Head football coach Bob Grisham linked to gay slurs at school & calls M. Obama "fat gorilla"

[TotallyOz]

Lauderdale County High School Head Coach's Hate Speech is hard to listen to. Click the link at the bottom and head the actual audio.

School district officials are investigating allegations that a Lauderdale County High School teacher made slurs in the presence of students regarding first lady Michelle Obama and gays. Superintendent Jennifer Gray confirmed the investigation concerns the school’s head football coach, Bob Grisham, who also teaches driver’s education and psychology.

The investigation includes a 1-minute, 24-second audiotape of Grisham asking who knows who is behind the 600-calorie school lunch.

“Fat butt Michelle Obama,” he said. “Look at her. She looks like she weighs 185 or 190. She’s overweight.”

Male voices interject comments during the discussion, at one point referring to Michelle Obama as a “fat gorilla.”

Later in the tape, Grisham referred to the U.S. as going in the “wrong direction” and tells the students they can “get pissed off at me or not. You can go tell the principal, call the superintendent and tell her. I don’t believe in queers. I don’t like queers, I don’t hate them as a person, but what they do is wrong and an abomination against God.” The tape was reportedly recorded by a student Monday and took place on school campus during the school day.

Grisham told the TimesDaily on Wednesday afternoon he misspoke. “I misspoke in a debate-type situation,” he said. “I have no hatred toward anyone or any group. People that know my heart, they know that.”

For the full story:
http://timesdaily.com/stories/Teacher-linked-to-gay-slurs-at-school,201960

Be sure to read the comments at the bottom of that article as well. What a moron this guy is!

[MsGuy]

His football team this past season advanced to the state quarterfinals before being eliminated.

Let's not over-react here, OZ.

Just recall what happened to the Saints when Sean Payton got suspended.

Great football coaches don't grow on trees!

[Guest zipperzone]

Let's not over-react here, OZ.

Just recall what happened to the Saints when Sean Payton got suspended.

Great football coaches don't grow on trees!

Right - sometimes they are found under rocks.

[MsGuy]

Right - sometimes they are found under rocks.

hahahahahahaha...

[Guest FourAces]

Just like the old saying pick your battles I think we need to pick our haters ... it might be we give a little too much attention to some of the bottom dwellers who really will have little impact. Maybe as gay people we need to set our sights on those who can actually do damage to use with their evilness. Just my thoughts

[AdamSmith]

Now, if he had called us nappy-headed ho's...

[Guest hitoallusa]

He is just jealous of Michelle Obama..

[Guest hitoallusa]

When our community is strong and truly cares about one another then this kind of an attack doesn't matter too much...

[TotallyOz]

When our community is strong and truly cares about one another then this kind of an attack doesn't matter too much...

I really disagree! This kind of attack matters as there are kids in his class that may be gay and are now pushed back in the closet and perhaps never have a good life because of this man. It matters a great deal.

[AdamSmith]

I am with Oz. ESPECIALLY with this man being a high school teacher whose authority and influence many kids there may have simply have little realistic way of avoiding or escaping. He should hang high.

[Guest hitoallusa]

I didn't mean that way. My point is that as long as we are strong as a community and do positive things, things like this won't matter that much.

[TotallyOz]

I didn't mean that way. My point is that as long as we are strong as a community and do positive things, things like this won't matter that much.

hitoallusa, I love your positive attitude. I still disagree. Things that this man does impacts us greatly. There are 2 petitions on moveon.org about this. One was created days ago and is trying to get him fired. The other was was created much more recent and has about the same number of signatures. That tells you where the hearts and minds of the people is his red neck, hillbilly, backward ass, racist town stand! Fuck Bob Grisham and fuck the people that support that asshole. I hope they all rot in hell!

[Guest hitoallusa]

Sometimes I think this world is hell itself... so we are all rotting in hell anyway... In that light I want to forgive them.. I see your point and I won't argue with you...

[MsGuy]

That tells you where the hearts and minds of the people is his red neck, hillbilly, backward ass, racist town stand!

Which is exactly why I pointed out his football team made State Quarterfinals last year. It's all about priorities, OZ.

(sigh)

[TotallyOz]

Suspended without pay for ONLY 10 days. Good ole Alabama boys ey?

http://timesdaily.com/stories/Board-suspends-Grisham-10-days-for-comments,202171

[Guest hitoallusa]

Well I think firing him would be a bit harsh. Let's give him a second chance to start over.

[TotallyOz]

Well I think firing him would be a bit harsh. Let's give him a second chance to start over.

Yes, they gave Hitler a second chance as well. It didn't turn out so well.

