There is precedent. Saturday, January 15th, 2005, Rob Blair of KTNV-TV stumbled over MLK in the same exact fashion while giving his weather report. The GM at the time said that he knew Rob stumbled but..."This kind of incident is not acceptable under any circumstances, and I'm truly sorry that this event occurred," Prather told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

He spoke from his soul. If it is in you, it will come out!

Wasnt it he and his partner that put together that horrendous and filthy roasting of charlie weiss a couple years ago and where their female co employee did the infamous F Jesus salute? wouldnt put it past anyone at that place, given recent uncovering of sexual abuse in the workplace that Coon talk off mic could be more common than we'd want it to. ESPN is a cesspool of abuse--both of their employees and apparently others. Probably part of the behind the scenes dialogue going on there, all in a joking kind of way---but it hurts no matter the form it comes out in. Clean it up at ESPN----all of it. Radio, TV, and Bristol.

I think that if negro/black/african american people can't stay consistant call them anything you want!

Man I cant even begin to address the questions because this story is filled with errors.

I think it was a mistake, a slip of the tongue. That said, I also have to wonder if the slip was freudian. It has long been my experience that dealing with racism and racist individuals is akin to dealing with someone who speaks a language that is not his first. He thinks in his first language and before speaking, translates into the second language. Perhaps racist individuals speak the language peace and acceptance only after translating or filtering, as it were, the offensive language of bigotry out of the final communique.

It was nothing. He was speaking fast and accidentally put the "oo" sound from j"oo"nior one word too early.

He didn't say Martin Luther Sambo or Martin Luther Jigaboo. He was blending King and jUNior and and it came out Martin Luther Coon. It was a mistake. I always call it "em el kay day" for this very reason.

You people need to relax. But what did I mean by 'you people'? I must be racist.

something that just should not of been said joking or not its disrespectful to a man who gave his life for what he believed in for that comment to be said on his day is just flatout rude

Wow...now we know whats on his mind.

this is hilarious it was probably just a slip of the tongue but if it wasn't WHO CARES . the fact is the myth of martin luther king jr is the biggest fraud ever perpetrated on the american people. Has anybody ever asked themselves why out of all the great americans in this country's history that martin luther king jr is the only the one to have a day named after him and solely in his honor? unless you count Columbus of course but he wasn't an american and he did discover the continent after all. i don't know about all of you but i can think of oh about 10 million americans more deserving of having a day in their honor than mlk jr.

By Mynivia Burrell on January 18, 2010 7:45 PM

VS

By Mike on January 18, 2010 7:53 PM

Everyone else, shut up.

By Mynivia Burrell on January 18, 2010 7:45 PM

VS

By Mike on January 18, 2010 7:53 PM

Everyone else, shut up.

It's funny that you THINK you can name 10M more people, but you probably don't even KNOW 10 people outside of your closed mind. Actually, you can't FIND (Found) a land where there were people at the shores waiting for you...Then again, if you could, Amerigo Vespucci "found" America. Just keep nonsense to yourself. The man served THE WORLD. No one is perfect. But surely, you can't hold a candle to him. Neither can I. THAT'S how you get a holiday.

This guy has got to be kidding. I'm sure he thought he would get away with that. He already has his apology ready because he knows he meant to do it, but the damage has been done. Another sad person who has no respect for black history. And to "anonymous"...He got a day named after him because this crooked ass country knew they were wrong for doing all the shit they did in the passed. What happened to reperations you liars.

Freudian slip.

Everybody calm down!!! I'm sure he didn't mean it. It must've been just a slip of the tongue-he is a fast talker. PLEASE, DON'T MAKE THIS INTO SOMETHING IT'S NOT...I think we have MORE important things to talk about than whether a on-air personality ON A SPORTS CHANNEL slipped up on "MLK" day...hey, I'm a Giants fan-HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS, HUH?

Is this really an issue? You can assemble a cabinet of tax cheats and Marxists without a sniff from the media but god forbid someone says coon. This country is a joke.

This couldn't possibly be funnier!!! Yes, I'm "suggesting" that for this to happen to the most pompous ass on radio is hilarius. I would also "suggest" that ESPN fire this clown immediately and beg Eric Kuselias to take the spot.

youre kidding right? If King was still alive, he probably wouldn't think twice about it. It is everyone trying to find bad in mistakes that is STILL the problem...grow up

I recall Klansman making comments frequently making such "slips" "Martin Luther Coon" or Martin Lucifer Coon" of course "we people" are just paranoid. Yea right!

