Basketball: Playoff Time

[RocDoc]

Kimmel show pulled for comments

Host makes fun of Detroit, later apologizes

Friday, June 11, 2004 Posted: 9:07 AM EDT (1307 GMT

DETROIT, Michigan (AP) -- Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show was pulled off the air for a night following a joke the comedian made about Detroit during the NBA Finals.

Kimmel was talking to ABC sportscaster Mike Tirico during halftime of Tuesday's game when he said, "They're going to burn the city of Detroit down if the Pistons win, and it's not worth it." Tirico, an Ann Arbor resident, immediately objected, telling him to be careful about making fun of Detroit.

ABC made the decision to pull Wednesday night's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" from affiliates nationwide shortly after the program was taped that night in California.

Grace Gilchrist, general manager of Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ, said the taped show featured more disparaging remarks about the city.

"Frankly, we were shocked. We thought it was uncalled for," Andrea Parquet-Taylor, WXYZ's news director, said of Kimmel's remarks.

Kimmel issued a written statement to address his comments about Detroit, whose Pistons are playing the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

"What I said about Pistons fans during halftime was a joke, nothing more. If I offended anyone, I'm sorry," he said. "Clearly, over the past 10 years, we in L.A. have taken a commanding lead in post-game riots. If the Lakers win, I plan to overturn my own car."

ABC publicity manager Jennifer De La Rosa issued another apology from the comedian Thursday: "It was never my intention to cause anyone pain. I was trying to make a joke and I'm sorry it resulted in anything other than laughter."

~

Seems to have gotten WAY too close to the tragic truth for some peoples' comfort....may Detroit get the chance to prove all this shit wrong!

[rockysigman]

The riot of '84 certainly is a black mark on the city's history, but is far from unique to the city of Detroit. Detroit hasn't rioted after a sports championship since '84, and that time period has included two NBA championships and 3 Stanley Cups. I doubt anything like that will happen when the Pistons finish off the Lakers.

And yes, at this point I'm confident that it is a "when", not an "if".

[Howenstein]

I was going to say much the same thing about that, Rocky. The Pistons and Red Wings parades over the past 15 years have been about as civil and controlled as you could ask for -- something like 1.2 million people attended the last Red Wings parade and all got along peacefully in downtown Detroit.

At least Kimmel made the belated point that, when it comes to riots, L.A. doesn't have a leg to stand on in poking fun at Detroit.

[RocDoc]

*cough*Hell Night*cough*

[rockysigman]

You mean Devil's Night? Hasn't been much of anything for probably close to 10 years now, and even then, that was hardly rioting, just sporadic arson. :-P

[RocDoc]

Ooops, Devil's Night...yeah...

Well they had to crack down on that shit...but as I recall, there were a few years it got nuttier than just 'sporadic arson'...people dying and shit...

[Howenstein]

Hmmm... our Devil's Night woes got that much national attention? I agree it was a pretty big problem in the 80's and early 90's. Some sicko at my old job even ran a Devil's Night office pool for a few straight years in which you had to guess the number of fires reported by the Detroit F.D.

[Clicker]

The Pistons are just but 1 win away... to hell with the Lakers!

[Howenstein]

Right on, Clickster!

The Big 2 for the Lakers has become the Big 1. Shaq got his 36 points on 16-for-21 shooting, but the rest of the Lakers were 17-for-57 (under 30%). Kobe is still in a fog (8-for-25 last night) and the Zenmaster is starting to lose his cool on the sidelines.

The Pistons need to continue to play aggressive, spread the ball around, and they should get Win #4. It ain't over 'til it's over, but it's tough to see this current Laker team winning 3 straight unless they do something drastically different.

The Lakers keep saying they haven't played their best in this series. That may be true, but I don't think the Pistons have either -- at least offensively. Last night, Detroit endured a 1-for-11 stretch to start the second quarter, yet still salvaged a 2-point halftime lead. They didn't hit a three-pointer until the fourth quarter. Ben Wallace was 4-for-14 at the free throw line. And they still won by 8.

Good to see Rasheed Wallace finally show up on the offensive end. We need him to complement Chauncey and Rip again if we are going to close things out in Game #5.

Good to hear Tom Tolbert finally say it: "The Pistons are the better team. They are deeper, they have more people who can score, and they are more aggressive on defense."

They have to be the better team again in Game 5. We don't want to go back to L.A.

[stratman19]

How 'bout our Pistons, Howie!! I'll be the first one to admit that I never expected this. I know it's not over yet, but sonofabitch!!

And yes, it was finally good to hear Tolbert say that. And just what the hell was that suit he was wearing? Sheesh!!

[rockysigman]

Before the series, the only sports analyst that I heard predict a Pistons victory was fucking Max Kellerman, and he only picked the Pistons to be controversial--even he didn't think they'd actually do it. Nice to see all these "experts" eating their words.

[RocDoc]

They have to be the better team again in Game 5. We don't want to go back to L.A.

Howie, wait a sec, isn't game 5 going to be IN Los Angeles already?

I sorta recall there being something 'different' about the back-and-forth of these finals, but a 2-3-1-1?

I gotta go to SI.com to check this out...

Nevertheless, GOD BLESS THE PISTONS!!!

[RocDoc]

Wow! A 2-3-2.......

Nevermind...

One more chance at home...DO IT!

[Meursault]

Yeah i'm hopin to see that!

[Howenstein]

Yeah, doc. The Finals is the only round with a 2-3-2 format. All other rounds are 2-2-1-1-1.

No team has won all 3 at home since the NBA went to the 2-3-2. But then, no team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit to win, either.

Can't friggin' wait for GAME TIME!!!! ;D