Yesterday’s BCS National Championship Game proved not to be much of a contest. The Alabama Crimson Tide trounced the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a 42-14 win. If you thought the news coverage the next day would center on the dominance of the Bama’ team, you thought wrong. What has been all the talk today are the flattering expressions by one of the commentators towards the girlfriend of the Alabama QB.
Alabama QB A.J. McCarron is dating Miss Alabama Katharine Webb. During the first quarter of the game the television panned to the girl and the QB’s mom. At that point the announcer, Brent Musburger, gushed at the girl’s appearance.
Here’s a video of what he said:
Musburger has caught a great deal of flack today for his comments. ESPN released an apology today.
They write:
“We always try to capture interesting storylines and the relationship between an Auburn grad who is Miss Alabama and the current Alabama quarterback certainly met that test. However, we apologize that the commentary in this instance went too far and Brent understands that.”
Here’s my take:
I’m not sure if it’s because I am guy, but I don’t think what he said was that inappropriate. He probably should have kept it to himself, but I don’t think what he said was perverted. McCarron’s girlfriend is good-looking. He simply complimented her. Had he insulted her then I could see the outrage.
I’ve heard female commentators state that a guy is “good-looking” or a “hunk.” Why is it okay for them to compliment a guy on their appearance? Isn’t that a double standard? I think Musburger probably should have kept his comments to himself because he is paid to comment on the game (albeit there didn’t seem to be much of one). This isn’t a pageant after all.
I want to know, especially from my female viewers, if they found his comments inappropriate.
What do you think?
Were his comments inappropriate or even perverted?
Should ESPN have apologized?
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posted on 11 January at 04:59
I am from Alabama also and I think AJ is taking care of it ok. ROLL TIDE and AJ I got ur back. lol
posted on 10 January at 17:29
All he said was that Dads out there if you want your sons to have a beautiful gf then get out there and throw some passes with your son. He commented extensively on her good looks but all the controversy was regarding that if you play QB for The Tide that you would have Catherine Webb as your gf. They did miss an entire play sequence while they had the camera pointed on her giving their commentary. Idk what the big deal is but some people are making a huge deal if it incl Kilmeade on Fox & Friends on FNC. It wasn't like Lacy or Cooper made an amazing play while all this was going on. Silly really & she is Miss Alabama so what's the big deal?? Roll Tide & more power to you Miss Alabama! lol
posted on 09 January at 17:22
I heard the comments he made but on a talk radio show & I just gotta say that I too agree they didn't seem inappropriate. It's just like some guys having guy talk but he was on national TV. Nothing wrong w/ that, I think. They're guys or men @ a sporting event just making observations & expressing themselves. What happened 2 having a good, ol' time?
posted on 09 January at 16:58
I heard the comments during the game, didn't seem inappropriate or disrespectful.
posted on 09 January at 16:52
Kathy Griffin can mock going down on Anderson Cooper live and the media thinks its cool...Musburger comments on on how attractive he thinks a woman is and that is "freaky". Hmmmm....
posted on 09 January at 16:34
I don't think Brent was out of line at all, she is probably OK with the attention, since she is a pageant girl, no offense. If she capitalizes on it, maybe she will get her own reality show, "The Life of College QB Girlfriends".
posted on 09 January at 16:22
BTW- I'm from Alabama and know her from the Miss Alabama USA system and from modeling in Alabama Wedding Magazine shoots. She is a beautiful girl, and seems to be kind. So glad if all the hype about her is true that it is falling on someone like her.
posted on 09 January at 15:11
totally agree. from the few comments I heard. he only said she was attractive and a beautiful girl. perhaps he didn't need to take so many shots of it, but commentators should be able to remark on what they see as long as it is tasteful. now perhaps I missed one of the shots where he goes in to too much detail but from the shots I saw and with her career as a model, I'm sure she and friends were over joyed to have the publicity.