This is how to apologize

On November 13, Phil Jackson, coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, made the following statement after his team lost to the San Antonio Spurs:

"We call this a `Brokeback Mountain' game because there's so much penetration and kickouts."


To most of us sports fans, that's funny. Politically incorrect, but funny. Of course, Jackson got into trouble with the NBA and was forced to apologize. Usually in this instance, the offender consults with his spiritual adviser and checks himself into a rehab center. If anything remotely racist was said, the offender usually self-flagellates himself in front of Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson. In this case, Phil Jackson was having none of that. His response was more political incorrectness (from the Los Angeles Daily News):

"I want to thank all the journalists and TV people who thought it was humorous in the moment last night for their support in laughing, but in retrospect it wasn't funny," Jackson said before the Lakers faced the Houston Rockets.

"When you take it out of context, it wasn't funny," Jackson continued. "It was a poor attempt at humor and I deserved to be reprimanded by the NBA. If I offended any horses, Texans, cowboys or gays, I apologize."

Asked if he had left anyone out in his mea culpa, Jackson said, "Well, children."

Too many people are just looking to be offended. From now on, whenever someone gets in trouble for a funny politically incorrect comment, I suggest they respond with "If I offended any horses, Texans, cowboys or gays, I apologize."

And I suggest wearing this shirt when they make the apology.

[Online rant and cheap promotional attempt.]