Big Ron Quits ITV

[Le Premier Cru]

I'd be among the first to complain about true racism.

What he said, as reported on TV last night, was that Desailly is "what in some circles might be called a f****** lazy n*****", in a moment that he thought he was off air.

Two points: First, compare Ron's reaction to getting caught with the perfomance of our leading politicians. For the first time in my life Big Ron earns my respect for offering his immediate resgination. What if he'd said "allegedly"?

Second, how many of of us haven't muttered "you lazy b******" when Bobby or Leon haven't chased quite as hard as we know they can. Sticking the word black in there too doesn't make it a racist comment; it's just recognition of a man's skin colour. Consider the sentence: "I would never use the word ****** in polite conversation." Now, does the fact that I've used the word at all make me racist? No.

 

[Pavilionaire]

I've just heard the Talksport interview with Big Ron, and he was gutted, close to tears and holed up at home describing yesterday as his worst day in football.

 

[Safeway]

Cyril Regis says he forgives LITTLE RON on Talk Sport this morning FG Says he will never forgive LITTLE RON for boring me with his drivel of useless pointless clueless comments whilst trying to watch a game of football

FVCK OFF FAT LITTLE RON
Slip of the tounge shame he didnt slip outta the studio years ago the brainless cvnt

FG, shut up. Wind up or not, you've made some far worse racist comments on here without using actual racist language, so don't give it the old 'how disgraceful' spiel now.

Bet you pissed yourself when you heard what Atkinson said and gave him a thumbs up.

 

[Rowley Birkin Q.C (Deceased)]

This whole thread has sadend me. In a funny kind of way i have always kind of liked Big Rons style of commentary, he often said bizarre things but had a real enthusiasm and knowledge of the game. And i've always enjoyed Easy 10's posts and nsc would often be a poorer place without him, but, IT IS NOT "p.c bollocks" to want the resignation of a man who in an unguarded moment makes a vile and completly abhorrent racist slur.

 

[Pavilionaire]

We live in a world without compassion.

Christ, even Cyrille Regis said Big Ron was a friend and he wouldn't change his views about the man after his comments.

 

[Tooting Gull]

I've been listening to talkSPORT as well, heard the interview with Ron - and I have to say, it's been a disgrace of a programme. If Parry was still at the Mirror, he'd have been sacked for the way he's handled the debate and the soft-soaping he's afforded Big Ron.

Irrelevant - that he thought the mike was off, that he was talking to himself, that he played (very good, better than what else was around) black players in the 70s.

Relevant - that he could even think that. It's not a mistake, that has to be in you to come out with it.

And like Safeway, I'm very anti-PC. But everyone has their line, and he's crossed it. The fact that he's resigned and been very contrite is not 'good', just no less than he had to do.

 

[GUNTER]

It's not so much the racism that surprises me with him, it's the fact he has called someone else THICK!

Ron is a lazy, thick, champagne-guzzling white ******.

 

[Easy 10]

In the cold light of day, and having read the actual comments in full via Buzza's post, what Ron said reprehensible. It made his position untenable, and I agree he simply had to go. When I heard the news last night I admit to rolling my eyes and thinking it was more stupid than malicious, but having seen whay he said....well.

Blimey, feel like Tony Blair with that U-turn.

 

[Lammy]

The comment is racist if it was meant as an insult rather than simple discription. As the colour of of his skin had no bearing on what he did then Ron needn't have mentioned it. Escpecially using such a crass word a ******.

I admire Ron for the way he has handled this. I don't think he is racist but he comes from an era where that sort of language was commen place. Because he uses it doesn't mean he is more racist than the next man, it simply means that he doesn't understand just what a big no no using the word ****** is these days. To be honest he should know better. If you take what he said word for word;

"In some schools, he would be called a f***ing lazy ******"

He had a get out here of claiming that that is what "some schools" would have said. Not himself. He was bigger than that and took it on he chin by handing in his resegnation.

I for one will miss Ron but he had to go. Time to move on and let some other pundits in. Ranieri anyone?

 

[GUNTER]

nig·ger ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ngr)
n. Offensive Slang

Used as a disparaging term for a Black person: “You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a ******” (James Baldwin).

Used as a disparaging term for a member of any dark-skinned people.

Used as a disparaging term for a member of any socially, economically, or politically deprived group of people: “Gun owners are the new niggers... of society” (John Aquilino).

 

[Lammy]

To be fair I don't think the black community have helped themselves much recently by constantly refering to themselves and each other as niggers. In fact it's almost a term of endearment these days.

Waasup my nigga?

 

[Northstander]

I'd be among the first to complain about true racism.

What he said, as reported on TV last night, was that Desailly is "what in some circles might be called a f****** lazy n*****", in a moment that he thought he was off air.

Two points: First, compare Ron's reaction to getting caught with the perfomance of our leading politicians. For the first time in my life Big Ron earns my respect for offering his immediate resgination. What if he'd said "allegedly"?

