pm
“CollegeKid just becuz the term is commonplace doesn’t necessarily make it right.”
Of course, I am offended by the term and by what he said said. It is not right and I hope every single person around sports hears this just to give him a little bit of humiliation for what he said.
on Jul 31st, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Interesting. He drops the “f” bomb, then realizes that a pile of reporters are there and he’s going to be caught.
If this is his choice of language when on his best behaviour (i.e. worried about it being recorded), then it must be very interesting
to hear him behind closed doors.
Not acceptable under any circumstances.
Last thought - wonder what a little “hetero dance” would look like? Most likely terribly out of rhythm.
on Aug 1st, 2009 at 2:39 am
Imagine if we had a huge, bad-ass Division 1 star in a major sport who was also “out”. For sake of a name, let’s call this hypothetical fellow “Tyrone Anderson”. Imagine the fun exchanges that could ensue!
Coach: Are you going to do that little faggoty dance tomorrow?
Opponent: “Faggoty?” You calling me Tyrone Anderson? Fine with me - just means I’m gonna kick your ass on Sunday!
on Aug 1st, 2009 at 3:48 am
Tim, people say the N-word and J-word and the K-word and the S-word and the C-word all of the time. Does it make it better or worse that it was at a press conference? I like to know who I’m dealing with personally. And if people were more honest maybe more things would change in society.
on Aug 1st, 2009 at 7:19 am
I like how Cub Paws uses me as the example to show the Hawaii coach’s intolerance…
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 11:31 am
Why get upset with the “f” word. People will keep using it if they think it is hurtful. Just let me and my friends live life and not get abused. Gay and proud of it.
Charlie
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Finally a University takes action against a coach that violates policy on homophobia. Kudos to Hawaii.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Charlie Rice is my boyfriend!!!!
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 5:04 am
Suspension or not, I believe he is still going to coach “voluntarily” during that suspension. He just won’t get paid. And he has a $1.1 Mill dollar contract on him. A month off that doesn’t do much.
In the official sanctioning I want to say he got off easy. Emotionally, probably not so much. But then again he said the words so casually as if he really cared.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 11:17 am
I listened to the audio, and I was also dismayed that the reporters in the room also seemed to laugh and find it funny when he used that term, and when he tried to ask them not to use it in their reporting. Rather than raising a question about the inappropriateness of it then and there, they just laughed and went along with it. It would be nice if someone had called him out on it on the spot, as well.