Unacceptable

"Don Imus got fired why? How is this guy still around?"

"This guy" would be referring to SDSU 619 radio announcer Chris Ello.

Earlier this week, Ello erupted on the radio after hearing that a BYU employee was a part of the three-man team that decided that an apparent fumble by JJ Di Luigi was in fact not a fumble (Sadly, I never saw the play, but, according to virtually everyone who did see the play, it was a fumble). Here's how Randy Hollis of the Deseret News put it:

"Ello's comments came about in reaction to a blown call in last Saturday's BYU-SDSU football game, when the Aztecs were denied the ball on an apparent fumble by the Cougars' JJ Di Luigi. The potential game-changing play was reviewed in the replay booth but was not overturned. When Ello learned that a BYU employee was among those working in the replay booth, he went absolutely ballistic."

After listening to Ello's harsh comments, the word ballistic just doesn't seem to do it justice. I would say Ello went absolutely Don Imus on BYU.

If you feel brave enough, you can listen to his intolerable rant right here.

Since the Cougars have been abysmal this season and since my sports pride is at an all-time low, I've been quietly avoiding any talk about BYU football, and, as a result, I was completely ignorant of this outburst from Ello until I read Jay Bruce's BYU Blog on the Salt Lake Tribune. In an effort to mentally prepare for what could be the most memorable season in BYU basketball history, I was distracted by a headline that read "San Diego radio host's hate-filled rant sparks uproar."

So, naturally, I foolishly decided to delve into this endless "take a shot at BYU" game some media members love to play. In short, it probably wasn't my best idea. But - after I stopped literally shaking with rage - I started thinking of other public situations very similar to Chris Ello's rant.

In my mind, there are two comparable situations that didn't end well for the mouth in question and one situation where it all (publicly) ended with an apology.

Situation 1: "Look at that monkey run."

In 1983, Howard Cosell inadvertently made a racial slur to Redskins WR Alvin Garrett. On a breakaway run resulting in a TD, Cosell commented on Garrett's athleticism, saying on air, "Look at that monkey run." This was ultimately categorized as a racial remark, even if Cosell had zero intention of making such a comment. He was later forced out of his job as an analyst on Monday Night Football at the end of that season.

Situation 2: Max Hall

If you're a BYU sports fan, you're well aware of what Max Hall publicly stated about the University of Utah. If not, well, then you get to watch it here:



And if you don't want to watch Hall's infamous comments, then you get to read them:)
After an emotional OT win over the Utes on Senior Night, Hall lashed out about how the University of Utah is filled with classless fans.
"I don't like Utah. In fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, their fans. I hate everything. It felt really good to send those guys home."
It's ironic how Hall publicly declared his hatred for his University's most hated rival, making him look bitter and classless.
Hall also came out and made a public apology, stating that he got caught up "in the heat of the moment." Understandable, considering he had to deal with his family being abused at the BYU-Utah game the previous year.

Situation 3: Don Imus

On April 4, 2007, Don Imus characterized the Rutgers' Women's Basketball team as "rough girls." During the conversation, he went on to comment on their tattoos and call them "hardcore hos." Here's the released portion of the transcript:

IMUS: That's some rough girls from Rutgers. Man, they got tattoos and—

McGUIRK: Some hard-core hos.

IMUS: That's some nappy-headed hos. I'm gonna tell you that now, man, that's some—whew. And the girls from Tennessee, they all look cute, you know, so, like—kinda like—I don't know.

McGUIRK: A Spike Lee thing.

IMUS: Yeah.
McGUIRK: The Jigaboos vs. the Wannabes—that movie that he had.

Imus immediately came out with an apology to Rutgers University for his "insensitive and ill-conceived remarks." The apology didn't help much; CBS fired Imus a week later, citing racial slurs as grounds for termination.

What do these three remarks all have in common? They were comments that were either made out of raw emotion or had no meaning of ill-will. They were also comments that were immediately issued with apologies in the aftermath. They were also comments that were deemed unacceptable by their repsective leaders.

