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For the second time in less than a week, ESPN analyst Lou Holtz has apologized for comments he made on the air. This time, the comments were more egregious and the fallout will be more severe.

During halftime of yesterday's Georgia Tech-Clemson game, Holtz gave an awkward apology, never saying what he was apologizing for other than that he had made comments about Michigan Coach Rich Rodriguez.

On Friday night, Holtz said, "Ya know, Hitler was a great leader too." When Rece Davis tried to bail Holtz out by telling him that he meant to say Hitler was a bad leader, Holtz agreed.

But the bottom line is, Holtz made a reference to Hitler, while working for ESPN. And ESPN previously suspended Jemele Hill for a Hitler reference.

ESPN has issued a statement saying Holtz will not be disciplined. What do you guys think? Should Holtz be suspended? I'm sure he didn't mean it in the way it came out but in my opinion, any public figure dumb enough to ever compare someone to Adolf Hitler deserves to be reprimanded. It's just plain stupid.

read more: CFB, Conversation, lou holtz, tommy rider

36 Comments:

	posted by Floridachad on 10/19/2008 8:51 AM Honestly, this guy shouldn't have been on the air in the first place. As he's grown older, listening to him has become unbearable. Once this story gets bigger, and it will, ESPN will be pressured into letting Holtz go.
	posted by Tommy Rider on 10/19/2008 8:56 AM Plus last week he swore on the air when he was arguing with Mark May about who is the Heisman front-runner. Every time I turn on the TV this bumbling old fool is apologizing for something.
	posted by footballer on 10/19/2008 11:10 AM Ah what the hell---Holtz is a comedian, and becoming senile, but for the most part still entertaining. We have become so sensitive over what someone says, the politically correct police need to get a life--or a job. The old sticks and stones adage applys here. If your mama calls you a bastard, that matters. Lou holtz means nothing to me so he can say what he wants I couldn't care less. We all know there was no derogatory intent here.
	posted by Tommy Rider on 10/19/2008 12:39 PM Footballer, Being overly PC and comparing someone to the worst human being to ever live are two totally different things my friend.
	posted by Floridachad on 10/19/2008 12:48 PM Exactly right Tommy. I'm not a PC guy as many of you have seen by my dick and fart joke types postings, and there are very few things that I find offensive; homophobes, racists, and sexists among them. Lou Holtz may have meant no harm in his comment, but a lot of Jewish people are going to be offended by his remark, and rightfully so. I'll step off the soapbox now
	posted by Tommy Rider on 10/19/2008 12:52 PM Agreed Chad. Plus, I always say, "Don't ever mention the name Adolf Hitler." Why do it? It's dumb and you know that name is going to offend people. I agree Holtz didn't mean it the way it sounded but why ever utter the name Adolf Hitler in the first place if you are a sports analyst? If anything, he should be suspended for being a moron.
	posted by Ty Bailey on 10/19/2008 1:31 PM I am not old enough to have lived during WWII, nor am I Jewish. However, for anyone to state that Hitler was a Great Leader, is either mentally unstable or a self-absorbed, self centered poor excuse for a human being. ESPN, Shame On You!!!!!!!!!
	posted by xau on 10/19/2008 2:08 PM George W Bush is a great leader.
	posted by mrfreeze on 10/19/2008 2:42 PM Adolph Hitler WAS a great LEADER. He was NOT a great PERSON. Holtz' reference to his leadership ability was not a reference to his intentions. What is the definition of a leader? If he were a bad leader, could he have convinced millions of people to support and follow him? Dr. Lou shouldn't have to apologize for anything. He was not saying that Hitler was great, and why should we be censored to make it seem as if Hitler never existed? Why must we pretend that bad things never happened? I mean.. if it were like that, we'd have to forget that the USA invaded Iraq because Saddam Hussein was a global threat, and had "Weapons of Mass Destruction". We wouldn't want to do that, would we? Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. If we're forced to pretend that the past didn't happen, we're vulnerable to similar occurrences in the future. Talking about a bad person does not mean you think that person was good, and anyone who is offended by it has too much time on their hands.
	posted by Tommy Rider on 10/19/2008 2:47 PM The guy left the country in ruins. lol Getting people to follow him because they feared for their lives is being a great leader? I want you to follow me or I'm going to kill your kids. I guess I'm a great leader. He shouldn't have mentioned Hitler. There are plenty of other people he could have picked. Period.
	posted by Tommy Rider on 10/19/2008 2:48 PM And no one is saying we have to pretend bad things never happened. We are saying don't compare the head coach of Michigan to a man who had millions of people murdered. I don't think that's asking too much.
	posted by Floridachad on 10/19/2008 2:50 PM LOL at xau. Good stuff. strategery..heh heh
