Keith Olbermann Apologizes For Angel Reese Comments: VIDEO

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        Keith Olbermann Offers Half-Apology For Calling LSU's Angel Reese A 'F**king Idiot' After Backlash
    

        Chris Sorensen for The Washington Post via Getty Images; Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
    
Shaq and Samuel L. Jackson were among those who called out Olbermann's hypocrisy for criticizing Reese but not Iowa star Caitlin Clark for making the same gesture.
By AB KeithApr 05, 2023
AB Keith
AB Keith is an educator turned roadtripper who is currently teaching virtually while touring the USA.  Her dream is to visit all the national parks and create a series of nonfiction children's books about NP adventures through the eyes of her dog, Backpack Benny.
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On Sunday, Louisiana State (LSU) took on Iowa in the most-viewed NCAA women's basketball final in television history, drawing a whopping 9.9 million viewers. 
All eyes were on the teams' stars, LSU's Angel Reese and Iowa's Caitlin Clark, not only to witness their impressive handling and drive skills but also to catch some of both players' stellar competitiveness... and maybe a little of their infamous trash-talk.
Clark caused a bit of a stir prior to the finals game in the tournament due to some gestures made towards her defenders.
For example, during Iowa's game agains South Carolina, Clark deliberately left a guard wide open in the three range and even visibly brushed off the notion that the undefended player was a threat.
\u201cCaitlin Clark is cold af for this\u201d
 — Lindsey (@Lindsey)
        1680314560
Clark also responded to Louisville's Hailey Van Lith with John Cena's WWE taunt, "You can't see me."
\u201cThe you can\u2019t see me directed at Van Lith is ice cold. Caitlin Clark put on an absolute SHOW last night\u201d
 — Jack Barlow (@Jack Barlow)
        1679941035
Social media, as well as sports media outlets, had a field day with Clark's "competitive spirit" and "passionate energy."
Cut to Sunday night's game when LSU shut down Clark and defeated Iowa 102-85.
Reese decided to have a little fun of her own using Clark's tactics. 
She pointed to her ring finger—where her championship bling would rest—and then also used Cena's "You can't see me" gesture directed at her opponent.
\u201cANGEL REESE TO CAITLIN CLARK \ud83d\ude33\u201d
 — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter)
        1680472338
However, in contrast to her White rival, Reese's "passion" wasn't well received.
While many made derogatory comments on Reese's "unsportsmanlike conduct," journalist and commentator Keith Olbermann shared his thoughts on Twitter, calling the champion a "f**king idiot."
You read that right.
@KeithOlbermann/Twitter
But he wasn't finished.
Olbermann continued, additionally calling Reese "mindless" and "classless":
"Doesn't matter the gender, the sport, the background - you're seconds away from a championship and you do something like this and overshadow all the good.""Mindless, classless, and what kind of coach does this team have?"\u201cDoesn't matter the gender, the sport, the background - you're seconds away from a championship and you do something like this and overshadow all the good. Mindless, classless, and what kind of coach does this team have?\u201d
 — Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann)
        1680473156
Immediately, people called out Olbermann.
Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal for one had some sage advice, telling Obermann:
"Shut your dumb a** up leave Angel Reese alone."@SHAQ/Twitter
Even Samuel L. Jackson wonderfully analyzed Obermann's tweet, writing:
"Thanks for reminding us what Lil D*ck Energy actually, is Keith!!!"@SamuelLJackson/Twitter
Others criticized Olbermann and others making similar statements, exposing their double standards in regards to race.
\u201cWhen Caitlin Clark do the \u201c You can\u2019t see me\u201d hand gesture, it\u2019s \u201cpassionate energy.\u201d\n\nWhen Angel Reese does the same thing, it\u2019s \u201cunsportsmanlike\u201d.\n\nIt\u2019s something underlying here.\u201d
 — AK (@AK)
        1680473976

