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.
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181 comments Add your comment
Gary
January 9th, 2013
9:41 am
There are millions of reasons why I think that 72-year-old blowhard Musburger should never broadcast another game, but this aint one of them. She said herself she was flattered and not offended by the remarks. Please ESPN, just take Musburger off because he’s a terrible broadcaster who overhypes every game he is a part of. That would be apology enough for me.
RTR Hville
January 9th, 2013
9:45 am
yeah..this makes perfect sense..Miss Alabama, who has entered beauty pageants and won, is going to be upset because someone called her a beautiful woman…. that is so shameful..how dare he..
Jen
January 9th, 2013
9:47 am
The problem wasn’t calling her beautiful. That part was fine. The problem was going on and on about it. I tuned in to see Bama Roll over ND, not listen to some old man moan and groan like he was having an orgasm over a girl that is young enough to be his grandkid. YUCK!
Cliff Fiscal
January 9th, 2013
9:47 am
Oh the hypocrisy ESPN!! Oh the jealousy, envy. and/or oversensitivity from the PC crowd. The PC people are indeed ruining this country. Lighen up and enjoy the beauty around us, and that includes people. both on the inside and outside.
loyal dog
January 9th, 2013
9:49 am
Musberger is just a boring and terrible announcer. ESPN should get rid of this hack. Now Ms. Webb is everything that she shows. She has it and she knows it.
Devil's Advocate
January 9th, 2013
9:50 am
What is the world coming to when a news/information media outlet has to apologize for reporting fact?
omg
January 9th, 2013
9:51 am
ESPN had to do that or the femi-Nazis would occupy them for months, destroyed property, and if Miss Webb is not a progressive liberal she would have been crucified.
SenoiaDawgs
January 9th, 2013
9:55 am
Wow, what a bunch of BS. They should have apologized for his obvious pulling for ND. There was no question who they wanted to win.
ESPN should be ashamed of themselves for issuing any further comment related to AJ’s GF. This PC crap is insane.
Bulldawg
January 9th, 2013
9:57 am
My wife and I were discussing what happened. I told my wife that I would have probably said something about how pretty she was if I were Musberger and my wife agreed. Should my wife have divorced me because I noticed another woman’s beauty? Don’t think so. We are just too politically correct these days.
Summit Dawg
January 9th, 2013
10:03 am
Not a big Musberger fan, but don’t see anything wrong or out of place complimenting a beautiful woman….I am 74 today and feel the same way…..if they are beautiful, say it, if not, just keep quiet!!
Southeast Soldier
January 9th, 2013
10:03 am
So, what if she looked like ‘Precious?’
True ATL Fan
January 9th, 2013
10:06 am
So hypocritical. A month ago EVERYONE was bashing Rob Parker for calling Robert Griffin a corny black guy, which is true in many people’s opinions. McCarron’s girlfriend was called beautiful, etc. because it’s true in many people’s opinions.. Parker’s career gets slaughtered (contract not renewed) and Musburger gets a public apology on his behalf by ESPN. I agree with you all, Musburger’s comments were not out of line. I just want everyone to see why the “race card” is always played by certain groups of people. ESPN just falls in line with the historical context of this country. Accept truth.
Dawg Whisperer
January 9th, 2013
10:08 am
99 out of 100 of my informal poll agree… they all want to be called beautiful on national TV.
Honey Boo Boo
January 9th, 2013
10:09 am
That girl is beautimus
Bama Bill
January 9th, 2013
10:11 am
Give the young kids a break – they have only been dating a month ! As always, Miss Alabama is truly blessed with beauty.
The Ghost of Wally Butts
January 9th, 2013
10:12 am
Hell, Brent’s focus on the woman in the stands was a welcome relief from his usual chorus of…
“Notre Dame this and Notre Dame that and Blah Notre Dame Blah…Holy Notre Dame..etc”
Jeff
January 9th, 2013
10:16 am
You see, there is this thing we call “humor.”
victor tomiczek
January 9th, 2013
10:17 am
Enter your comments here I am not a football fan nor do I ever watch a beauty pagent, and I am truly amazed that a comment by a broadcaster stating the obvious fact that this particular woman is beautiful is somehow wrong, what the hell is happening in society when this comment warrants so much discussion.
