TNT play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon apologized on the air twice and in person to Gonzaga center Przemek Karnowski after referring to him as a “polack” during Friday’s telecast of the Gonzaga-Oklahoma State West Regional Round of 64 game.
“Polack” is usually considered to be a derogatory term to describe Polish people.
When Oklahoma State was trailing, Cowboys players started fouling Karnowski, the center from Poland who barely makes half of his free throws. That is when Catalon said Oklahoma State was employing the “hack-a-Polack” strategy.
Mr. @AndrewCatalon has just apologized in my person and I really appreciate it! But the most important thing right now is we have this W!
— Przemek Karnowski (@PKarnowski) March 21, 2014
Catalon apologized twice on the air, and Karnowski said he apologized to him in person after the game. Former Duke basketball player Mike Gminski, who was doing color commentary and is of Polish descent, did not think it was too big of a deal, saying that he would “take care” of it.
Gonzaga won 85-77 and will face No. 1 Arizona on Sunday in San Diego in a West Regional Round of 32 battle for a trip to the Sweet 16 in Anaheim.
Photo: Getty
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