"Anyone who thinks I am gone is mistaken," - Tommy Smyth
Dundalk Democrat
'Legendary Commentator Hits Back '
By Gary McLaughlin
Knockbridge man and legendary ESPN commentator Tommy Smyth has hit back at a national newspaper which painted him out to be racist and also made the allegation that he was to be taken off the air.
Smyth, who moved to America in 1963, was lambasted by an article last week that included a number of quotes from people who openly despise the announcer. But the Knockbridge man has hit back and told the Dundalk Democrat that “Anyone who thinks I am gone is mistaken.”
He continued: “If you seen the article, they attacked my Louth accent, but why can't a Knockbridge man have a Louth accent? It was ridiculous.” The article also went on to mention that people openly despise Tommy's catchphrase 'One more bulge in the onion bag' and that he received death threats.
He continued: “If you seen the article, they attacked my Louth accent, but why can't a Knockbridge man have a Louth accent? It was ridiculous.” The article also went on to mention that people openly despise Tommy's catchphrase 'One more bulge in the onion bag' and that he received death threats.
“The story that appeared was originally supposed to be about my catchphrase but they tried to paint me out as a racist for some of the comments I made during my time but some of their facts were wrong.
“I try to make sure that my facts are correct at all times. People have their own opinions, but that article got a lot of facts wrong.
“Also If you have a couple of million people watching and 300 people write in complaining, then you are only talking about a small percentage of the audience.”
Smyth was awarded 'the highest honour any Irish man can have' when he led the New York St Patrick's Day parade as the Grand Marshal in 2008.
“Being the Grand Marshal is the biggest honour any Irish person can have bestowed on them.
“The stuff said in that article is a world away from football and they said my contract has been cancelled when in fact I just signed a new three year contract with ESPN. We still have La Liga, Serie A, World Cup, and a lot of other football shows that I present.”
“Being the Grand Marshal is the biggest honour any Irish person can have bestowed on them.
“The stuff said in that article is a world away from football and they said my contract has been cancelled when in fact I just signed a new three year contract with ESPN. We still have La Liga, Serie A, World Cup, and a lot of other football shows that I present.”
One comment that really got to Smyth was one that attributed him to this quote: 'If your cat had kittens inside an oven, would you call them scones?'" The article tried to say he was talking about a black Polish player Emmanuel Olisadebe. But Tommy insists the writer got his facts wrong. “I was on about English born players John Aldridge playing for Ireland, insisting that just because they were not born in Ireland, does not mean they are not Irish.”
“I am proud of my work and what I do and I will be around for a while yet. It is hard to knock down anyone from Knockbridge.”
“I am proud of my work and what I do and I will be around for a while yet. It is hard to knock down anyone from Knockbridge.”
Tommy Smyth Subject of Vicious Anti Irish Rant
(Previously Posted )
Louth native, New York Irish American and ESPN broadcaster Tommy Smyth has been the subject of a vicious verbal racist attack in The Sports Blog on guardian.co.uk, a website of the English newspaper, The Guardian.
In verbiage, the hallmark of the worst excesses of vitriolic anti- Irish hate language, spewed by Guardian "journalist" Steven Wells, Smyth's accent, Irish nationality, culture and years of Irish American activism were savagely denigrated. Criticising his broadcasting syle and perceived lack of soccer knowledge is fair comment, as Smyth, himself, who has endured the "slings and arrows" of being in the "Public Square" for many years, would no doubt concede. However, ridiculing his accent, demeaning his culture and nationality and by implication insulting all Irish expatriates who are proud of their roots and who refuse to suppress their "brogue", most certainly is not.
Wells conjured up two obviously insecure, self hating "Irish" men to throw the proverbial substance. Real or fictitious na buachailli also did not forgo an opportunity to take a swipe at the "thick . . . yanks". Of course, given the leftwing, anti American bent of The Guardian, that was to be expected. Cass Crockatt . . . Hmmm! Would he be one of the Crockatts of Ballygurteen or perhaps Teampalfeckin or Crois na Leanbh? Gleann na Phuca? You know the Crockatts . . . ? What! Never heard of . . .
Of course, it is unimaginable that Wells would spew similar invective regarding a Black or, indeed, Muslim broadcaster. Such is the sensitivity in the UK regarding not offending said demographics that Mr. Wells would quickly find himself seeking alternative employment. Judging by the intensity of recent Muslim protests, he would also be seeking a new identity. Oh why . . . oh but why . . . are the Irish not one of the protected species?
We are unequivocably supportive of the right of the hack to express himself. However, too often, the denizens of the Fourth Estate, arrogantly and mistakenly assume that doctrines like the First Amendment cloak them with immunity regarding their utterances and scratchings no matter how insulting or injurious. While said doctines give them right to rant, they do not absolve them of any repercussions. The immutable law of physics applies: "For every action there is a reaction."
And for those activists who exercise themsleves regarding the annual production of Leprechaun greeting cards, this is the real deal. Anti Irish racism, as bad as it gets! No mistakening the message! Tommy Smyth is a real Irish American, our friend and neighbor . . . to use an Irish colluquialism that is sure to further irritate Mr. Wells and his "Irish " co - conspriators . . . Tommy is one of our "lads"! - Irish American News & Opinion
"Amazing that in a sports setting that an English paper manages to be so anti Irish. OK, its fair game that you may disagree with Tommy's style or the way he does things. They managed under the guise of having an Irish guy make the statements to condemn Tommy's accent, the Saint Patrick's Day parade and pub culture. I guess the English will never change. They still hate to see an Irishman do well." - Tommy Smyth fan, New York
"Smyth's brogue, which is as powerful now as when Smyth emigrated to the U.S. in 1963. 'In each of the years that he's left County Louth, his accent has gotten stronger to such an extent that he's now 94% angry leprechaun . . . He almost makes me ashamed to be Irish. How to Jaysus does the Bollix keep his job. It goes to show how thick the yanks are.'" - Excerpt
"Smyth's brogue, which is as powerful now as when Smyth emigrated to the U.S. in 1963. 'In each of the years that he's left County Louth, his accent has gotten stronger to such an extent that he's now 94% angry leprechaun . . . He almost makes me ashamed to be Irish. How to Jaysus does the Bollix keep his job. It goes to show how thick the yanks are.'" - Excerpt
Read the rabid racist rant:
Protest to the UK Press Complaints Commission: complaints@pcc.org.uk
Protest to The Guardian: reader@guardian.co.uk
Attn: Siobhain Butterworth
