Bob Ryan suspended from Boston Globe

[Guest bob_barron]

Ryan said on TV that Kidd's wife should be smacked

 

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ESPN.com news services

 

Sports columnist Bob Ryan was suspended by The Boston Globe for one month without pay after saying on television that the wife of New Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd, who was allegedly the victim of domestic abuse, needed someone to "smack her."

 

"Bob Ryan's comments were a clear and egregious violation of the standards of The Boston Globe," Globe editor Martin Baron said in a statement. "Bob has been told in no uncertain terms that his remarks were offensive and unacceptable."

 

The columnist was also barred from appearing on radio or television for one month. Ryan also works for ESPN as a regular panelist on "Around the Horn" and "The Sports Reporters" and is a regular guest on ESPN Radio.

 

Ryan, who has since expressed regret, made the comments Sunday night during a segment on WBZ-TV's Sports Final show.

 

Kidd said Boston fans insulted his wife and 3-year-old son during Game 4 of the 2002 Eastern Conference finals at the FleetCenter. Fans taunted Kidd with chants of "wife beater," referring to 2001 charges that he had struck his wife, Joumana.

 

Kidd eventually agreed to a plea and received six months of court-ordered counseling.

 

The Celtics and Nets began another playoff series on Monday, prompting Ryan and host Bob Lobel to discuss whether Kidd and his family will receive similar treatment when the teams come to Boston for Game 3 on Friday.

 

During the show, Ryan said Kidd should expect taunts from the crowd, then criticized the Kidds for using their son "as a prop" and called Joumana Kidd an "exhibitionist"

 

Then, in a comment that was not picked up clearly on tape, he said: "Oh great. I mean she needs (inaudible) to smack her."

 

At that point, Lobel interrupted, saying, "You can't say that. What's happening here? You know what, I will give you a mulligan on that."

 

Ryan retorted: "I'm not looking for that."

 

Lobel persisted, saying, "You just don't want to smack her. You just don't mean to say that. Really, tell me you don't?"

 

"Why should I say anything different than I said all playoffs last year?" Ryan said.

 

In a statement Tuesday, Ryan apologized to Joumana Kidd for the "inappropriate and offensive remark."

 

"It was, of course, atrocious judgment on my part," he said. "I wish to state clearly that I am aware of the very real problem of violence against women in our society, and that in no way is it a joking matter."

 

Nets players and coaches called for Ryan's dismissal. Speaking during practice Tuesday, New Jersey coach Byron Scott said Ryan "should be out of a job."

 

"Just tell him to come right in here and he can say that in front of me and Jason and some of our players," he told reporters. "He'll see how well he'll be received."

 

Kidd called the comments "unfortunate" and said his wife "felt sorry if she offended (Ryan) in any way."

 

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[Guest El Satanico]

I agree with him, but yeah he shouldn't have said "I'd like to slap her".

 

The City of Boston has been hard on the Kidd family. First the wifebeater chants from Celtics fans during last years playoff series with the Nets, now this.

[Guest Human Fly]

I wonder if Kellerman will still be all over his nuts when he comes back to 'Around the Horn'?

 

Honestly, what was Ryan thinking? The host of the radio show gave him a couple chances to take back what he had just said, but Ryan would have none of it.

[Guest Kingpk]

Eh, I hate the Globe's sports department anyway. Bunch of elitist assholes.

 

Of course, it takes TWO DAYS to finally put out an apology.

[Guest phoenixrising]

Ah, so that's why Michael Holley has been on Around the Horn instead of Ryan. We'll probably also be seeing Charlie Pierce and Jackie MacMullen as well.

[Guest geniusMoment]

I hate our fucking Politically Correct society. No one can make a joke about anything. With a name like Joumana you deserve to be smacked. I hope I don't get in trouble because I'm not issuing any stupid apologies.

[Guest JangoFett4Hire]

Yeah Boston has been real tough on Kidd. Can't a guy smack his wife around a little bit without being harrassed by drunken sports fans? You guys won't even want to know the type of reception that someone like OJ would get here...

 

I love how people try to make the fans the bad guys in this. Kidd is the one who hit his wife, not the fans at the Fleet.

[Guest bob_barron]

So Kidd should be dogged the rest of his life and his family should be harrassed because of one mistake he made??