If he didn't mean it he should have said it was a mistake already.
That raises the doubt in me.
As for some of these comments, your the reason why this country is lagging.
Dr.King fought for the rights of all people not just the black man. Even the right to spew hate, like so.

Professional talker, Medill School trained journalist, Mike Greenburg "accidentally" miss-speaks Dr. Martin Luther "Coon?" Not believable!

I doubt the gentleman intended to make the statement on air. Rather it sounds like an off"color joke somone may make when you are not in "mixed" company then said often enough that it came out in public.

He's a white mail in america. There will be no punishment. They will move on.

To Anonymous (1:20AM post)

I bet you had no problem accepting the day off, did you?

He should be fired. End of story.

Wow, we cannot possibly believe that Greenberg misspoke? Let's turn the mirror on you guys. anonymous: Greenberg is a white male not a white mail. Bob: he's a professional speaker, it's Greenberg not greenburg, and if misspeaks is a word it would have only the 2 s's at the beginning. Kareem: it should be you're not your "the reason this country is lagging." Calientedawg: it is spelled hilarious not hilarius. lastly, rasismisamentaldisorder: you spelled racism wrong in your f-ing screen name! and the money you don't deserve is reparations not reperations.
But of course none of you could have made any of these errors due to emotionally typing or typing too fast. No, it must have been due to ignorance or a deliberate effort to offend/provoke others.

Thanks Tim! You're the MAN!

To me it sounds like he said "KOONG" with a "G" at the end. So it could very well be that he mispronounced a word that was said at the worst possible time.

We all have mispronounced a word or two in our time, for instance if a guy was caught driving drunk on the highway he might say "Officer, I swear to DRUNK i'm not GOD." - bad example, but you get my drift.

The problem is when you mispronounce a word usually you are thinking of a word that sounds similar to the word you actually said or a word that has something to do with the subject of person of which you are speaking about.

And I am sorry and perhaps I am not as linguistically knowlegable as Greenburg is but only one word comes to mind that sounds similar to "Koong" when you are speaking about an African American.

So I have to believe that even though I'm not in Greenburg's head, I believe he meant to say Coon and he should be penalized severely for it.

Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most important men of any generation. A thousand years from now Mr. King's work will still be as important then as it was the day he made his I had a dream speech.

It's a shame that a jewish man, who has more than likely had to deal with racism in his day actually has these thoughts in his head.

Uh, William, you realize that the "oo" sound is in Junior? He obviously just got a word ahead of himself and starting saying Junior along with King. End of story.

To quote you: "The problem is when you mispronounce a word usually you are thinking of a word that sounds similar to the word you actually said." You're absolutely correct. The word you're referring to is "JUNIOR"

I'm already banging my head against my desk, I'm so sick of this discussion.

It was a mistake. Is there precedent? No. Can Greenburg be held accountable for Dana Jacobson's drunken comments at the Weiss roast? No (and those comments would have no relevance in this discussion anyway).

People spend way too much time obsessing over insignificant or incidental crap and not worrying about real problems. No doubt racism continues to be a significant problem in this country, so let's get over this completely inconsequential mistake and spend time fixing the real issues.

It was said earlier but it bears repeating. It was a slip of the tongue not some Freudian racist slip. It happens a lot in broadcasting you just don't have a big huzzah about it until two words come together in such a terrible train wreck.

He was speaking quickly back from a break and trying to say Martin Luther King Junior but he got tongue-tied on the "King Junior". Try saying it as fast as you can several times and see what comes out of your mouth.

If it was Martin Luther Washington Carver and it came out as "coon" (or if you listen close "coonya" before he caught himself) then I'd call him a racist pr!ck and release the hounds, but it's not. Anyone who's ever sat in front of a mic or spoke in public to any varying degree of regularity knows this happens. It just happened at the MOST INNOPORTUNE time ever for this guy.

