In a true sign of someone not getting the situation, Dan Hampton has somewhat apologized for the comments he made on last weekend’s Pro Football Weekly program, syndicated to Comcast SportsNet and some Fox Sports Net affiliates across the country. If you don’t remember, Hampton said the Minnesota Vikings should hit the New Orleans Saints “like Katrina.” Yes, Hurricane Katrina, in the city that was hard hit and is still feeling the effects five years later.
So after getting lambasted by blogs (like this one), Hampton has come out with an apology pretty much blaming you, yes you (me included) for misinterpreting his comments. Here’s his written statement which is posted at the Pro Football Weekly site. I have stolen it from there.
Dan Hampton’s statement and apology for Katrina comments
I would like to offer my most sincere apologies to everyone who was offended in any way by my reference to Hurricane Katrina in our most recent “Pro Football Weekly” TV show.
It was a spur-of-the-moment comment intended strictly as a metaphor for the storm-like intensity I believe the Vikings will bring to their rematch with the Saints, and it simply never occurred to me that anyone could read anything more than that into it.
I have nothing but the deepest respect and greatest admiration for the people of the Gulf Coast, and I am horrified that even one of you would think I would make light of the terror Katrina wrought, and that I have clearly offended so many of you.
I realize now it was a terrible choice of words, and I offer absolutely no excuses. I screwed up, about as badly as I could, and I am deeply and profoundly sorry.
— Dan Hampton
You still don’t get it, Dan and you probably never will.
