There was a big stink made last week over a quarter-century-old Cris Collinsworth interview. In the video the former Bengals wide receiver is interviewed about his life as a bachelor in the NFL. Naturally, Cris made some, ahem, awkward remarks about the types of ladies that he preferred to date, which you can read after the jump.
Though the NFL has rushed to get all copies of the video removed, here's what Collinsworth said (via With Leather):
I'm not gonna deny it, I walk around with hundred dollar bills hanging out of my pocket...I like girls that aren't too bright because you can trick 'em a little bit...high school girls love me. Fourteen to eighteen, I'm a big star with them. As soon as they mature, after they turn 18 years old, they start to figure it out.Deadspin subsequently retrieved an apology from the announcer, reprinted here:
As a family man I am extremely embarrassed by an interview I did when I was in my early twenties about dating. My comments were insulting, immature, and foolishly intended as a joke. They do not reflect how I lived my life then or now.Now there's really no sense in trying to judge what Collinsworth said in the 1980s, although you have to appreciate the irony that one of America's best NFL announcers was, at one time, stupid enough to say these words in front of a camera.
I was asked to do something humorous about dating, and it has been a major embarrassment to me since the day I said it.
I apologize to anyone who has ever had the misfortune to see it now or a quarter-century ago.
Sincerely
Cris Collinsworth
No, what I find amazing about this is that we never saw this freaking thing until LAST WEEK. I find this amazing because it's nearly impossible in the YouTube era for any interview to not be widely distributed across the web (and that includes approximately 5,342 sports blogs) within 24 hours of its airing.
But the lesson that Collinsworth learned from this past week applies to today's standards anyway -- whenever there is a camera in your face, you'll be held responsible for anything you say. Whether it's a Hitler reference, a ludicrous and racist rant about a referee's call, or simply selling pork outside a football stadium, people are listening and they will hold you accountable.
And, yeah, sometimes it sucks that our lives are so tied to technology but you know what? Welcome to the rest of your life, everyone.
Comments (Page 1 of 17)
Doesn't matter what he said back then. Didn't we all say stupid stuff in our twenties? Loved him when he was a WR for the Bengals........still love him!! I think he's a great person.
I agree with Lisa's comment. who cares? The guy is great.
James, thank you!! To " mttnies", I really don't appreciate the tasteless comments. Clean up your act.
i think he is still the man he was ... he should prove himself and not just say "sorry"
Speaking of "stupid stuff".....see below.
Holy Cow!!! What's next? The comment was made 25 years ago in jest... What is the purpose of bringing out a useless piece of horse(bleep)like that now? Someone needs to get a life.. Leave the guy alone. None of us would like somebody digging into our past and bringing up dumb things we might've said when we were young and care free.
I agree. we all have said and done embarrasing things in the past. as long as your not saying the same childish comments at 40 as you did at 20.
lol. these are truly funny comments. he's a brutally honest announcer and apparently was honest in his twenties lol. God love lisa for her comments. lighten up people!
It's obvious that you're one of those girls he referred to in the 84 interview. Any woman that would protect him after what said isn't too bright.
This dude deserves to be forgiven and then roasted. He is a bigot and womanizer that has the excuse of youthfulness. Please! In the words of the Carolina gentleman Chris "you are a Liar"
Must have been a slow writing day. Much ado about nothing.
I agree, Lisa. What I would give for Cris Collinsworth to walk past me with dollars bills hanging out of his pants. :) YUMMY
You don't know him from Adam, Lisa. How do you know he's a "great person"? You could say he is a great analyst, or was a great wide receiver, because you (and we) have seen his work. But, unless you know him personally, you can't say he's a "great person" so shut your pie hole.
I agree with you. What he said when he was a mere child was nothing notable. He has since gotten married and matured. Go Chris.
Who cares if Chris Collinsworth made a classless statement 25 years ago? He has proved himself a good person many times over.
The person who should be apologizing is the one who dug up some dirt that is so old it is rotten. Now there is a bad person.
no. What is really bad are the people who pay money for this stuff. People like Harvey Levin of TMZ who pretend to run an "entertainment news" program and send out commission reporters seeking to find a "celebrity" being human. What is entertaining about seeing someone at their worst?
The person that leaked this video is a bottom feeder, certainly the type of person that has no soul.
Harvey Levin is a bottom feeder who puts money before decency. He will answer for it to the one true God who is still dealing with his people.
We all say and do stupid things when we are young. The important thing is to learn from our mistakes and move forward and try not to do it again. Think before you speak because you can't take it.
When WHITE TRASH females come out and say Yummy to someone who says they had 100 bills coming out of there pockets it says alot about women who are GOLDDIGGERS... Chris was average at best when he played. Now after meeting him a few times when he did Giants games i found that his ego is just overwhelming. Speaking of white trash..
...I never liked this pompus a*s even before this tape, or audio surfaced...He believes his own hype, and apparently so did some producers and power people, because there are plenty of other talented former NFL players out there that could do as good a job as this fool...He is probably holding the same opinion of himself and asks for forgiveness now, after taking advantage of nieve women?......Spare me, what makes you think he has changed?