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ESPN football analyst Bob Griese apologized twice Saturday for a comment he made about NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya during ESPN's telecast of Ohio State and Minnesota. To promote Sunday's NASCAR race in Martinsville, ESPN displayed a graphic with the top five drivers in the points race. Color commentator Chris Spielman asked "Where's Montoya?"
"Out eating a taco," Griese responded.
If there was anything more remarkable than the tone-deaf nature of Griese's comments about the Colombian driver, it was that the remark was so audible, given how far Griese had just wedged his foot into his mouth.
Griese smartly apologized before the conclusion of the broadcast.
"Juan Pablo Montoya is one of the best drivers in NASCAR," Griese said shortly before the end of the game. "I just want to apologize for the comment I made earlier in the ballgame."
ESPN released a statement shortly afterward.
"During today's telecast of the Ohio State-Minnesota college football game on ESPN, analyst Bob Griese made an inappropriate comment when discussing NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya," the statement read. "Bob apologized during the telecast, and plans to apologize again [Saturday night] during ESPN's college football programming after his plane lands. ESPN has spoken to Bob and he understands that his comment was uncalled for."
Griese later made good on the promise, apologizing on air during ESPN's Saturday night telecast of Florida and Mississippi State.
"Earlier today on our game I made an offensive comment regarding Juan Pablo Montoya as part of a NASCAR promo," he said by phone. "It was regrettable and I should not have said it. I really enjoy NASCAR and I follow it closely and would like to take this opportunity to apologize to Juan, NASCAR and everyone else who heard my comment."
Griese isn't the only analyst to talk himself into trouble during a Big Ten broadcast. Three years ago, ESPN relieved Brian Kinchen of his duties after referring to a comment he had previously made about a receiver's "soft hands" as "kind of gay."
Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.
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