[Guest hitoallusa]

I believe there are many cases where people use their second chance well. I am not going to let one bad example (Hitler) hinder others getting their second chances..

[TotallyOz]

I believe there are many cases where people use their second chance well. I am not going to let one bad example (Hitler) hinder others getting their second chances..

That is because you are a good sweet man.

I am not.

I would have fired this pig fucker Bob Grisham. Yes, I said it. Bob Grisham from Rogersville, Alabama is a piece of shit. I had teachers like this 30 years ago. They should all be retired now. This one is still there to corrupt the minds of our young people. Shame on him. Shame on the board that didn't fire him.

[Guest hitoallusa]

Well there are many people who think like him. I believe it's the result of poor quality in education. Some people are not trained to think or think for themselves. Challenging them to do so is also difficult because they have lived their whole life like that accepting what others feed them. They simply can't think. A few who should find a way to help them think exploit them and live a good life at the expense of these helpless people who can't think for themselves. It's not that I'm sweet. I feel sorry for them. They could go further , achieve more and do better than people who exploit their very weakness, yet they choose to be slaves in a society where slavery has been abolished..Sometimes I think slavery has not ended. I find it unfortunate but we will make progress. Physical slavery has ended, women fought back their rights, gay rights are slowly recognized... The next step is anti slavery of one's mind...

[TotallyOz]

Last week, 49ers safety Chris Culliver was lampooned for his disembodied apology after claiming his homophobic rant during a radio interview on Super Bowl media day had no connection to the values he holds in his heart.

And yet, somehow an Alabama high school teacher and coach has made the same non-apology for another rant -- only this anti-gay diatribe was in front of students and included a disrespectful reference to the First Lady as "fat butt Michelle Obama."

Bob Grisham, who is a psychology teacher and football coach Lauderdale County High School in Rogersville, Ala., has been suspended for 10 days without pay and must attend sensitivity training. He explained his one minute and 24 second rant by telling the local newspaper, "I misspoke in a debate-type situation. I have no hatred toward anyone or any group. People that know my heart, they know that."

You have to admit, it was a far superior non-apology to the more transparent, "I'm sorry if anyone was offended."

What puts Grisham's comments in a different universe from Culliver's? He expressed his venom in an educational setting, in the role of a teacher. So let's take a look at some of the values this coach is passing along.

Forget showing respect for authority, or women, or women in positions of authority. The First Lady, an attorney by trade, has made nutrition her signature effort, and installed a vegetable garden at the White House. And yet she can be openly ridiculed because of her body. That's a horrible message to send to the girls assigned to Grisham's psychology class.

And as a psychology teacher, Grisham should be aware that adolescent girls often wrestle with their body image. And, at its worst, that struggle can devolve into eating disorders. His remarks only reinforce the notion that, yes, you are being judged on your size young ladies.

That would be bad enough. But Grisham is also sending the message to young men that it's fine to see women as a compilation of their parts and dismiss a woman's accomplishments because of ankles – a critique Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had to endure – or some other physical characteristic.

Women in power are not there to be your eye candy, even if those dismissive comments are cloaked in the context of health.

Students follow the lead of their teacher, just like one of the students did when he echoed Grisham's remarks on Obama by comparing her to an animal, which evokes America's ugly history of racial discrimination. Despite that, Grisham doesn't back away from his opinions in the tape, but tells the students he'd say the same to the principal.

But Grisham, who led the football team to a 12-2 record this season, didn't just offend on the basis of race and gender, he also takes a swipe at sexual identity.

Sometimes I hear young people talk about how difficult the decision was to tell friends and parents they are gay, and I think to myself it must be getting easier given the changing attitudes. Gays are now accepted in the military and legally allowed to marry in an increasing number of states. But if Grisham's opinions were expressed in front of a student who is having that internal dialog, it undermines that social progress.

More seriously, the state of Alabama has often ranked near the bottom nationally when it comes to student performance. That number has gone up, but Grisham doesn't represent Alabama coaches and educators well. The school district made the right move when it removed him from his psychology position.

The school district is still mulling further discipline against Grisham. But what is most troubling, perhaps, is had it not been for a student with a recording device on her cell phone, Grisham would be teaching and coaching those same values.

And that matters more than any number of wins on the football field.

http://espn.go.com/espnw/commentary/8927814/espnw-alabama-coach-needs-more-sensitivity-training

[Guest hitoallusa]

I had suffered through many biased teachers in my school years.. Some taught that everyone should be a vegetarian since meat and milk make people evil and violent. One expressed her religious (Budihism) view points in her class and neglected her class. Although there were some good teachers along the way, I don't remember going to school to learn from them... What they teach is in the textbook and I simply memorized the parts they emphasized in the class for exams...