Pitbull
January 9th, 2013
10:20 am
Brent Musburger started the telecast like he was once again going to be the homer for Notre Dame. Then the further the game went and Alabama drilled the Irish, the more Brent Musburger backed off all of the Notre Dame accolades and became more neutral. He wanted to play up the Irish though and Heaven knows how bad he would have become if Notre Dame could have been competitive.
Chas Foster Kane
January 9th, 2013
10:20 am
Beautiful women are not offended by the remark. But a young man like Rachel Maddow is. Or an old sow like militant momania.
Pitbull
January 9th, 2013
10:21 am
PS: He did sound like a dirty old man though with his comments about the girlfriend.
wrestler
January 9th, 2013
10:22 am
I don’t really care about what he said. She is a fox and that is all there is to it. The fact is he is a dufus through and through. There is a reason that CBS let him go years ago when he was a commentator on SEC games and the NFL. I hate listening to him on ESPN and they always get him on the big games which mean we are stuck with him. Please ESPN get his annoying voice off the air already…………………….
GJ
January 9th, 2013
10:23 am
The game sucked so bad, at least she made it somewhat interesting.
Karen
January 9th, 2013
10:30 am
I watched the game and he didn’t simply just say he she was beautiful. If the cameras had panned to his face, I’m sure his eyes would have been out of his head rolling around on the ground. It was borderline inappropriate. But I blame the producers for continuing to show her. One time was quite enough. Just my 2 cents.
Karen
January 9th, 2013
10:30 am
I agree with Pitbull, he sounded like a dirty old man.
C from Marietta
January 9th, 2013
10:31 am
@ Jen
He did not go on an on. He said maybe two sentences.
Cliff Fiscal
January 9th, 2013
10:35 am
We tend to think Musberger went on and on because we hear the short audio continually in the media.
C from Marietta
January 9th, 2013
10:36 am
@ Karen
Don’t you have an Obama doll to go worship? Called a young beautiful is not sounding a like a dirty old man. If he would have said he wanted to do something to her, then that’s dirty. You really need to lighten up!
mgdawg
January 9th, 2013
10:37 am
I don’t think this was something worth a public apology, but it was a little creepy. If the guy would’ve made one comment and left it alone it would’ve been fine, but he kept bringing it up. The man is too old though, he didn’t add anything to the telecast. He should really retire.
Joseph
January 9th, 2013
10:38 am
That woman should be thanking Brent. He and ESPN has probably just made her some major cash.
Silver Classic
January 9th, 2013
10:39 am
You must admit, BM’s comments seemed a little to me and I an generally an insensitive pig…..
espinoza
January 9th, 2013
10:39 am
my co-worker’s step-sister makes $76 every hour on the laptop. She has been out of a job for six months but last month her pay was $18634 just working on the laptop for a few hours. Read more on this web site-=-=-=- http://www.easy-commission-cash-code.blogspot.com -=-=-=-
Silver Classic
January 9th, 2013
10:40 am
Seemed a little “creepy” I meant to say….
Will
January 9th, 2013
10:41 am
Not usually a Musberger fan, but I am with him on this call. No apologies are necessary. In fact, we should applaud his good eyesight, especially at his age–which is just a few years older than mine. The bottom line is that if Katherine Webb is not THE most gorgeous woman in America then she’ll damn sure so,until the best looking woman in the country comes along.. Katherine is a knockout and Brent was only acknowledging that fact. (I am now headed out to the backyard to throw the football around with my grandson in the hopes that he can one day be QB at Alabama.)
MaconSteve
January 9th, 2013
10:42 am
The one thing nobody seems to disagree on is she is one good-looking lady…..
GFY
January 9th, 2013
10:42 am
Even though I think Brent Furburger rambles on and on about ND some people need to lighten up on the comments he made about the lady……it is ok to say someone is beautiful. Just because others are not seems to be the annoying factor of a few of the bloggers.
