Griese suspended for remark about Montoya
Monday, Oct. 26, 2009
Bob Griese and Juan Pablo Montoya
Getty Images
MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 23: Juan Pablo Montoya, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, stands in the garage area prior to practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 23, 2009 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, N.Y. - ESPN college football TV analyst Bob Griese has been suspended for one game for using a racially insensitive comment toward NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya, network officials confirmed on Monday.
During the broadcast of Saturday's Minnesota-Ohio State football game and after ESPN ran a promo for last Sunday's race, pictures were displayed of the top five drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup standings.
"Where's Juan Pablo Montoya?" announcer Chris Spielman asked of the Colombian-born driver who fell out of the top-five last weekend.
"He's out having a taco," Griese replied.
Right before the broadcast went off the air Griese offered an apology. "Juan Pablo Montoya, he's one of the best drivers in NASCAR. Just want to apologize for the comment I made earlier in the ball game," he said.
Griese also apologized again during Saturday night's Florida-Mississippi State game.
Montoya was asked about Griese's comment following Sunday's race.
"I don't even know who he is," Montoya said. "Somebody mentioned it to me. I don't really care to tell you the truth. I could say I spent the last three hours eating tacos, but I was actually driving the car."
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