	posted by xau on 10/19/2008 3:45 PM If Hitler didn't hate, murder people and did not invade other countries he would of been seen by current Western history as a great leader. Germany was in a hyper inflationary depression before Hitler was elected leader and he turned that shit around. Hitler was "Times Person Of The Year" for what he accomplished. But in the long run it turned out Hitler was a hateful sociopath asshole who murdered millions.
	posted by footballer on 10/19/2008 6:53 PM REMEMBER THE "PRODUCERS"? A MOVIE ABOUT A SCAMMING THEATRE PRODUCER---THE NAME OF THE PLAY? "SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER". WRITTEN BY AND ACTED BY JEWISH PEOPLE. SO THAT WAS OK. WE HAD BETTER BE MORE CONCERNED WITH MUSLIM OBAMA ------HE MAY MAKE HITLER LOOK LIKE A BOY SCOUT.
	posted by indybob on 10/19/2008 8:15 PM I was at a talk Lou gave in Indianapolis on Oct 13. After hearing his talk, I think his problem is he just isn't as dumb as he tries to be. Hitler did perform highly motivational leadership and was effective - just that he was the most evil person known to humanity. Lou's point was too subtle - I watched the comment as it happened, got it, and wasn't offended....May and Davis aren't bright enough to get it probably or maybe they are and just knew that Lou was throwing himself under the bus. Interestingly, his talk on Monday included an introduction by the Notre Dame AD (we all remember that Catholic anti-semitism was among the reasons the US failed to act and save many Jewish lives, right?). Probably doesn't mean anything - but wonder about the real conversations and real convictions of those involved in the discussion. Raphael Lemkin is rolling in his grave....
	posted by Lou Holtz on 10/20/2008 4:15 AM You are all idiots... clearly Herr Hitler was not only a great leader.. but a great visionary as well. Just look how Se Jews completely control your monetar system, media, freedoms TODAY. As well as dictating when and where you put you own military in harms way... Se Jew control AMERICA
	posted by Skim172 on 10/20/2008 6:21 AM In the objective historical perspective, Hitler was indeed able to accomplish some big things in organizing and commanding Nazi Germany. It is, however, image suicide to say he was "great" on national TV. But, he probably will survive unscathed. He's a highly respected columnist, coach, and show host with lots of standing in the journalism community. Jemele Hill is hardly a household name and was easier to push around. The fact that she's a woman in the sports journalism community probably didn't help. Personally, I think Holtz is long past time he turned in his press badge. The guy's demented ravings have grown steadily more bizarre every season. Last season, he rambled on for five minutes before the Navy-ND game - some story about when he was in college, he had a friend who didn't swim very well, but they both went out for the swim team because there was this special girl they both had in mind and then one time they were out swimming in a river for some reason and he knew his friend was struggling and might not make it but he decided not to help his drowning friend because that would make him stronger. Yeah.
	posted by The Dude on 10/20/2008 11:13 AM I heard in rehearsals that they had originally gone with Stalin and Mussolini but Holtz kept spitting all over Camera 1.
	posted by Tony George on 10/20/2008 12:29 PM Lou Holtz is an idiot. he is the WORST analyist on TV, and Mark May mays him look like a bafoon, and Mark May aint all that great either. So that is saying something. Lou needs to hang it up and turn in his micrphone and call it a career. Sooner or later, with his emotion, he is going to say something out of left field that will end up a big part of his legacy- like Jimmy The Greek. Lou deserves better than that, he was once a great coach...time to let it go Lou!! You are making me turn the channel or hit MUTE!!!!
	posted by Matt in Quincy on 10/20/2008 12:46 PM I wish Randy Cross would mention Hitler during a broadcast. Maybe then he would get canned. God he sucks.
	posted by Matt In Quincy on 10/20/2008 12:56 PM By the way, isn't it a little silly to discuss the merits of Hitler as a leader on this blog? He lead by fear and intimidation and destroyed his country. Oh yeah, and he had 6 million Jews exterminated. I find it's pretty much a good idea not to mention the following people in a positive context: Adolph Hitler Osama Bin Laden Timothy McVeigh No matter what point you are trying to make, it's going to come out wrong and probably offend a few people, regardless of what your intentions were.
	posted by John on 10/20/2008 5:05 PM Who cares who is offended? The truth is an offense but not a sin. You people saying Hitler ruled by intimidation and fear are idiots. He didn't start killing people until AFTER he took over the country, AFTER he rebuilt their ecomony, AFTER he built the powerful nation that committed atoricities. He didn't say Hitler was a great person who should be looked up to and admired. The fact is, Hitler had a way with people, he inspired his nation. Holtz shouldn't have had to apologize for anything. He didn't even say anything offensive. He is simply making a point that being a good LEADER does not mean that what you lead your people to do will be GREAT.