Hillbilly D
January 9th, 2013
10:42 am
In no way am I a fan of Musburger but this is a complete over-reaction. While he went on too long in his gushing, I really don’t see anything offensive in his comments. Embarrassing (to him) perhaps but not offensive. There is also a tad bit of hypocrisy on ESPN’s part. They kept putting on on-screen, so basically, they’re trying to have their cake and eat it too.
Cliff Fiscal
January 9th, 2013
10:47 am
MaconSteve -The one thing nobody seems to disagree on is she is one good-looking lady…..
Agreed. She certainly has no defamation case as the comments were truthful. Also, she will gain monetary benefits from this publicity.
Mr. Insensitive
January 9th, 2013
10:49 am
Notre Dame fans & priests are upset that ESPN didn’t air repeated shots of young boys (with lascivious commentary) instead.
ESPN apologizes for Musburger comments – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) ← Watch Youtube
January 9th, 2013
10:55 am
[...] ESPN apologizes for Musburger comments – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
pb
January 9th, 2013
10:58 am
Hey. Mr. Insensitive,
I was wondering how long it would take to get the anti-Catholic idiotic comments. Congratulations on being so disgusting. Guess you are proud of your little cheap shot, which had nothing to do with this story.
OTP
January 9th, 2013
11:01 am
Apologize? For what? Stating the obvious?
DawgNole
January 9th, 2013
11:11 am
Will
January 9th, 2013
10:41 am
Not usually a Musberger fan, but I am with him on this call . . . In fact, we should applaud his good eyesight, especially at his age–which is just a few years older than mine . . . (I am now headed out to the backyard to throw the football around with my grandson in the hopes that he can one day be QB at Alabama.)
___________________
Good one, Will. Now don’t hurt your arm tossin’ that football around.
Average Looking Female
January 9th, 2013
11:13 am
I wish he would call me beautiful. That is however, not the issue here. “You Quarterbacks get all the women.” She is a woman and not a possession like a sports car or gold watch and should be respected and treated as such. Some of you can’t seem to see the forest for the trees.
Todd Cunningham
January 9th, 2013
11:15 am
Brent did nothing wrong…what the he!!s wrong with espn? I’m not a Brent fan but he was right and ESPN is wrong.
joe
January 9th, 2013
11:17 am
More of the Liberal Obama Democrats hate.
Jerry
January 9th, 2013
11:18 am
NOTHING that Brent said was, in ANY WAY, insulting, derogatory, or otherwise inappropriate. He simply commented on the fact that she was an attractive woman, and that was it. What kind of world do we live in when someone has to look over his shoulder for dishing compliments on a woman’s looks??? Absolutely mind-boggling that ESPN would have to make any sort of apology for ANYTHING that Brent said that night. Can someone please show me any excerpt from any of that transcript that could be misconstrued as an insult…PLEASE???
Jerry P.
January 9th, 2013
11:21 am
Really, though??? An apology from ESPN, who seems to show nothing of gratuitous shots of hot college co-eds in the front row of all the FSU (and other) college games. Get real…nothing but an overreaction here. Nothing said can even be slightly taken as an “insult”.
Coach B
January 9th, 2013
11:25 am
They apologize for Bent’s remarks but have no shame in putting Snoop Dogg on sportscenter. He is an accused murderer and rapist an admitted pornographer and dope smoker with videos on youtube of him smoking dope with his teenaged son. Sing the praises of Ray Lewis another accused murderer and T.I. was on the other morning who went to prison on weapons charges!!!!!!!!!!!!! ESPN is the most racist shameless network they would do anything for thug money!
Cliff Fiscal
January 9th, 2013
11:26 am
Jerry – People like Average Looking Female feel that Musberger’s next comment about QBs getting all the women was the real issue. Let us not ignore this point. Nevertheless, I believe Musburger was merely joking around with his younger commentator (as Herbstreet’s wife evidently is also beautiful) and not some expression that women are mere possessions like a sports car. Maybe, we need to look deeper into those trees and find a sense of humor.