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Sportscaster Jim Gray Agrees With Bob Costas’ Gun Control Argument During Fox Appearance — Then Almost Immediately Backtracks

Dec. 3, 2012 11:09am Jonathon M. Seidl

Jim Gray Agrees with Bob Costas Gun Contro Rant

Jim Gray (Photo: Getty)

Prominent sports journalist Jim Gray gave a ringing endorsement of fellow sports anchor Bob Costas’ controversial comments on gun control from Sunday night. But just as fast as he offered the endorsement he backtracked — during the same interview.

Costas, quoting columnist Jason Whitlock, said during “Sunday Night Football” that if it weren’t for guns Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Javon Belcher and his girlfriend would still be alive. Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself on Saturday.

On Monday, Fox News host Martha MacCallum played Costas’ remarks before asking Gray for his thoughts. He didn’t shy away from agreeing.

“Bob Costs is a brilliant sportscaster. And Jason Whitlock’s right: If there’s no gun here, no one’s dead. So I don’t know what there is to take issue with,” he said. He went on to hint the gun lobbies are to blame for the issue not coming up during the election.

“These are difficult, difficult issues that need to be addressed. And as far as this football issue right here, yes, if he doesn’t have a gun, they’re both alive. So I don’t have a problem with what he said.”

But the interview didn’t end there. In a whirlwind of a turnaround, Gray almost immediately backtracked after hearing the other side. After MacCallum said that some argue that killers will find a tool to kill no matter what, and that it doesn’t matter what that tool is, he offered a quick agreement: “Well that’s true, Martha, that’s what they always say: If you don’t have a gun and you want to find one and you’re a criminal and you’re a murderer you will find one. So perhaps those arguments are right.”

Watch it below:

“Handguns do not enhance our safety. They exacerbate our flaws, tempt us to escalate arguments, and bait us into embracing confrontation rather than avoiding it,” Costas said on Sunday.

“In the coming days, Jovan Belcher’s actions and their possible connection to football will be analyzed. Who knows? But here, wrote Jason Whitlock, is what I believe: If Jovan Belcher didn’t possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.”

You can watch the Costas comments below:

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (177)

randy
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:40am
I haven;t watched The National Thugball league for years.
And don’t miss it, or Costas one bit.

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- Cabo King
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:46am
  Costas gets 15 yard’s for stupidity
  
  Report this comment
- Gold Coin & Economic News
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:49am
  I definitely believe in gun control. Everyone should control their guns to hit the target every time:
  http://www.isthatbaloney.com/new-intelligent-rifle-can-give-you-a-perfect-shot-every-time/
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:27pm
  “Guns don’t kill people…. football players do.”
  
  OJ
  
  Report this comment
- Silvertruth
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:50pm
  It’s all based on flawed initial assumptions folks. You can only get to where the gun control adovates get to if you completely ignore the following:
  1. Guns have been invented and are in wide circulation around the world.
  2. Guns are easy to manufacture, even in the average garage.
  3. The receipe for gunpowder is well known and able to be made in your average home if you have it.
  4. Only people interested in following the laws of society would participate in a gun ban.
  5. There is no statistically significant evidendence that gun restrictions reduce violence or murder rates.
  6. There is statistical evidence to the contrary that laws allowing concealed carry of weapons reduce gun violence.
  
  If you ignore all those points, then yes, gun control legislation might actually look promising.
  
  Report this comment
- ltb
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:52pm
  Imagine an America where bureaucrats like Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid could force their ideology on an unarmed People… our founding fathers did and that’s why they gave us the 2nd Amendment.
  
  Report this comment
- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:28pm
  Costas & Gray’s opine is irrelevant. More than likeky, those two libreal lapdog weasels never played an organized sport in their life.
  
  So the gun caused this? NO, the player did. If the gun wasn’t there they’d still be alive? No not necessarily.
  
  Report this comment
- jcldwl
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:54pm
  All right folks now it should be perfectly clear to those that didn’t already know, that the sports casting industry is completely infiltrated by progressives. There is only one real way we can put an end to their crap. Stop supporting their living. Stop watching sports, (they are all just a bunch of overpaid children anyway.) Stop supporting Hollywood, ( that would be movies and television.) It’s all just smut anyway and there are no original story lines in anything they do anymore. Life is much better without it believe me. Imagine the impact if the half of the country that didn’t vote for communism stopped supporting the communist propaganda machine. Cancel your cable and satellite subscriptions as well. Money you pay them also goes to Hollywood. If you use tobacco products, stop, If you drink alcohol stop. Taxes from those items are going to support our current communist regime. Buy only the things you need. No more wants just needs. It is a hard thing to do Believe me I know, but it seems it is the only tool we have left to us in fighting this tyrannical regime. We have to cut off as much of their money supply as we have the ability to cut off. Stop working the overtime hours that they take most of in taxes. I know we want to support our local businesses but it is time to say enough is enough. The government is stealing more and more of our money, we need to stop spending what we have left. Destroy your credit cards. I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any
  
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- Proverbs17-12NLT
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:14pm
  Put them through the woodchipper
  
  Report this comment
- desertspeaks
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:53pm
  SHALL NOT be infringed! END of conversation!
  