What was he thinking and what type of conversation was he having with his friends in the studio before they came back on the break? where did the word "COON" came from, words like that don't just come out in a conversation without prior discussion with a person.
I would like to give him the benefit of doubt and hear from him.
words are very powerful and we all should be careful and be sensitive toward other people. As Jewish he should know better,maybe he doesn't since he enjoy the best of both world of being white on the one hand and Jewish on the other.
antonio

By Anonymous on January 19, 2010 1:20 AM

this is hilarious it was probably just a slip of the tongue but if it wasn't WHO CARES . the fact is the myth of martin luther king jr is the biggest fraud ever perpetrated on the american people. Has anybody ever asked themselves why out of all the great americans in this country's history that martin luther king jr is the only the one to have a day named after him and solely in his honor? unless you count Columbus of course but he wasn't an american and he did discover the continent after all. i don't know about all of you but i can think of oh about 10 million americans more deserving of having a day in their honor than mlk jr.
--------------------------------------

Like who. Rush limbaugh?? Racist F U C K!!

IMHO, it doesn't matter if it was a Freudian slip. He's free to think what he wants. Good or bad! Either way it was a mistake and unless any one of us can prove that we can read his mind.... it should be just that... and unfortunate mistake. Move on and accept the apology. I can clearly see haters looking for excuses to hate. We must all be above that. It only propagates the hate! Would MLK respond as a hater looking to hate? I don't think so. Be above it!

Unbelievable....

Obama and the Congress stuff health care up our a$%....our jobs are being sent to China, we're becoming a socialist country... and the uproar is about an ESPN radio announcer who may or may not have said something racist? Please...this country is on it's ear..

I think it's kind of cute that there are so many "experts" on race relations in this world. Also cute to know that a thirty-something who spends almost all of his life around, and discussing, African American athletes is so clearly a closet racist, because this was not an "ordinary" slip-up.

It's actually incredible that so many people are knowledgeable of human linguistic practices and idiosyncrasies, particularly of those who spend consecutive hours on the air, who use tens of thousands of words. Here's a tip: if you listen to a whole show of Mike and Mike, you will hear at least one or two similar slips every hour! Why? Because Mike Greenberg is NOT a polished radio host.

The simplest solution is typically the correct one. Those who try to dive deeper down the path of racism, "in my experience," are typically more racist than they let on.

ok it came out it mistake get the over it

Matrin Luther Coon from:
Mayor Joseph Smitherman of Selma, Alabama in 1965.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thJXKW43pnM

How is this a mistake/or slip of the tounge? Please explain that. How do mix up Coon with King? The vowels are completley different. Okay, maybe he dind't purposely say it, but the word Coon must of been on his mind, so I belive he is a racist.

This didnt sound like a like an annunciation slip to me. It sounds like he slipped only to the extent that he did not intend to say it at the time that he did. You all who are trying to claim that he was realy trying to say junior are really stretching. He said "coon"

as the good book says: for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks! Ecc.11:34

Don't really care for the debate or the controversy, but it's OBVIOUS that he's heard it or have said it amongst friends before. He was probably telling himself not to say the joke, and since he had it on his brain, the moment he was feeling more relaxed, his brain let it out. I believe he's said it and said it in his childhood maybe...but doesn't think it now. Don't believe me, look up the Giggle Loop from BBC's Coupling (probably best ep of that great great show). Good luck Greenie on the most pastel sports show EVER.

I love the Mike and Mike show. Mike Greenberg is especially enjoyable b/c he has no problem being his nerdy, pompous self. But, I'm an African-American male and just can't imagine a slip along these lines. It's a very sad day for me b/c I have made up my mind that I won't listen to Mike and Mike anymore. They took Zab off my local market, so I'm probably stuck with the Steven A. Smith show in the mornings. I'll miss Mike and Mike; what a great run!

Peace and much respect to all of you.

As a black man and an ex-70's "black radical" here's my take on Mike Greenberg's "slip:
Until we African-Americans clean up our vocabularies with regard to how we speak to and about one another, criticisms of people like Greenberg and anyone else we claim is racist ring hollow.
As long as we are calling one another the so-called "n" word, calling our women bitches and "ho's", killing one another over every foolish thing, not caring (enough) for our children and generally disrespecting one another we'll get more insults-intentional or otherwise-to people we claim to admire and love.
If we truly respect and love Dr. King and what he stood/died for we need to clean up our acts in our own neighborhoods (not "hoods!).
What weakens any outrage over slips like Greenbergs or the comments of Don Imus et al is our own less than stellar treatment of our own people verbally and physically.

I've decided that I will never listen to the Mike and Mike in the Morning show again. It's clear that it may have been a slip of the tongue, however, it's something that he recently said which was why it was fresh in his mind. I'm not forgiving him nor excusing him.

