Staff report
Bears Hall of Famer Dan Hampton has apologized for comments he made about Hurricane Katrina on Pro Football Weekly's television show. When previewing Thursday's Minnesota-New Orleans game, the former defensive end said "the Vikings need to go down there and hit that town like Katrina."
Hampton issued an apology Monday night on profootballweekly.com:
Bears Hall of Famer Dan Hampton has apologized for comments he made about Hurricane Katrina on Pro Football Weekly's television show. When previewing Thursday's Minnesota-New Orleans game, the former defensive end said "the Vikings need to go down there and hit that town like Katrina."
Hampton issued an apology Monday night on profootballweekly.com:
"It was a spur-of-the-moment comment intended strictly as a metaphor for
the storm-like intensity I believe the Vikings will bring to their
rematch with the Saints, and it simply never occurred to me that anyone
could read anything more than that into it.
"I have nothing but the deepest respect and greatest admiration for the people of the Gulf Coast, and I am horrified that even one of you would think I would make light of the terror Katrina wrought, and that I have clearly offended so many of you.
"I have nothing but the deepest respect and greatest admiration for the people of the Gulf Coast, and I am horrified that even one of you would think I would make light of the terror Katrina wrought, and that I have clearly offended so many of you.
"I realize now it was a terrible choice of words, and I offer absolutely no excuses. I screwed up, about as badly as I could, and I am deeply and profoundly sorry."
Give me a break on September 8, 2010 9:32 AM
they should have known this innocent comment would be taken completely out of context and edited it out.
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Wrong, the comment was taken completely in context.
Hampton is an idiot and I agree he should be held to a lower standard, but even an idiot should know better than to make light of the deaths of thousands.
Sick and tired of people being so easily offended these days. Everybody knows Katrina was horrible beyond description. Hampton was talking about FOOTBALL, you thin-skinned idiots.
I blame the PFW television show producers. Its not live, they should have known this innocent comment would be taken completely out of context and edited it out.
GEEEEEEZZZZ!!!!
The sentiment was in the right place but Hampton just said the wrong words...make that very wrong words. I presently work with 2 people who went through the Katrina ordeal and they said it was as close to hell on earth as you could possibly get with stench everywhere, looting, and dead bodies covered with wet flat cardboard boxes. Pretty much a scene from any apocalyptic movie. Sporting events in reference to any natural disaster, holocaust, or war is no-no. But in fairness to Dan Hampton he did apologize.
Wayne on September 7, 2010 8:54 AM
Anyone who expected anything other than mindless words to come out of Hampton s mouth has never heard him speak before.
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Oh yeah, well March 12th falls on haystacks sometimes smart guy and red is my favorite food.
Who are better rapers and pilagers? The Vikings or the Steelers once Roethlisberger is back? Discuss.
Now, I have more reason to root for New Orleans in this game against the ViQueens.
Danimal is still the man! Screw the pc police and the snotty arrogant elitist metrosexual creeps permeating the airwaves and sports sections, creeps like those talking heads on ESPN, and the likes of Jay Mariotti...I see NOTHING wrong with what Dan said, and if you do, then you sir, are the devil! Now go to your room in your Mom's basement and play your video games while we working men get busy trying to fix what you lefty liberal creeps have screwed up yet again!
Quarterbacks shouldn't throw bombs anymore or it might offend to victims of Hiroshima. I am sick of it! Of course he didn't mean that the vikings should elect Bush as president and have him ignore an entire city
The first complete thought of Hampton's life and he has to make light of thousands of people dying.
Why am I not surprised by this?
It's hard to believe Hampton has a job. What kind of person is dumb enough to listen to anything he would have to say?
The PC-police sure got together quick on this one! People just LOVE being offended nowadays. It's like a form of currency.
Boo-hoo, he made a joke that some people didn't like. Let it go. Just...let. it. go. Sadly, the PC-mob will probably cost the guy his job.
Some of this sensitivity stuff is way over the top for me. The fact is, it's hard not to offend SOMEONE not matter what you say. Still, when was the last time a talking head said something, caught it, and apologized right then? I seem to remember it happening, but can't remember when. You know why? Because it happens rarely and when it does, it's over with and everyone let's it pass. That should be a lesson to these people. All Hampton (I'm not a fan of his by the way) had to say was, "apologies to the people of New Orleans for that one" and it's over.
Anyone who expected anything other than mindless words to come out of Hampton s mouth has never heard him speak before.
You know how it is Hamp; some people are just walking around today LOOKING for something to be offended by.I think most of us understand your original comment, as a "power metaphor",and your explanation and apology were more than enough. For that matter, you guys in the Super Bowl XX season were one of the best things that happened to New Orleans in the late 20th century.The fun and publicity generated by the "Dik-ka Bearssss"; especially guys like McMahon,Fridge,Payton,McMichael....and #99 the
DANIMAL !!! ( Hope your knees are holding up ! )
The stuttering idiot needs to go away.
Hamp, classy of you, but totally not needed. We knew what you meant.
De facto- don't flatter yourself with your own name. it completely detracts from any points you may try to make.
I wish we would have hit the Colts like Al CIA duh
Bad choice of words, awesome, humble and appropriate apology.
Glad to see the Danimal still has the class that made him one of the all-time best and I agree...99 should have been retired a long time ago.
I'm still trying to figure out why #99 is not retired! They let some scrub wear it. What a joke. #50 is not retired but nobody wears it!
There's an old saying.
If your inside a hole stop digging.
If your inside a ho, keep drilling.
After we beat the Saints in the playoffs on the road to XLI I played "rock you like a hurricane" on the jukebox. Was that wrong?
I hear you Dan, I wish we would have hit the Colts like Katrina too!!
Big D - I'm kool with it, I know what you meant.
"It was a spur-of-the-moment comment intended strictly as a metaphor for the storm-like intensity I believe the Vikings will bring to their rematch with the Saints, and it simply never occurred to me that anyone could read anything more than that into it."
Hey Dan, let me give you a tip, when you're digging a hole, the first step to getting out of it is to stop digging. In other words, don't waste anyone's time trying to make up some lame-ass excuse for being an idiot, because if it honestly "simply never occurred to (you) that anyone could read anything more than that into it" you're even dumber than I imagined.