In all three instances, each man received a reprimand of some sort, with Hall receiving the least amount of punishment, considering he was a student and had no ties to any media relations. Don Imus and Howard Cosell did, and they crossed the line with their actions and were rightly terminated from their respective positions.

The only question I have now is: How the HELL does Chris Ello still have a job?

In his radio rant on Thursday, he was highly upset about the way things are run at BYU, going so far as to call the University hypocritical by waving flags across campus that say "Honor." Ok, he was infuriated with how the BYU-SDSU game ended, I get it, let's move on.

But that became impossible for me when I saw what he wrote in his radio's blog a year and a half ago.

For a journalist to be working for a public University to openly vilify a religion is UNACCEPTABLE.

When it came to race (Cosell) or gender (Imus), there was such a vast uproar across the nation that the two broadcasters didn't stand a chance. But when Ello compares Provo, UT to 1960's Birmingham, AL 18 MONTHS AGO and gets away with it? That's baffling, to say the least.

Despite what you may think about Mormonism, this is bigotry, and he made some incredibly stupid comments while being employed by a public University. He may think BYU is hypocritical, but the true hypocrisy is his current employment at San Diego State.

If we want to punish others for being racist or discriminatory, then it's HIGH TIME we start punishing public figures for religious slander.

Here are some comments on Ello's blog that I thoroughly enjoyed:

In your rant about how BYU has no honor I find it ironic that you don't see how you dishonor me as a San Diego St. Alum. While I am not Mormon, I have no I'll will towards any religion. In this column you talk about persecution of people in Utah based off of assumption while you in turn are persecuting Mormons. Don't you see that you are the hypocrite? I wish you had nothing to do with SDSU because you make us all look bad.

This individual should be thrown off the radio for such bigotry.

What kind of trash radio station employs such a bigot? Most irresponsible "journalist" I've ever heard on sports talk radio. Never do you, at anytime, back up a single claim with a source or a fact. Not with this stupid blog post or with your hate filled rant on the radio the other day. As a black BYU fan I can honestly say you are full of crap. I attended BYU and your 1960's claim is complete BS, I NEVER experienced racism at BYU. I couldn't fathom what it would have been like to have been alive during the civil rights movement. YOU, on the other hand, take a stroll through downtown Provo looking for a beer, cig, and a lap dance and suddenly you know what it was like to be treated like a black man in the 60's. Please, us Black folk don't need people like you making unsubstantiated claims and/or pulling the race card for us. Grow up.

As a black BYU student your comments are offensive and racist. How you are still on the radio is beyond me!!

Your religious bigotry and libel are beyond the pale. Had you directed your venom against a different class, religion, race, you would have been fired immediately.

Didn't BYU students elect a black candidate to be the student body president a few years ago???
Ya, sounds like a bunch of racists to me...


As a black BYU student I experienced much more racial discrimination back home in Kentucky than I ever have in Provo. I feel very much at ease when I walk around downtown Provo.

I have lived in AZ, Nevada, Utah and California. Utah is the least hostile towards blacks. Gays perhaps not as much -- don't ask, don't tell status. Though a very clean city with high morals and a desire to keep the city clean, Provo isn't perfect. Compared to San Diego, however, it is heaven vs. hades. At least I would consider raising my children in Provo. San Diego? No way!!! It isn't about bigotry or racism, it is about morality vs. immorality. Provo is a unique place in the entire world. Some people appreciate that it doesn't try to be anything else than it is -- but to say that it anything like you have described is a far stretch.

I live in San Diego, I am not Mormon. I am so shocked and offended by these comments, I am boycotting not only this writer but the station that continues to employ him also. Unbeleivable.

I love the SDSU apologists who try to justify this guy's behavior with their own anti-mormon rants!! Why is it that open season on Mormons is tolerated, while in our politically correct society the slightest misunderstanding becomes a cause celebre and grounds for lawsuits, protests, etc.? Seems like a double standard to me.