For everyone who thinks Greenberg said "coon", it is obvious you have not listened to the clip. He said something closer to "coong". And he stopped very short and corrected himself in the same way I have done thousands of times over my life. And you got me, I was also stopping myself from discussing clearly rscist topics. Like the weather or sandwiches.

And to whoever said being Jewish was such a blessing, ever heard of the Holocaust? If you though being black 100 years ago was tough, try being Jewish in Germany 70 years ago. Oh yeah, you are most likely only 30, so why should my taxes go to give you reparations?

Honestly, when they played the clip on my local radio station, I was like, "What did he do?". I didn't even notice it after they played it several times. Does that make me racist? I don't think that I am. I think it was a mistake, even though I don't know Mike Greenberg from Adam, but I've listened to the show enough to know that this doesn't seem like something that he would do on purpose.

As a fellow broadcaster I can tell you that when you get on air it is very easy to slur words together. That is all this is, if that much. The clip is very tough to hear if he said Coon or Coong or anything else.

For those of you that want to quote Bible verses saying that what is of the heart will come out of the mouth, however do not believe that he should be forgiven...you are the biggest hypocrits of all. The Bible says that you should forgive 70 times 7 times. If God can forgive us of our many many indescretions than we should be able to forgive anybody for anything.

So if you do think this is a slip up or anything else, I think these two have a great radio show and that this "incident" should not tarnish their hard built reputation in any way. Until you actually get put in that spot and have to start talking, then please do not critize those of us who do this for a living

Of course it was a slip. Does anyone think he meant to say it?

He is obviously comfortable making such statements when he is off-air, otherwise it would not have 'slipped' out.

Anyone who makes excuses for him is just being ridiculous.

He should be fired.

wow you guys really crack me up. Some of these comments are quite ridiculous. I think its quite sad that we cant see bigotry first hand after all that has gone on in this country. I am not saying that what Mike said was on purpose I am simply saying that this may or may not have been a mistake, but people need to understand that this type of "Talk" goes on everyday about African Americans, so it is only fair that we get offensive when things like this happen. Blacks receive "Minor" words thrown at them like this everyday so I believe that others should understand where we come from when we take things like this serious.
I'd like to see some other people in this country be black for a week....maybe the majority race would understand where we are coming from for once

anonymous you are a coward put your name out there

why the hell did you say that greeny i use to really like u guys now i hope they kick you white ass off the air coon sounds nothing like king asshole

It was a obvious slip!!! I many times I make the mistake in church and tell everyone to grab their "Coon James Version".I just said the other day, "it's a shame Prince Charles will never be the Coon of England". It's a normal mistake!

There is history with Dr. King being called Martin Luther Coon is very deep and I question if this really was a slip of the tongue. During the Civil Rights Movement, racist who did not want to address Dr. King by his name would not call him Martin Luther King, but Martin Luther "Coon." The word coon is a racial stereotype that has been used against people of color that is similar to calling African-Americans monkies, the n-word, etc. In some racist circles, the NAACP was called the n-word, apes, animals, "coons," and possiums. Looking at the history of racist terms stated against African-Americans, I wonder was the word a slip of the tongue.

Nailah Ogle said: "...but people need to understand that this type of "Talk" goes on everyday about African Americans..."

Don't you mean that this type of talk goes on every day BY black Americans? Not a day goes by that I don't hear an abundance of racial epithets coming FROM the mouths of the people who belong to that race, so the offense would seem to be a moot point.

Regarding your comment about non-blacks being black for a week, where do you propose that takes place? I would argue that blacks are perceived far differently in the deep south than in, say, Manhattan, LA, or even Utah.

==================

On a lighter note, if Greenberg were to slow down his speech so that he doesn't trip on his words, he would sound like Cowherd and have to fill in his bits by repeating himself and sounding like a tool.

I'm gettin real tierd of all this going on. this anint nothin but too crazy crackers puttin us down.

EVERYONE: S#CK IT!

