Griese Apologizes For Racially Insensitive Remark About Montoya

Griese Offers Apology Before End Of ESPN Broadcast

ESPN college football analyst Bob Griese has apologized for making a "racially-charged comment regarding” Colombia-born NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya, according to Jim Utter of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. During the second quarter of Saturday's Minnesota-Ohio State game, a promo appeared for yesterday’s Sprint Cup Series Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway and “displayed pictures of the top five drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.” ESPN analyst Chris Spielman asked, “Where’s Juan Pablo Montoya?" Griese replied, “He’s out having a taco.” Griese “offered an apology” right before the broadcast went off the air. ESPN in a statement said it "has spoken to Bob and he understands that his comment was uncalled for." ESPN Manager of Media Relations for Motorsports Andy Hall added the network is "reviewing the matter thoroughly" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/25). Montoya after yesterday’s race “couldn’t resist making fun of the controversy,” noting, “I could say I just spent the last three hours eating tacos, but I was driving the car.” Driver Jimmie Johnson also “got in on the fun by telling Montoya to ‘save me some tacos. I love tacos’” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 10/26). Montoya added of Griese, “I don’t even know who he is. ... And I don’t really care” (USA TODAY, 10/26).

NO HARM, NO FOUL? Prior to yesterday’s race, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing co-Owner Felix Sabates, who owns Montoya's Cup ride, said he considers Griese a “very good friend.” He said that he “believes Griese’s remarks were a poor attempt at humor.” Sabates: “I think he was just joking. I didn’t take it too serious. He needs to get his geography corrected because they don’t have tacos in Colombia. Other than that, I don’t see anything wrong with it. He was just trying to be funny” (FOXSPORTS.com, 10/25).