ESPN apologizes for Musburger comments
Katherine Webb drew lots of attention from ESPN Monday night. (AP Photo)
Late in the first quarter of the game — a 42-14 Alabama blowout — ESPN’s cameras began to focus on Katherine Webb, the 2012 Miss Alabama USA, who was sitting with McCarron’s mother.
“You quarterbacks,” Musburger said to color man Kirk Herbstreit, a former Ohio State QB, “you get all the good-looking women. What a beautiful woman.”
“Wow!” analyst Kirk Herbstreit chimed in.
“If you’re a youngster in Alabama, start getting the football out and throw it around the backyard with Pop,” Musburger added.
ESPN’s Mike Soltys apologized on Twitter.
“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,” Soltys tweeted. “However, we apologize that the commentary in this instance went too far and Brent understands that.”
All the attention ESPN gave her has made Webb an Internet sensation.
As of early Wednesday morning, she had more than 213,000 followers on Twitter — including LeBron James — up from several hundred before the game.
All of the attention doesn’t seem to bother the 23-year-old Webb.
“It’s been actually kind of fun,” she told The Associated Press.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
181 comments Add your comment
mike may
January 9th, 2013
8:38 am
If Brent gets to stay, lets bring back Ron Franklin; so much better at sports.
sb
January 9th, 2013
8:39 am
What ESPN should apologize for is Mr. Musburger saying, with 3 1/2 minutes left in the first half, that Alabama (which had just gotten the ball back at around their own 30) would take a knee and head off to half-time with a 21-0 lead. Really?
mia
January 9th, 2013
8:40 am
I can’t wait for Saturday Night Live’s take on this!
“We here at ESPN apologize for calling Miss Alabama beautiful, and are VERY sorry we put the height and weight of our players out there for the world to see before every game. Some of the men are sensitive of their weight, and short stature, and we apologize for hurting their feelings as well. We are working hard to correct these issues. “
Topp Dogg
January 9th, 2013
8:40 am
The game was what was offensive, that and all the ND butt-kissing for the last year.
daBulldog
January 9th, 2013
8:42 am
Brent said what every (normal) guy watching that game was thinking: “Damn, she’s beautiful. He’s a lucky guy. Good for AJ.” Why should Brent or ESPN apologize for that? Don’t let the PC police rule your business or your life. This is nothing more than sensationalism at its worst. Making a big deal out of this – and then providing validation to a sensationalized point by issuing a public apology is obscene and a complete journalistic failure.
James Finn
January 9th, 2013
8:42 am
I was incredulous when the “National Inquirer” of sports, ESPN, took to apologizing on behalf of Brett Musberger, for comments he (correctly) made about Ms. Webb during
Monday’s game. I can only guess what a d___chebag Mike Soltys must be. Shameful,
but not surprising from ESPN. I can only hope other sports networks start to give these
sensationalists some competition. Unfortunately, the TV and Radio business has too many guys like Mr. Soltys. I now want to hear ESPN and Soltys explain how Musberger went “too far.” Come on Mike, tell us what he did wrong.
Matt
January 9th, 2013
8:43 am
Billy Jackson is a moron. The woman’s whole life is based on her being attractive and Brent called her attractive. She is loving this attention. Lighten up ESPN. Billy Jackson, are you a jealous 300 pound chick?
Jimmy Rink
January 9th, 2013
8:43 am
It doesn’t really matter. All I’d like to see is Musburger GONE! He is absolutely the worst sports commentator on the air. Just get rid of him, one way or another. If he is the commentator for any event I watch, I check to see if I can listen to the even via ESPN radio or some other station. I simply can’t stand the windbag.
Jason Williams
January 9th, 2013
8:44 am
ESPN should apologize more for Notre Dame because that was ugly.
duncan
January 9th, 2013
8:45 am
Hey..ESPN; sorry you felt you had to apologize for your people due to possibly someone being offended. When do I get your apologize for offending me on such a out landish statement and rub you are causing….oh I forget… it is about ratins now isn’t ?
William
January 9th, 2013
8:45 am
Are you kidding me? What has PC done to this country?
b r
January 9th, 2013
8:45 am
How cowardly and immature of ESPN to apologise just because some idiots complained. All Musburger did was joke around. I agree with the other post, cheerleaders are much more offensive yet ESPN is not going to stop showing them.
