Right Call for Costas to Speak Out on Issue Related to Belcher Tragedy

Bob Costas’ Sunday night diatribe involving gun control in the wake of the Jovan Belcher murder-suicide has created a storm of controversy. Yesterday in press releases through spokesman Greg Hughes, NBC attempted to clarify what Costas said and why he said it when he did. According to Hughes, "In a short (on-air) time period he can cover only one aspect of a complicated issue. So he quoted (columnist Jason Whitlock) about the gun culture and an almost Wild West attitude in parts of this country. He is pro-sensible gun reform and pro-attitude adjustment on guns."

 

No one is more sincere or less prone to promoting a political agenda than Costas. He admitted on The Dan Patrick Show that if he were to do it again he would have couched his comments by saying that he was addressing one part of a complicated situation that also involves domestic violence, the football culture, etc.

He also admitted in retrospect that just over a minute was not enough time to cover the subject adequately.  He rightly stated that those who were most critical of him addressing the issue during halftime were really those who simply disagreed with what he had to say.

In our PC culture it seems almost anyone of note who comments on anything the least bit controversial is subject to harsh criticism. The issues in sports are often the same as those in society as a whole. When societal issues cross over into sports it is appropriate to comment.  And, while waiting for a better time might have caused less criticism, Costas decided to tackle the subject when it still remained in the forefront. As a “commentator” on Sunday Night Football, Costas has the right to address any related subject, and certainly the episode involving Belcher was one with a major impact on the Chiefs and the NFL and one that dominated sports reporting in the previous 24 hours.

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