Second, how many of of us haven't muttered "you lazy b******" when Bobby or Leon haven't chased quite as hard as we know they can. Sticking the word black in there too doesn't make it a racist comment; it's just recognition of a man's skin colour. Consider the sentence: "I would never use the word ****** in polite conversation." Now, does the fact that I've used the word at all make me racist? No.

Can't say I have ever felt the need to slag off a player and stressing the skin colour whilst shouting at em!!

Just pure stupidity and ignorance and I for one hate to hear it too!!

 

[aftershavedave]

This whole thread has sadend me. In a funny kind of way i have always kind of liked Big Rons style of commentary, he often said bizarre things but had a real enthusiasm and knowledge of the game. And i've always enjoyed Easy 10's posts and nsc would often be a poorer place without him, but, IT IS NOT "p.c bollocks" to want the resignation of a man who in an unguarded moment makes a vile and completly abhorrent racist slur.

well said

 

[Storer68]

I'd be among the first to complain about true racism.

Second, how many of of us haven't muttered "you lazy b******" when Bobby or Leon haven't chased quite as hard as we know they can. Sticking the word black in there too doesn't make it a racist comment; it's just recognition of a man's skin colour. Consider the sentence: "I would never use the word ****** in polite conversation." Now, does the fact that I've used the word at all make me racist? No.

Sorry, but if you stick the word "black" in there it DOES make it a racist comment because you are differentiating him out from other "lazy b*****ds" because of the colour of his skin, which is copletely irrelevant to his , in your opinion, inablility to contribute effectiveley to a football team.

and this does undermine footaball's excellent "Lets kick Racism out of Football" campaign (havn't noticed many other sports carryiing theirs on for ten years) by highlighting the fact that there are some high profile people in the national game whose attitudes are outdated and offensive.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I've been listening to talkSPORT as well, heard the interview with Ron - and I have to say, it's been a disgrace of a programme. If Parry was still at the Mirror, he'd have been sacked for the way he's handled the debate and the soft-soaping he's afforded Big Ron.

Irrelevant - that he thought the mike was off, that he was talking to himself, that he played (very good, better than what else was around) black players in the 70s.

Relevant - that he could even think that. It's not a mistake, that has to be in you to come out with it.

And like Safeway, I'm very anti-PC. But everyone has their line, and he's crossed it. The fact that he's resigned and been very contrite is not 'good', just no less than he had to do.

Agree totally. Hietherto I was a huge Big Ron fan.. lively, funny and he's been there and done it but as Tooting says, he's crossed the line.

What was Clive Tyndsley's reaction I wonder? It does make you wonder about our pundits and commentators. Remember when England played in Slovakia and our black players were racially abused by the crowd? Motson said nothing about it. I'd like to have seen him and others like him on TV and radio be much tougher in their condemnation of racism.

Also, it's one thing for black people in rap songs to say the " n" word quite another for white, middle aged broadcasters to use it.

Ron had to go.

 

[Meade's Ball]

I'm glad to see the back of him.
Yes, it's sometimes amusing to laugh at his mixture of charm and ignorance, but i can't say i have ever respected his opinion.

He's upset because he's lost his job, not because he has any sense of remorse for his attitudes.

 

[Easy 10]

And in hindsight, as Safeway rightly picked up on, I was wrong last night to refer to this as P C bollocks. Having read the full comments by Ron, what he actually said went well beyond the throwaway remark I initially thought it was.

I WILL still miss Big Ron in the commentry box, cos love him or loathe him, he was never dull. And I still don't believe he is inherantly a racist. But after what he said, there really was no other option other than the boot.

 

[Lammy]

Also, it's one thing for black people in rap songs to say the " n" word quite another for white, middle aged broadcasters to use it.

Not that I'm condoning what Ron has done but why the double standards? Personally I don't think it acceptable to rappers to use those term for each other either. Martin Luther would be turning in his grave.

 

[Meade's Ball]

Big Ron is precisely inherently racist. He has maintained his views and language, obviously, from a time when it was more acceptable to speak like that. He has not changed and seems to have no interest in doing so.

 

[METALMICKY]

Following up the Big Ron affair BBC5Live this morning thought it was a good idea to interview Newcastle chairman Feddie Sheppard. Their reasoning being that once upon a "his unguarded comments had been made public". Of course Mr Sheppard roundly defended Big Ron.

Of course the subtle difference is that at least Big Ron had the decency to resign and offer no feeble excuses. Whilst acknowledging that Big Ron's racial slur was far worse, i note that Mr Sheppard is still at Newcastle. This is after openly slagging off the working class Geordie supporters and decrying their women as fat slappers & slags.

Because he has all the money in the club the Newcastle faithful have just had to 'take it up the arse' knowing that their chairman considers the majority of them as low life.