This is no slip of the tongue. It was a racial slur...period...and a cowardly one at that...Obviously, that word is a part of his normal dialogue, except this time it came out on the air and not in front of his "peers" behind closed doors like it normally does. He is a racist without question and as a FORMER fan of the show, I feel he should be fired...period...no ifs, ands, or buts about it. If it was the other way around, the black, asian, or indian announcer would be unemployed as of yesterday! Its funny, though, how we never hear about other races having these "slips of the tongue"...it always seems to be a caucasian person who does this kind of crap...and then they offer some half-hearted apology and excuse like that makes it okay...yet these are the same people who claim that racism doesn't exist and people are playing the racism card, blah, blah, blah BS!! Racism does still exist and the root of it lies where it always has-- with world class cowards like Mike Greenburg...period...it doesn't take a genius to see that...everyone else has moved on with the times (i mean it is 2010, right?) yet you have a group of ignorant cowards like this chump who are too afraid to come out and say they are racist, so they resort to these so-called "slips of the tongue" to spew their hatred...sad and pitiful...he should be fired and I will be boycotting the Mike and Mike show until they take action on this...I suggest everyone else do the same...in fact, ESPN as a whole should be boycotted!!

bring don imus in!!

This is no slip of the tongue. It was a racial slur...period...and a cowardly one at that...Obviously, that word is a part of his normal dialogue, except this time it came out on the air and not in front of his "peers" behind closed doors like it normally does. He is a racist without question and as a FORMER fan of the show, I feel he should be fired...period...no ifs, ands, or buts about it. If it was the other way around, the black, asian, or indian announcer would be unemployed as of yesterday! Its funny, though, how we never hear about other races having these "slips of the tongue"...it always seems to be a caucasian person who does this kind of crap...and then they offer some half-hearted apology and excuse like that makes it okay...yet these are the same people who claim that racism doesn't exist and people are playing the racism card, blah, blah, blah BS!! Racism does still exist and the root of it lies where it always has-- with world class cowards like Mike Greenburg...period...it doesn't take a genius to see that...everyone else has moved on with the times (i mean it is 2010, right?) yet you have a group of ignorant cowards like this chump who are too afraid to come out and say they are racist, so they resort to these so-called "slips of the tongue" to spew their hatred...sad and pitiful...he should be fired and I will be boycotting the Mike and Mike show until they take action on this...I suggest everyone else do the same...in fact, ESPN as a whole should be boycotted!! What's really sad is all the people on here calling it a slip...how in the world is this a slip...the two words have nothing to do with each other...and sound nothing alike...that's the saddest part...the so-called "non-racists" who are quick to try and sweep this under the rug just like they always do...get outta here with that crap...if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...then guess what: that's a duck!!!! no matter how the rest of you try and justify it or downplay it...shame on all of you trying to do that...

I'm not going to say he is a racist, but i do think he consciously knew what he was saying. and for all the people that are saying he was combing King and Junior together...that sounds a lil ridiculous for a professional speaker. the hard K sound in King is a lot different from the soft C sound in Coon. just my opinion

TEM, you are an idiot, and probably the most racist one on here. The sad part is you don't realize it.

Everyone on here is a speech therapist now!!! Right?

If you've watched/listened to Mike and Mike in the morning at all, you'll be aware that Mike Greenberg is not a perfect human speech machine. He sometimes does have problems with speech because he tries to speak too quickly. Everyone mispronounces words on accident, blends sounds together, etc. sometimes. Odds are that somewhere, someone is making an ass of themselves right now because of it. Of course not all of them are on TV/radio.

I don't know him and I don't know if he secretly hates asians or red heads or black people or catholics. I do recognize that people make mistakes when they're speaking and blend words or say the wrong things. Some of them happen at really bad times.

Please provide evidence that Mike Greenberg is a racist aside from screwing up MLK's really long name and then immediately correcting himself on TV. Otherwise you're just like all the other people who spend their lives trying to stir up anger between Americans and dividing them.

I could see if it was an accident, he may have blended King and Junior together, but if I was in his shoes, I would have noticed it immediately, realized the ramification of the mistake and issued an apology right away like this...

"We welcome you to Mike and Mike in the morning and wish you well on Martin Luther Koon--King Jr Day today....

I apologize for the way what I said just came out folks, I mistakenly jumbled the words King and Junior together, it was in no way deliberate on my part. We wish you a very happy Martin Luther KING day, and Greeny, a lot of NFL to get to...."

I think that would be appropriate....
IF IT WAS A LEGITIMATE MISTAKE!

What is in you will come out. Your try colors are showing RED!

When have these issues because America is the only country that classifies it's citizens, I am not African American, Black American, Hispanic American or German American. I AM AN AMERICAN. Please stop the clasification and racism my stop. No American is better than any other and those who think so need to leave.