Winn
January 9th, 2013
8:51 am
Yes she is attractive, Yes Brent went a bit overboard. Give me a break. Non news. Forgiveable. THE ONLY INTERESTING PART OF THE GAME. PLPPPP. Mideast news; Gun violence news; Fiscal cliff news; War, drug and flesh trade, human trafficking, health matters, all news. This meaningless drivel. I love sports and respect the excellent work of Brent Musburger and ESPN but this time pure PC idiocy. Let it go!! Now to NFL playoffs the NBA AND maybe hockey golf and all the great and exciting athletes. so there.
Dawg girl
January 9th, 2013
8:55 am
Have we as a nation become this sensitive?? I saw nothing wrong with his comments and I’m a woman! She is a very beautiful woman and, if anything, I thought his comments about QBs getting all the good-looking women was funny. Lighten up, people!
msouther
January 9th, 2013
8:56 am
If it doesnt offend the person it was intended for then everybody else should shut the hell up!
Ziggy
January 9th, 2013
8:56 am
For those that have spoken in a negative fashion about Musburger’s skills as a sports commentator, I find it to be offensive. Please refrain from giving your honest opinion, and stick to being PC. How hypocritical.
Canseco
January 9th, 2013
8:56 am
Kate28 – you look hot today and so does my wife!
Tim J
January 9th, 2013
9:00 am
Nevermind the politically incorrect comment, ESPN should be apologizing for using Burnt Cheeseburger in any capacity of a sportscaster.
dawgfan
January 9th, 2013
9:00 am
If ESPN is going to apologize for this they also need to apologize for Musberger’s constant fawning over Notre Dame during the broadcast, which I found nauseating and horribly offensive.
Thanks.
Matt
January 9th, 2013
9:01 am
What did Brent say that was out of line?! I don’t think Katherine Webb was offended in the least!
Madea gets gender reassignment surgery
January 9th, 2013
9:02 am
You quarterbacks,” Musburger said to color man Kirk Herbstreit,
I thought Herbstreit was white?
Todd
January 9th, 2013
9:03 am
He said what most people were thinking. IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR OLD BRENT GET ALL HORNED UP ABOUT SOMETHING BESIDES SPORTS. ESPN you don’t have to apologize
MONKATL
January 9th, 2013
9:06 am
The QB line and Beautiful Women is not that HEAVY, All in all its making a Mountain out of a mole hill.
How about just ENJOYING LIFE and that Beautiful Women?
Pat Van Dyke
January 9th, 2013
9:07 am
ESPN needs to fire Musburger, Herbstreit and all the producers and cameramen involved for supporting a cultivating the disgusting culture of heterosexuality that lead to the on-air verbal assault. Full house-cleaning needed, not unlike Penn State.
Relationship Expert
January 9th, 2013
9:08 am
I blame it all on the female. If she wants privacy, she should stay off the pagent runway.
Pat Van Dyke
January 9th, 2013
9:08 am
“supporting and cultivating”, that is.
dawgfan
January 9th, 2013
9:08 am
While they’re at it, they should also apologize for Herbstreit’s mostly incompetent analysis of the game of football. These words actually came out of his mouth at some point in the second half: “It really looks like Notre Dame underestimated the speed of Bama’s backs.” You think so doctor? You think maybe playing the likes of Pittsburgh and Stanford week in and week out didn’t prepare them that well for an SEC heavyweight? Anyone with two functioning eye balls and the intelligence of a 7 year old knew that this game had blowout potential, but the ESPNers were completely shocked.
I demand an apology.
MONKATL
January 9th, 2013
9:09 am
OPPS, WOMAN NOW I am in TROUBLE
Timbo
January 9th, 2013
9:12 am
ESPN is a joke. My wife and I were watching the game and she said “Wow she’s beautiful!”, and I agreed. No I didn’t have to deal with a jealous butt hurt wife either. She get’s it. America has lost its mind. Geez…
m
January 9th, 2013
9:12 am
Hey retards they are apologising for making it sound like she is with him since he is a qb… And that gorgeous women are shallow like that
Boo hoo hoo. The man did nothing wrong.If that’s the worse thing he ever does,he’s gonna have a great life.
Glenn
January 9th, 2013
9:12 am
This is PC to an absurd level . She loved the attention & there was nothing said that could be taken as lewd or disrespectful . Brent Musburger was trying to keep viewers watching that horrible game . His talk was basically the same as the homecoming queen with the starting qb story that is as American as packaged cheese squares . Shame on ESPN . That was the only entertaining part of that horrible game on your station .
BamaFan
January 9th, 2013
9:13 am
They act as if he said “I’d like to be her man right now.” Then it would have been an issue. BTW, NO MORE ROB PARKER!!!!!