\u201cSame gesture...I wonder why so many people were upset when LSU's Angel Reese did the "You can't see me" but weren't upset when Iowa's Caitlin Clark did the same gesture against Louisville?   \n\nOh right...Racism.  Angel had the nerve to beat the "great white hope"\u201d
 — Pastor Rob Fleeceman (@Pastor Rob Fleeceman)
        1680523910
Olbermann attempted to clarify in a follow-up tweet, possibly an attempt at an apology, but it certainly fell short.
He tweeted:
"I apologize for being uninformed last night about the back story on this.""I don't follow hoops, college or pro, men or women.""I had no idea about Clark. Both were wrong."\u201cI apologize for being uninformed last night about the back story on this. I don't follow hoops, college or pro, men or women. I had no idea about Clark. Both were wrong.\n\nThis is what I said in today's Countdown podcast. 2nd segment, about 24 minutes in: https://t.co/JDYjXBrkWy\u201d
 — Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann)
        1680473156
No apology for calling Reese a "f**king idiot?"
"Mindless?"
"Classless?"
While the apology is at best half-hearted, Olbermann still didn't acknowledge the root of the issue—what social media was calling him out for in the first place.
@tonyposnanski/Twitter
\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson Congrats on winning your own The Worst Person in the World award today, Keith.\u201d
 — Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann)
        1680473156

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson Let me explain something Keith - white person to white person. When you "trash" Clark she can recoup and not face f'ing death threats b/c WHITE. When you "trash" Reese you put a target on her back because BLACK. But you are a cis-white guy in a position of power what do you care.\u201d
 — Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann)
        1680473156

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson You only did so to quell the flame you ignited with your bigotry. Your statement was put out almost a day after the original post. I understand you were doing some damage control but it was a tad too late.\u201d
 — Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann)
        1680473156

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson Racist clown\u201d
 — Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann)
        1680473156

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson Yeah but you called the black one a name \u201cDon\u2019t Insult our Intelligence \u201c\u201d
 — Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann)
        1680473156

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson Doesn't matter the gender or race, yet you just happen to be louder when it's certain races and genders \ud83e\udd14\u201d
 — Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann)
        1680473156

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson @KeithOlbermann, you\u2019re lying; nevertheless, why the need to trash either one? Identify the words in your 2nd tweet that point to Clark. What qualifies Reese for you \u201cf*cking idiot\u201d and \u201cclassless\u201d designation? Run, run far away and never look back.\u201d
 — Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann)
        1680473156

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson you're a fu@king idiot..\u201d
 — Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann)
        1680473156
On his podcast, Olbermann once again attempted to assuage the impact of his initial comments.
"Reese was named MVP of the tournament, and nobody will remember that, nor the LSU crown.""Just the fact that women's hoops has now achieved parity with the men; its stars can be classless winners who are willing to overshadow their own team's victories."Keep digging...
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On Sunday, Louisiana State (LSU) took on Iowa in the most-viewed NCAA women's basketball final in television history, drawing a whopping 9.9 million viewers.

All eyes were on the teams' stars, LSU's Angel Reese and Iowa's Caitlin Clark, not only to witness their impressive handling and drive skills but also to catch some of both players' stellar competitiveness... and maybe a little of their infamous trash-talk.

Clark caused a bit of a stir prior to the finals game in the tournament due to some gestures made towards her defenders.

For example, during Iowa's game agains South Carolina, Clark deliberately left a guard wide open in the three range and even visibly brushed off the notion that the undefended player was a threat.

\u201cCaitlin Clark is cold af for this\u201d
— Lindsey (@Lindsey) 1680314560

Clark also responded to Louisville's Hailey Van Lith with John Cena's WWE taunt, "You can't see me."

\u201cThe you can\u2019t see me directed at Van Lith is ice cold. Caitlin Clark put on an absolute SHOW last night\u201d
— Jack Barlow (@Jack Barlow) 1679941035

Social media, as well as sports media outlets, had a field day with Clark's "competitive spirit" and "passionate energy."

Cut to Sunday night's game when LSU shut down Clark and defeated Iowa 102-85.

Reese decided to have a little fun of her own using Clark's tactics.

She pointed to her ring finger—where her championship bling would rest—and then also used Cena's "You can't see me" gesture directed at her opponent.

\u201cANGEL REESE TO CAITLIN CLARK \ud83d\ude33\u201d
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) 1680472338

However, in contrast to her White rival, Reese's "passion" wasn't well received.

While many made derogatory comments on Reese's "unsportsmanlike conduct," journalist and commentator Keith Olbermann shared his thoughts on Twitter, calling the champion a "f**king idiot."

You read that right.

@KeithOlbermann/Twitter

But he wasn't finished.