Judge a man by one word and not the millions of others he has spoken... As implied in his apology, if you listen to him regularly, this one word does not represent who he is. Who hasn't ever accidentally misspoke a syllable of a word with the next when talking fast? This is another case of people being prejudice of prejudice...assuming malicious intent on his part. People are paranoid. Does everyone realize worse and more deliberately offensive things are being said by our lawmakers and about our current President? But they don't use that specific word, they waltz around it, so I guess it's not a big deal?

Funny to think...that word is sort of archaic, if it weren't for a movie I happened to watch a few years ago that was set in the 1950s, this would have been the first time I've heard it and I wouldn't have known what it even meant--so it would not have degraded MLK from my perspective.

Sometimes I wonder if these taboo words will always carry with it offensive meaning even if no offense is intended because, like curse words, we are taught their meaning and told not to use them, so it will always exist in our vernacular and it will never deprecate over time.

I am a proud Mexican-American and think this is totally getting out of hand.I feel that most African-Americans need to respect themselves first and foremost!I dont think calling themselves the N word or other names is cool,you dont ever hear Mexican-Americans calling each other wetbacks or spics!Just my opinion!

OK.... what if I "slipped" & called this show "Kike & Mike" in the morning? MUCH MORE EASIER to "slip" like that. What do you think "Greenie" would say to that? E-X-A-C-T-L-Y!!!!! (I KNOW THIS WON'T BE POSTED) which, makes my point for me.
It's a shame. In 2010, America IS MORE RACIST with a NON-white sitting in the Oval Office. All these closet bigots are showing their true colors now that Barack is the leader of the free world!!!!!

Three things.

1. ESPN is on like a 30 second delay and NO ONE thought to keep it from airing. Curious.

2. This country is still in denial about it's race problem, even with a biracial President and until we address it, every little thing will continue to be scrutinized as such.

3. Mike Greenberg's apology was insincere and meant NOTHING to me, so he can keep it.

R Collins- if a black male called it the "Kike and Mike Show" it wouldn't stop you from being called a "anti-racist" and "civil rights leader" and you could still hob nob with Presidents. Ever heard of Jesse Jackson? He did just that and got a free pass.
Jerimaih Wright said worse about the Jews too and Sharpton helped committ a lynching of a Jewish man. I don't see you flappin your lips in angry over these things.

normally won't address degrading behavior of public debaters of our sports but lately it seems

controversy is reining havoc and is happening much too often. While alot of individuals are attempting

to discuss intent (which is not the problem), we don't know what Mike's personally is so how can we

intelligently discuss his intent or his character. There are guide-lines even the most audacious radio or

tv personality must follow or risk being pulled for impudent behavior. I said that to say this, anything

short of a public apology would short-sighted and only a start. Secondly, the only way to make him and

others in his position respect the guide-lines that are in place, he should have to pay an hefty fine and I

don't know, maybe donate it to some charity. You see, people aren't dumb and we know when we're

being gassed. I don't want to go back to the Republican Ticket that included the lady with a pregnant

daugther (unmarried) being the biggest farce shoved down the American people's thoat since taxation

with without representation(couldn't have been a black woman). In the end, I do believe in second

chances because if you look back fourty years, you'll see we have made tremendous strides as a nation.

We should be alble to withstand this minor bump in the road.

One Nation Under God

What's the big deal? He used coon instead of King! Same shite.
I don't see what all the uproar is about this, it should be a non issue. As far as I'm concerned coon, kike and all those words are just that, words. Sticks and stones may break my bones..........

sup

I do not think it was a mistake. Because white folks are always saying dumb things about races then cry I didn't mean it or some other lame excuses. Whenever you say somehting that's is upsetting, be a man offer no excuses and do not apologize. White folks i know talk big in front of their peers saying all kind of negative words about blacks. Mike was just taking on a dare that he would not say coon on the radio, he did now he sorry. Punk, gutless and need to be kick of radio.

Tim,

Not all those people have trouble spelling and some actually know what the medulla oblongota is. Hmmm Go Figure !!!!! Any way Greenberg is college educated and a trained professional, I do not believe his weak apology. He could at least acknowledge that he did something wrong and perhaps mention Martin Luther King Jr. by name.

It is still sad when people with power think they can get away with things because of who they are. Where is the suspension from ESPN?