Renee
January 9th, 2013
9:15 am
Really? Apologize for what? I watched the game with my husband and sons and I was the first one to comment on how gorgeous she was. Quite frankly the game was a yawner and it made it more interesting to watch how many times they were going to feature her.
The media is a huge part of the problem in our screwed up, constantly offended, entitled society.
Reality Check
January 9th, 2013
9:16 am
It wasn’t a big deal. Making it a big deal is just political correctness run amuck. Only a sick mind would be offended by Brent’s remarks. ESPN is pathetic for apologizing!
of all things to apologize for!?!?!??!?!
January 9th, 2013
9:17 am
ESPN has got to be kidding me! Of all the backward and offensve comments made on ESPN within any given hour…you hang your hat on Brent stating the obvious?!?!?! Apologize for the show First Take if you care to apologize for something! Talk about some gas bags!
El Guapo
January 9th, 2013
9:18 am
An apology would be warranted if Musberger HADN’T commented on her. I mean, look at this woman!
Mike T.
January 9th, 2013
9:20 am
ESPN apologizes for Musburger comments
I saw this and thought it was probably about Musberger comments about”if this was a prize fight it woud be called”, that he made at halftime. I thought man you said the truth.
Thought all the fallout was gonna be from Notre Dame fans who were pissed off about it. Turns out to be some harmless comment about Alabama QB’S girlfriend.
Jim
January 9th, 2013
9:20 am
First, a sports commentator with a firm grasp of the obvious?? Shocker!
Second, there is an Alabama beauty queen who’s career trajectory is now skyrocketing because she was the object of some time killing by a camera man and a couple of commentators. Who, were doing there best to keep their sponsors happy by trying to keep viewers (in the millions) from tuning out early on a game that was decided in the first quarter. A game that was so unremarkable, that this is now news…
Big congrats to Katherine Webb. ESPN has stamped your 15 minute card…use it well.
Honey Boo Boo
January 9th, 2013
9:21 am
Well I’m younger and make a whole lot more $$$ than that bama trash ever will. I endorsed Obama too. Go Dawgs!
Fed up
January 9th, 2013
9:23 am
ESPN was faster to apologize for Musberger than it was for the racially charged remarks made by Rob Parker about Robert Griffin III. A big double standard at ESPN.
MT
January 9th, 2013
9:24 am
Freedom of speech baby, Musberger told the truth. She was a knockout.
McCarron’s mother wasn’t bad either, she could have passed for the girl’s sister.
Ms Gail
January 9th, 2013
9:26 am
As usual, our politically correct nation is blowing this all out of perspective. She is a beautiful woman and he stated the obvious. It was a nice compliment. Was a bit exhuberent about it – yes but come on. It doesn’t require censorship or punishment. Get over it everybody!
Sports Fan
January 9th, 2013
9:32 am
Brent Muffburger didn’t say anything wrong, ESPN.
Get off your high horse, you bunch of left-wing hypocrites.
Craig
January 9th, 2013
9:33 am
More disturbing to me was Mushmouth’s vocalized bias toward ND. Especially on the “non-penalty” calls early in the game. ESPN should be apologizing for assigning Mushmouth to these national games.
Todd
January 9th, 2013
9:34 am
You know what was even better, center ( Barrett Jones ) shoving her quaterback boyfriend cause he could not make up his mind and trying to blam it on Jones. then Jones coming on the post game show telling AJ to know your roll booooooooy. LINEMEN SHOULD HAVE GIRLFRIENDS LIKE THAT. BARRETT JONES IS A FUNNY DUDE AND GREAT TEAMMATE.. ROLL TIDE…………
Sports Fan
January 9th, 2013
9:34 am
You’ll hear MUCH WORSE at Sanford Stadium in Athens.
Sports Fan
January 9th, 2013
9:37 am
Just imagine what Rob Parker would’ve said about Miss Alabama.
Maybe Rob would have been over-the-top with flattery if the cameras had panned to the crowd to find an obese Miss South-Central Birmingham dating one of the Alabama cornerbacks.
VOGUE*
January 9th, 2013
9:37 am
Is not the winner of a Beauty Pageant or Beauty Contest
supposed to be Beautiful ?
WOW !
topdawg
January 9th, 2013
9:40 am
Sorry I missed that, I always MUTE Mustardburger bcs he is one of the worst play by play announcers. In my humble opinion there is not enough mustard in New York City to cover that hotdog. In other word he is a self serving terrible announcer, and long before this incident that was the case. Herbstreit is excellent doing color.
Crispin
January 9th, 2013
9:41 am
ESPN is apologizing for the most interesting part of that entire game? This no make sense.