Olbermann continued, additionally calling Reese "mindless" and "classless":

"Doesn't matter the gender, the sport, the background - you're seconds away from a championship and you do something like this and overshadow all the good."

"Mindless, classless, and what kind of coach does this team have?"

\u201cDoesn't matter the gender, the sport, the background - you're seconds away from a championship and you do something like this and overshadow all the good. Mindless, classless, and what kind of coach does this team have?\u201d
— Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann) 1680473156

Immediately, people called out Olbermann.

Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal for one had some sage advice, telling Obermann:

"Shut your dumb a** up leave Angel Reese alone."

@SHAQ/Twitter

Even Samuel L. Jackson wonderfully analyzed Obermann's tweet, writing:

"Thanks for reminding us what Lil D*ck Energy actually, is Keith!!!"

@SamuelLJackson/Twitter

Others criticized Olbermann and others making similar statements, exposing their double standards in regards to race.

\u201cWhen Caitlin Clark do the \u201c You can\u2019t see me\u201d hand gesture, it\u2019s \u201cpassionate energy.\u201d\n\nWhen Angel Reese does the same thing, it\u2019s \u201cunsportsmanlike\u201d.\n\nIt\u2019s something underlying here.\u201d
— AK (@AK) 1680473976

\u201cSame gesture...I wonder why so many people were upset when LSU's Angel Reese did the "You can't see me" but weren't upset when Iowa's Caitlin Clark did the same gesture against Louisville? \n\nOh right...Racism. Angel had the nerve to beat the "great white hope"\u201d
— Pastor Rob Fleeceman (@Pastor Rob Fleeceman) 1680523910

Olbermann attempted to clarify in a follow-up tweet, possibly an attempt at an apology, but it certainly fell short.

He tweeted:

"I apologize for being uninformed last night about the back story on this."

"I don't follow hoops, college or pro, men or women."

"I had no idea about Clark. Both were wrong."

\u201cI apologize for being uninformed last night about the back story on this. I don't follow hoops, college or pro, men or women. I had no idea about Clark. Both were wrong.\n\nThis is what I said in today's Countdown podcast. 2nd segment, about 24 minutes in: https://t.co/JDYjXBrkWy\u201d
— Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann) 1680473156

No apology for calling Reese a "f**king idiot?"

"Mindless?"

"Classless?"

While the apology is at best half-hearted, Olbermann still didn't acknowledge the root of the issue—what social media was calling him out for in the first place.

@tonyposnanski/Twitter

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson Congrats on winning your own The Worst Person in the World award today, Keith.\u201d
— Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann) 1680473156

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson Let me explain something Keith - white person to white person. When you "trash" Clark she can recoup and not face f'ing death threats b/c WHITE. When you "trash" Reese you put a target on her back because BLACK. But you are a cis-white guy in a position of power what do you care.\u201d
— Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann) 1680473156

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson You only did so to quell the flame you ignited with your bigotry. Your statement was put out almost a day after the original post. I understand you were doing some damage control but it was a tad too late.\u201d
— Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann) 1680473156

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson Racist clown\u201d
— Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann) 1680473156

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson Yeah but you called the black one a name \u201cDon\u2019t Insult our Intelligence \u201c\u201d
— Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann) 1680473156

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson Doesn't matter the gender or race, yet you just happen to be louder when it's certain races and genders \ud83e\udd14\u201d
— Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann) 1680473156

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson @KeithOlbermann, you\u2019re lying; nevertheless, why the need to trash either one? Identify the words in your 2nd tweet that point to Clark. What qualifies Reese for you \u201cf*cking idiot\u201d and \u201cclassless\u201d designation? Run, run far away and never look back.\u201d
— Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann) 1680473156

\u201c@KeithOlbermann @SamuelLJackson you're a fu@king idiot..\u201d
— Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann) 1680473156

On his podcast, Olbermann once again attempted to assuage the impact of his initial comments.

"Reese was named MVP of the tournament, and nobody will remember that, nor the LSU crown."

"Just the fact that women's hoops has now achieved parity with the men; its stars can be classless winners who are willing to overshadow their own team's victories."

Keep digging...

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Keith Olbermann Offers Half-Apology For Calling LSU's Angel Reese A 'F**king Idiot' After Backlash

Shaq and Samuel L. Jackson were among those who called out Olbermann's hypocrisy for criticizing Reese but not Iowa star Caitlin Clark for making the same gesture.

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