I guess most of you think what Fuzzy Zoeller said after Tiger Woods kicked his !@# at the Masters was okay too huh? Zoeller just could not take getting his @@& kicked by a man of color. Oh well

You people sound like a bunch of high school girls. Can anyone have possibly been in Greenburg's head? In my opinion, he didn't mean it. I guess none of you geniuses realize he's Jewish? I don't remember a Holocaust for blacks. Sorry for calling you guys blacks. I've always looked at you like I would anyone else. But maybe you are the haters, finally getting an excuse to try to ruin a white man. Doesn't feel so good being accussed hating, does it? Anyone could have made a verbal slip-up, black, white, asian, arab, etc. Even professionals make mistakes. I can't say whether or not he meant to say it. But I do know one thing, neither do any of you. One other thing, I think the majority of you people forget how easy it is to run words together. When you forget about this, try saying mlkjr quickly 20 times so I can say I told you so. You people with your bleeding hearts and adolescent thinking make me sick.

Greenberg should be ashamed of himself. It's obviously something he said before and spoke too fast to put the filter on. Woops. Such a shame, I won't be listening anymore.

Yeah, I'm sure he did not want to say that on the air but it sure seems like he's said it few times in his life. Disappointing. Time will tell. If his nature is that way then it is likey that his past will be surfaced by someone that knows him. Then ESPN will have to address it.

It's so nice to be in the audience of so many "perfect" human beings. It's a point of perspective issue. If you are someone who rides the rail of 'social injustice'...you see the world as them against you. If you choose to ride the rail of 'compassion and understanding'...you see the world full of flaws, but accept and empathize with your fellow 'man.' WORDS don't make one a rascist...actions do. For all those on here who feel compelled to slam Greeny for his slip...you are the same ones who have laughed at a Jewish joke...used the words 'redneck'...or cussed out a fellow driver for cutting you off. We are all guilty. No one owes anyone anything. If you choose not to listen going forward...that's your choice. But don't come down on others who choose differently than you. One of the biggest issues this country faces is a control-paradigm. We need to move toward a connection-paradigm...where communities and peoples work together. I understand the "slip of the tongue"...I empathize with those offended...and I am still proud to be an American.

This blog is worth repeating

By John on January 20, 2010 12:50 PM

As a black man and an ex-70's "black radical" here's my take on Mike Greenberg's "slip:
Until we African-Americans clean up our vocabularies with regard to how we speak to and about one another, criticisms of people like Greenberg and anyone else we claim is racist ring hollow.
As long as we are calling one another the so-called "n" word, calling our women bitches and "ho's", killing one another over every foolish thing, not caring (enough) for our children and generally disrespecting one another we'll get more insults-intentional or otherwise-to people we claim to admire and love.
If we truly respect and love Dr. King and what he stood/died for we need to clean up our acts in our own neighborhoods (not "hoods!).
What weakens any outrage over slips like Greenbergs or the comments of Don Imus et al is our own less than stellar treatment of our own people verbally and physically.

This is ridiculous it was obviously a mistake,people saying otherwise are idiots who think all white people are racists and out to get them. If you listen carefully you can actually hear he says Coong, he obviously mixed up king and junior.

IT was a simple slip. I'm not stating that as my opinion I'm stating that as fact. Ever said shit instead of shoot?

The people on here talking have to be the most retarded people I have ever had the pleasure of reading in a comment section. Good lord almighty.

There is no outrage over this because there is nothing to be outraged about.

Then again most of the people who believe this was some "HE must have been speaking his soul" BS. Are the same mindless idiots who believe in ghosts and psychics and bigfoot. Actually this whole "coon" contraversay has a lot in common with those three things. THEY ARE ALL FIGMENTS OF YOUR IMAGINATION.

Grow up and get over yourselves. This is stupid. and so are mostt of you apparently.

IT was a simple slip. I'm not stating that as my opinion I'm stating that as fact. Ever said shit instead of shoot?

The people on here talking have to be the most retarded people I have ever had the pleasure of reading in a comment section. Good lord almighty.

There is no outrage over this because there is nothing to be outraged about.

Then again most of the people who believe this was some "HE must have been speaking his soul" BS. Are the same mindless idiots who believe in ghosts and psychics and bigfoot. Actually this whole "coon" contraversay has a lot in common with those three things. THEY ARE ALL FIGMENTS OF YOUR IMAGINATION.

Grow up and get over yourselves. This is stupid. and so are mostt of you apparently.

THIS WAS NOT A MISTAKE!!!!.....PPL get real!! u cant mix king and junior together to get coon....its cooner you idiots!!....he's just another white man that accidently slipped up and called him a coon......this man should be fired immediately!!!!