	posted by dude on 10/20/2008 8:58 PM Because of the great vision of Hitler and his willingness to use humans for experimental purposes, the effects of pressurization on the body became known.
	posted by l999TL on 10/20/2008 11:25 PM Hitler was a great LEADER, just his ideals were srewed up. But he got people to believe. No denyingthat.
	posted by Pimp on 10/21/2008 3:13 PM LOU HOLTZ IS THE MAN WHO GIVES A S*** WAT HE SAID ABOUT HILTER THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO AND NO JEWS CARE NOW
	posted by we we on 11/25/2008 7:10 AM you guy need to listening and watch Lou Holts every football games.Because the old guy know what he talking about event if not a football subject. .Every words he said had value to it
	posted by westcoastfishdoc on 11/25/2008 9:29 AM Just the blog value of all the comments on board here make the off hand comments or out of contex comments ,seem irrelevent,i agree Holt means well but he is just a football man not a historian .It s too bad he came to broad cast booth at a late age in his life.he is good value for ESPN with his color commentary if he stuck too football that would be ok.
	posted by charner on 11/25/2008 1:27 PM Does no one understand the difference in a good person and a good leader. Gangs that do drugs and terrible acts have a following because they have a good leader, not a moral, and good person that is an asset to society. Someone can lead you straight to HELL. That does make them a good person. My two cents
	posted by suck my ditka on 09/14/2009 2:01 PM everybody shut up. Hitler did things as a leader no one has or ever will again. All the things were awful acts, he made an entire country follow him. And to the moron up there who said he did it with fear, shut up. Hitler brainwashed his people, most of the citizens of nazi germany agreed with the information Hitler feed them. As for Holtz, he is a person who has revolutionized nearly everything he has tried to do. He is a great humanist, also although he repeats statements in his speeches, they do pump you up. He may be dillusional, but Mark May is a fool. Hid snide attitude makes everything he says unbearable. Can you really hate a tiny 70 year old man with a lisp, who lead a team to essentially two national championships. 1988, and 1993 (one of the greatest blunders in college history)
	posted by Floridachad on 09/14/2009 2:04 PM Yeah, everyone that said these things 10 months ago should suck it!
	posted by gatorbait59 on 09/14/2009 2:30 PM Frankly, after his Notre dame playing in the BCS title game statement, ESPN should of fired him on the spot. If Jemel Hill was suspended for dropping the Hitler remark, then Corny Old-Ass Holtz should be suspended as well. This goes to show you that ESPN gives a damn about female workers, but will give a deuschbag a slap on the wrist.
	posted by Floridachad on 09/14/2009 2:40 PM Every time you disrespect ESPN, Chris Berman sexually assaults an intern. True story.
	posted by Toolio on 09/14/2009 2:49 PM Was a great leader , just had some screwed up beliefs. You try and get that many people to follow you !
	posted by Rob Crowne on 09/15/2009 7:35 AM SUCK MY DITKA said: "Can you really hate a tiny 70 year old man with a lisp, who lead a team to essentially two national championships . . . ." Of course no one can hate a tiny 70-year-old man with a lisp who likes to hang out in locker rooms with young men. The gay rights tolerance people wouldn't tolerate it. We'd all be suspended and black balled from our jobs.
	posted by Dan Bebe on 09/15/2009 9:25 AM It's a heck of a lot easier to get people to follow you when your country is badly impoverished and you can find a "common enemy" to blame it on. When Hitler told his country they were poor and ill because of [insert minority here], it was as simple as blasting propaganda throughout his domain to keep everyone following him. He was NOT a great leader - he capitalized on a sick, desperate population in need of an easy solution. May he rot in hell. As for Lou Holtz, it's time to hang it up. If Hitler is the best "leader" you can come up with, it's time to go back to 10th grade history. Might I suggest, perhaps, in an effort to keep from looking like an ass, picking an American as a starting point? We have had a few over the last 200-someodd years.
	posted by freeneasy on 09/15/2009 10:22 PM i think that hitler was a great industrialist and had he continued along the path of industry i believe he could have made a tremendous contribution to world econemy. the world would have welcomed his ideals and sought to imitate those ideals. his hatered for the jews and lust for world domination was long before he came to power and got the betterof him.. i believe that had he thought it thru and remained patient i think he could of convinced poland, yukoslavia, and the other surrounding slavic countries to unite with germany under one nation, with him as their leader, advancing and modernizing those joining nations with the latest advancements in industrial technology, creating good and satisfing prosperity while building up the military strength in each of those countries then hitler would have had a much greater advantage and possibly 3 times the power he had when he started ww2. but ya gotta luv lou no matter how funny and annoying he can be