REGGIE WHITE "talked himself out of any chance he many
have had of getting a job as a studio or game analyst" on
CBS, according to Bob Wolfley of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL
SENTINEL. Wolfley said that White, who "spoke against
homosexuality and stereotyped various races and ethnic
groups," has "damaged, if not destroyed, his potential to be
hired at other networks, as well" (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 3/27).
CBS officials indicated that White "won't be considered for
an NFL commentator's role." CBS Dir of Communications
LESLIEANNE WADE: "CBS has a hard and fast policy against
bias at all times. ... Anyone who violates the policy of the
corporation cannot be an employee" (Rudy Martzke, USA TODAY,
3/27). NFL officials could not be reached for comment.
Packers Exec Dir of PR LEE REMMEL: "As an organization we
have no comment on Reggie's appearance before the state
legislature" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/27).
WHITE ON DEFENSE: In Milwaukee, Borsuk & Kissinger
report that White's "only regret ... was that some people,
especially many in the media, were focusing only on"
specific comments. White: "I don't regret anything I said.
... I'm not going to back off what I know God has put on my
heart to share" (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 3/27). White appeared on
the 6:30 ET edition of "SportsCenter" to discuss his
comments. White: "Everything I said, I said. I'm not going
to try to put anything in context." White, on his comments
about different races: "I don't see how in the world that
[the comments] could have made or been presented as
generalizations that criticized race. Why would I want to
criticize my own race? ... People are going to take offense
to everything. I stand by everything I said" (ESPN, 3/26).
REAX: A MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL editorial said, "In
urging unity, White fanned disunity" (JOURNAL SENTINEL,
3/27). In DC, Jennifer Frey: "White sounded like a bigot,
and he sounded like a hypocrite. Mostly, though, he sounded
like a fool. ... It would be hypocritical -- not to mention
incredibly risky, in a public relations sense -- for CBS to
hire White now" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/27). In Hartford, Jeff
Jacobs said White "is allowed his stereotypes," and "CBS is
allowed to exercise its right not to hire him as a football
analyst" (HARTFORD COURANT, 3/27). Human Rights Campaign
Strategist DAVID SMITH: "Clearly Mr. White showed a great
deal of disrespect to a number of groups -- not only gay
Americans, but including gay Americans. These are certainly
not remarks you would expect to hear from a role model"
(WASHINGTON POST, 3/27). The story was reported on ABC's
"World News Tonight." WI Legislature State Rep DAVID
TRAVIS: "Even though he's a great American hero, he said
some things that were inappropriate" (ABC, 3/26).