I think we go to school to interact with other peers, friends and teachers. Unfortunately, teachers forget the fact that they need to learn and grow too.. In the near future the educational system needs to changed so that it becomes a two way learning and teaching enviroment. I am not happy with this coach but there are many teachers like him who promote bias and bigotry in other issues. It's unfortunate but that's the reality..

[boiworship]

Last week, 49ers safety Chris Culliver was lampooned for his disembodied apology after claiming his homophobic rant during a radio interview on Super Bowl media day had no connection to the values he holds in his heart.And yet, somehow an Alabama high school teacher and coach has made the same non-apology for another rant -- only this anti-gay diatribe was in front of students and included a disrespectful reference to the First Lady as "fat butt Michelle Obama."Bob Grisham, who is a psychology teacher and football coach Lauderdale County High School in Rogersville, Ala., has been suspended for 10 days without pay and must attend sensitivity training. He explained his one minute and 24 second rant by telling the local newspaper, "I misspoke in a debate-type situation. I have no hatred toward anyone or any group. People that know my heart, they know that."You have to admit, it was a far superior non-apology to the more transparent, "I'm sorry if anyone was offended."What puts Grisham's comments in a different universe from Culliver's? He expressed his venom in an educational setting, in the role of a teacher. So let's take a look at some of the values this coach is passing along.Forget showing respect for authority, or women, or women in positions of authority. The First Lady, an attorney by trade, has made nutrition her signature effort, and installed a vegetable garden at the White House. And yet she can be openly ridiculed because of her body. That's a horrible message to send to the girls assigned to Grisham's psychology class.And as a psychology teacher, Grisham should be aware that adolescent girls often wrestle with their body image. And, at its worst, that struggle can devolve into eating disorders. His remarks only reinforce the notion that, yes, you are being judged on your size young ladies.That would be bad enough. But Grisham is also sending the message to young men that it's fine to see women as a compilation of their parts and dismiss a woman's accomplishments because of ankles – a critique Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had to endure – or some other physical characteristic.Women in power are not there to be your eye candy, even if those dismissive comments are cloaked in the context of health.Students follow the lead of their teacher, just like one of the students did when he echoed Grisham's remarks on Obama by comparing her to an animal, which evokes America's ugly history of racial discrimination. Despite that, Grisham doesn't back away from his opinions in the tape, but tells the students he'd say the same to the principal.But Grisham, who led the football team to a 12-2 record this season, didn't just offend on the basis of race and gender, he also takes a swipe at sexual identity.Sometimes I hear young people talk about how difficult the decision was to tell friends and parents they are gay, and I think to myself it must be getting easier given the changing attitudes. Gays are now accepted in the military and legally allowed to marry in an increasing number of states. But if Grisham's opinions were expressed in front of a student who is having that internal dialog, it undermines that social progress.More seriously, the state of Alabama has often ranked near the bottom nationally when it comes to student performance. That number has gone up, but Grisham doesn't represent Alabama coaches and educators well. The school district made the right move when it removed him from his psychology position.The school district is still mulling further discipline against Grisham. But what is most troubling, perhaps, is had it not been for a student with a recording device on her cell phone, Grisham would be teaching and coaching those same values.And that matters more than any number of wins on the football field.http://espn.go.com/espnw/commentary/8927814/espnw-alabama-coach-needs-more-sensitivity-training

Oz, Grisham represents what is hopefully a slowly dying breed-- the racist, sexist, homophobic evangelicals who still dominate the small towns in Dixie. A generation ago they were humiliating Catholics by accusing them of worshipping idols. They live in a different world, but before they fade away they will damage the hearts and souls of countless young people, as you described.

[boiworship]

I had suffered through many biased teachers in my school years.. Some taught that everyone should be a vegetarian since meat and milk make people evil and violent. One expressed her religious (Budihism) view points in her class and neglected her class. Although there were some good teachers along the way, I don't remember going to school to learn from them... What they teach is in the textbook and I simply memorized the parts they emphasized in the class for exams...

I think we go to school to interact with other peers, friends and teachers. Unfortunately, teachers forget the fact that they need to learn and grow too.. In the near future the educational system needs to changed so that it becomes a two way learning and teaching enviroment. I am not happy with this coach but there are many teachers like him who promote bias and bigotry in other issues. It's unfortunate but that's the reality..

I was fortunate to have been educated by competent teachers in both private and public schools in the Northeast. Even then, there was tolerance, if not acceptance, of diversity.

[Guest hitoallusa]

Good for you... I wish I had been taught by better teachers..