In our politically correct world where a hungry media drools over every comment you make, we've gotten to the point where things are beyond ridiculous.

Take the ESPN suspension of Bob Griese.  In a brilliant column penned by TY Duffy in the "Big Lead", he points out that perhaps Griese wasn't being racist, but actually sincere.  He said Juan Pablo Montoya was out eating a taco.  Forgetting for the moment Montoya is from Columbia. Griese was correct.  Mexicans eat tacos.  If it were soccer we'd been talking about and the whereabouts of David Beckham were being discussed and Griese responded "he's out having a cup of tea" or "he's eating fish and chips" no one would care.  But because public opinion, networks and especially pressure groups hear things totally out of context, Griese's comments were immediately interpreted as racist, he was forced to apologize and he was suspended for a week.

This is ESPN's way of saying "See!  We've dealt with this!  He's apologized!  We've suspended him! Please, don't boycott our advertisers! And to our partner, NASCAR, we've got your back!" 

The guy who is the victim here isn't Juan Pablo Montoya, it's Bob Griese.  In fact, Montoya won't even talk about it.

Now, granted, Larry Johnson used stronger language, but as I have said over and over, I have no problem with the word fagot.  It implies a less manly man, not necessarily a homosexual one.  I hate the phrase "homosexual slur" because it seems every time a heterosexual male calls another male a "fagot", it becomes a big issue.  It shouldn't be.

Look, homosexuality is a lifestyle, not a race.  It is far different to call someone the "n" word than a fagot.  I'll debate that issue with anyone.  Calling someone a "fagot" is like calling a red head "carrot top." Granted name calling is a little juvenile, but still, it's not racist. The worst insult any hetro man can hurl at another hetro man is calling him a "c*^&S#$er."  In my neighborhood, if you called another guy that, be prepared to duck because a right hook was about to be aimed at the side of your head.

I think the reaction to the Larry Johnson issue is way overboard, but again, the NFL and the Chiefs are covering their assets, wanting to avoid bad pub, loss of revenue and protests.

Larry Johnson may get cut from the Chiefs or suspended for uttering a word that not only doesn't bother most straight men, but that they use on a regular basis.  It's unfortunate he said it because the damage is done, mostly to himself.