 

I don't see the Boston fans booing Stone Cold Steve Austin- and he did the same thing. Fucking hypocrites

[Guest Ripper]

Why does everyone ignore what the real problem was last year. Kidd said that he didn't care about the wife beater chants...He made a mistake and understands people were going to be on him about it. The problem last year were "fans" in the stands yelling "How do you like that Bitch!!" at a woman holding a 2 year old child because Paul Pierce hit a 3. Verbally attack the players all you want, but the mans wife and shouldn't have to put up with crap from the fans...she is there to watch the game just like them. There is a limit to what you can do and I think human decency is that line.

 

The guy made a retarded comment, which like Byron Scott said, he wouldn't have the ball sack to say in the face of Kidd or any other Nets player, so he got suspended. Seeing as this woman has never (not that I have heard of) said anything about or to this guy, saying that she needs to get smacked is a little over the line. Plus, why is it wrong for Kidd to want his wife and kid at a game anyway. She goes to most of the East Coast games and manages not to be threatened and called names by fans who are there to watch the game, not the front row seat...Yet she gets this problem in boston.

 

And Stone Cold didn't do the same thing. He REPEATEDLY beat his wife, hitting her in the face and on her back with a belt...

[Guest cartman]

Kidd repeatedly beat Joumana too ya know. When she was asked if she needed medical assistance after the 911 call she said no because that time was nothing compared to the usual beatings. The guy is a wifebeater and still would be if she didnt call the cops and get it out in the national spotlight. She want's to be a star and this is her and E.T. Kidd's 15 minutes.

[Guest bob_barron]

So do you think Boston fans should be allowed to taunt Kidd's wife and ruin their enjoyment of a basketball game?

 

I don't know the whole facts of the story but there have been no domestic abuse incidents since Kidd got in trouble and he seems to have turned his life around. Calling him a 'wifebeater' is a bit inaccurate.

[Guest Ripper]

I don't care if they taunt kidd. Fine, he's on the court...taunt him...Ever seen him play pissed off. I want the Nets to win so go for it.

 

But taunting his wife is...Well, its like this. Do the fans have the right to yell and curse at any other woman holding a toddler in the stands. If a group of fans just started calling a woman in the crowd a bitch and yelling at her, would they be justified. Mrs. Kidd has just as much right to not be yelled at as any other fan in the stadium. She is there to watch and enjoy the game.

 

And Johanna Kidd gave a statement saying,that was the first time he had hit her and he needed to get the message it would be the last. Where you got that thing you said is a mystery to me.

[B. Brian Brunzell 0]

Why couldn't Mariotti have said that instead. I seriously HATE Jay Mariotti. I've despise him every time I read his column. Luckily, I moved from Chicago so i dont' have to read him anymore. Seeing him on ATH makes urge to kill rise.

 

I can't stand Woody Paige either. He's a tool.

[Guest cartman]

``Don't worry about me. This is minor compared to what I usually go through.''

 

-- Joumana Kidd to authorities in Arizona when asked if she needed medical attention as a result of an attack by her husband on Jan. 18, 2001.

[Guest notJames]

It's one thing to criticize a player for the way they play or how they conduct themselves in public.

 

It's another thing to verbally attack a player's wife, who more or less has nothing to do with the sport other than having married into it.

 

Regardless of whether or not Ryan's claims of Joumana's exploitational tactics are real, or whether or not his comments were made in jest, that was a line he should have known not to cross. Even worse, he twice refused to rescind his comments, only recanting two days later when the final punishment was handed down.

 

Stupid human.

[Guest Smues]

Woody Paige = Great.

Jackie MacMullen = Sweet jeebus PLEASE don't put her back on the show in place of Bob Ryan. Pierce, Holly, ok. But for the love of christ don't put Jackie MacMullen on my T.V. set again.

[Guest The Czech Republic]

Jay Mariotti and Woody Paige own Around the Horn. Max Kellerman and his weird little speech impediment bug me.

[Guest CanadianChris]

Jay Mariotti and Woody Paige own Around the Horn. Max Kellerman and his weird little speech impediment bug me.

Jay Mariotti owns, period. Has for years.

[Guest nl5xsk1]

I can't stand Woody Paige either. He's a tool.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who feels this way. He writes these articles before a big game about how a local team will destroy their opponents (and use witty nicknames for the opponents like "Dead Wings" or "Patsies") and then if his teams lose just refuse to acknowledge that the better team won. Yes, I understand that he's a "homer" writer, but at least be professional about it.

 

Paige sucks.

[Guest Choken One]

Ah No...Paige owns...I never could stand that fat lard Ryan anyways...