Obvious bigot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thJXKW43pnM

Most of you (i.e., blacks) act like you never had a slip of the tongue. I have 4 brothers and my mom regularly mixes up our names.
Give Mike a break -- you do not know what is going through his mind.

The more important question is why do we celebrate a plagerizer (MLK wrote papers in college that he copied from other authors without giving them credit) and an adulterer (MLK admitted several affairs while married)? Is this the best that blacks can use as a representative of their race?

50 something white guy here. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the single most important, influential, inspirational leader of my lifetime. A towering figure of our age. MLK day is the one holiday I can have a personal relationship to, the day we celebrate our better natures and tremendous courage in the face of oppression. To see some of the remarks here just makes me hang my head... How long can we be so blind... How long.... As for Mike Greenberg, no one of us can know what is in the "silence of his mind." I didn't see the clip, did he smirk? do the Rush Limbaugh/Sarah Palin wink kind of coded language thing? Doesn't sound like he did. Maybe we should judge him by his actions? I've listened/watched his show many times and the R word never crossed my mind.. where it does -- just raise a question sometimes in my own mind -- with some other very popular folks at ESPN, and certainly here in Boston sports talk radio...

We're having a historical conversation in our country, long overdue... and let's hope we work it out... cuz we're doomed if we don't...

joooooooonoir - he was obviously saying that word too soon and meshed it with King to come out Koooooon [ior]

Yeah..Greenberg is the devil for making a slip of the tongue, but it's ok for black comedians like Chris Rock to openly mock and make fun of white people? Screw you!!! My ancestors came from czeceslovakia and Italy repectively, and they had nothing to do with slavery!! In point of fact.... my mother was very dark skinned into her teens, and was picked on viciously because of it! As for my czec grandparents....they had problems of their own with the Nazis!! My own father didn't have a racist bone in his body, and would have seperated us from our teeth... if he even heard us utter so much as a joke at the expense of ANY race....so kiss my behind with your hypocrisy and your black double standards!!!!

THAT ALMOST AS BAD AS IMUS COMMENTS!!!! RACIST!! HE SAID COON!!! DAMN THATS RACIST

I thought this was a free country where you have a constitutional right to say whatever you want. Get over it.

Why is the Mike & Kike show always going to commercial break? My God, 99% of the time they are off air!

I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt. I watch the show often and its not the first stumble for words. When you talk for a living it just happens sometimes. Your thoughts run quicker than your mind. Ease up. He apologized already.

I've been reading these comments and I find most of them ridiculous. I'm tired of all this pseudo-racism talk. If he meant it, he meant it....if he didn't he didn't....only he knows.

Judging by the comments there is still plenty of racial tension in this country and I'm sick of it. I'm a white guy in his twenties and I respect all races regardless of what they are. I've noticed that, according to some of the comments, white people are the only ones that are/can be racist. I find this appalling. I'm tired of being the "bad guy"....I'm tired of other races belittling me now-a-days for being the evil white man. And some of you will say, "well now you know how it feels.." Im sorry but I'm not going to take the heat forthe people of my race that are pure ignorance....because I know if there's something that all races share it's ignorance.

So f--- all you racist ass white,black, Asian, Indian, whatever-the-hell you are because I'm sick and tired of a country that gets worked up over a word that means racoon....or a word that meant a bundle of sticks then meant old people, then meant homosexuals. I'm really sick of all this division.

And on another note the black community is as much to blame for all this racism as the white community is at least when it comes to the 21st century. And that is truth.

If i was an African, I would be embarrassed. How uneducated are "you people" a white "mail"; give me a break. LMAO! Black people are far more racist than whites. Not 50 years ago, TODAY, it's not even close. Did every black person vote for Obama? he's only 50% black and he got every black vote, based only on his race. Now if a white person didn't vote for Obama because he was black, well then he/she is a racist. The hypocrisy is starting to get old. The race card has been played to death, get over your victim mentality and move on. Not one person alive today had anything to do with slavery. Why aren't you upset with African leaders who rounded you up and sold you?

That white honkey is a racist. Ooops, did I say Honkey, I meant to say Donkey. Afterall, I would never use such a word and everyone who knows me knows that. If I meant to say Honky I would not have typed it with an "e". I would never say anything like that, not in public, or in private, or in the silence of my own mind, and neither would anyone associated with me, and I'm very sorry that my stumble this morning gave so many people the opposite impression.