[Guest HartFan86]

I don't see the Boston fans booing Stone Cold Steve Austin- and he did the same thing. Fucking hypocrites

Totally different genre in the crowd. You're assuming everyone at the WWE event in Boston watch the Celtics, which is not the case at all. To prove my point, how many Steve Austin shirts do you see tonight at the Fleet? Probably none. How many people at a WWE event in Boston are all decked out with the face paint, the huge hats, the jerseys, and the green and white of the Celts? Maybe 1 or 2 people at most.

 

If the fans booed Kidd, but didn't boo *name another basketball player who beat his wife* because of *name a reason*, then you got an argument.

Edited May 9, 2003 by HartFan86

[Guest the pinjockey]

The fans don't get on Austin like that because Austin isnt against them. If Austin was wrestling the biggest wrestling star to ever come out of Boston then maybe they would get on him like that.

 

But the Nets and especially their leader Kidd are trying to end THEIR teams season so of course they are going to get on him.

 

It isn't hypocritical it is taking advantage of your adversary.

[Guest The Czech Republic]

If Austin was wrestling the biggest wrestling star to ever come out of Boston then maybe they would get on him like that.

John Cena?

[Guest Choken One]

Jesus...

 

Killer Kolwalski ring a bell?

[Guest The Tino Standard]

If you go into an arena and cheer for the visiting team, you have every right in the world to get harassed by those around you. Ever been to Cleveland Browns Stadium during a game with the Steelers? Show up in black and yellow and you'll get mauled. Works in reverse with that rivalrly too.

 

Just because Joumana, or whatever the hell her name is, is Kidd's wife, she isn't exempt from hearing it from Boston fans. I'm not saying she needs to be smacked or anything, but if she's willing to go into enemy territory, then she's got to accept some hostility from the locals. And there is no reason to be taking your 2-year-old to a road arena during a playoff game. You are asking for trouble at that point.

 

***

 

Now then, Around the Horn...

 

- Mariotti is The Man. He's an OU alum, which makes him The Man twice over.

 

- Woody Paige is pretty funny, especially when he gets muted. He keeps talking for two or three seconds, not realizing he's been muted, then sees the mute and makes the 'Woody Paige Scrunched Face of Frustration'. Gets me every time.

 

- Charlie Pierce makes good points but has one of the worst deliveries of any guy I've seen in front of a camera. There is a reason his day job is at a newspaper.

 

- T.J. Simers has the Bitter Old Man routine down to a science. He's great.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

And Johanna Kidd gave a statement saying,that was the first time he had hit her and he needed to get the message it would be the last. Where you got that thing you said is a mystery to me.

 

He got it from his ass.

[Guest DrTom]

If you go into an arena and cheer for the visiting team, you have every right in the world to get harassed by those around you.

Whoa... you have the right to be harassed? How lucky! I've never even heard of such a right, and yet I have it in every sporting arena and stadium in America. I think you can have a reasonable expectation of being harassed, but you certainly don't have the right to be harassed. Nor does anyone have the right to harass you -- legally, harassment is a crime.

 

Ever been to Cleveland Browns Stadium during a game with the Steelers? Show up in black and yellow and you'll get mauled.

And this is acceptable behavior?

 

Just because Joumana, or whatever the hell her name is, is Kidd's wife, she isn't exempt from hearing it from Boston fans.

Of course she's not. But it also doesn't mean the fans are exempt from showing some human decency and not shouting insults at a woman accompanied by a young child. I know it won't happen, but maybe if the worst offenders were ejected from the game, behavior like that would stop.

 

but if she's willing to go into enemy territory, then she's got to accept some hostility from the locals.

No she doesn't. Again, she might reasonably expect it, but by no means does she have to accept drunken, belligerent men cursing and shouting insults at her. Would you expect men in a restaurant to shout curses and insults at a woman because of who her husband is? How does being at a sports game somehow make it acceptable behavior?

 

And there is no reason to be taking your 2-year-old to a road arena during a playoff game.

I'll give you that one.

 

You are asking for trouble at that point.

The same way a woman in skimpy clothes is "asking to be raped?" You seem awfully willing to whitewash and condone aberrant behavior toward a woman and her child just because it happened at a sports arena. Are other players' wives subject to the same brand of hostilities? Mrs. Kidd would have a legitimate reason to have several people ejected from the building, should she choose to pursue it.

[Guest alkeiper]

Well spoken, Tom.