  Report this comment
- mtnhimike
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:59pm
  Costas has no business on a sports program to get into the Political arena. If he wants to shot off his mouth about things that do not belong on NFL then he should get into Politics. Firing him is to good just stop watching any program he is on and let the Cable channel or over the air Broadcaster know you do not want to watch or listen to Costas.
  
  Report this comment
- Jaimo
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 3:31pm
  Maybe we shouldn’t allow guns in the hands of deranged black NFL football players. Seems like there is a pattern with the NFL doesn’t it.
  
  Report this comment
- pavepaws
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 4:52pm
  Maybe no one cares what these “sportscasters” think.
  
  Report this comment
- Bluebonnet
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 5:23pm
  GUN CONTROL means you use two hands and aim carefully. Costas is an idiot. People kill people, the guns don’t work by themselves, just like knives, arrows, axes, etc. And just because the guy might have hit his poor little head playing football, what about all the other stupid people who never played football end up killing their girl/boy friend, mate or? No head injury, they have anger and and emptiness in their hearts. Used to be called unstable.
  
  Report this comment
- Secret Squirrel
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 6:52pm
  .
  “If there’s no gun, they’re both alive.”
  Really? How’s O.J.’s wife doing?
  
  Report this comment
- Secret Squirrel
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:57pm
  .
  Will Rogers never met Jim Grey.
  I have.
  
  Report this comment
- CharlestonJohn
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:09pm
  Im with you Randy I quit watching pros and watch college ball.
  
  Report this comment
- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 12:06pm
  When if dawned on me in 1975, that professional sports was simply a bargaining process between owners and the unions, I stopped watching pro sports. I watch local high school football in person or on local tv. For most of those players, it is still a game.
  
  Report this comment
RightUnite
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:39am
This shows exactly how stupid these people are.

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- RajCaj
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:49am
  Seriously!
  
  So let me get this straight…
  
  A guy (who has the physical capacity to hit a QB with the same force as a 40mph car accident) that made the conscious decision to orphan his young daughter by taking the life of his child’s mother, and then OFF himself in front of his Boss & Employer would have NOT followed through with it if a gun were not present?!?!?
  
  A person, that is in the mental state that he was in, wouldn’t have been able to use any other inanimate object to achieve the same result?!?
  
  In the words of Keeshawn Johnson……C’Mon Man!
  
  Report this comment
- rawmilker
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:31pm
  An armed society is a polite society…..when seconds count, the cops are minutes away…..why do I carry a pistol? Beacause a cop is too heavy…..Why to I carry a .45? Beacuse they don’t make a .46…..Gun control is being able to effectively hit your target!
  
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- rawmilker
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:38pm
  One more…Oh my Mr RM’r, is that a loaded weapon? Why of course it is. What good is an unloaded weapon?
  
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- Concern4Constitution
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 4:56pm
  I think the gun-ban group have an uncanny ability to “project”. Clearly they think that is what THEY would do with a gun. It never occurs to me to shoot someone I care about–even when I’m arguing with them!
  
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- castuslonginus
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 6:48pm
  If she were beaten with a baseball bat,she wouldn’t be quiet as dead.
  
  Report this comment
brandootr
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:39am
Isn’t Jim Gray the same guy who insulted Pete Rose a few years back and Rose refused to talk to him at an all star game? Pete made Jim look very small

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- Crazyotto
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:33pm
  Jim Gray, Bob Costas who are they but guys good at calling a game over the radio/TV …nothing special. You’re right Gray went after Rose and he is a POS
  
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- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:36pm
  Yes, same idiot.
  
  Report this comment
BookMDanno
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:37am
If these airheads were right, the most dangerous place–with the most homicides–would be police locker rooms and gun ranges. If you’re going to be stupid about it, the common thread underlying this incident and numerous daily shootings in every major city is…..blacks. Now what?

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- AmericanEagle1392
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:49pm
  If the woman had had a gun, she would be alive today.
  
  Report this comment
- truthnstuff
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:19pm
  Let’s look at the real problem here. It is the right extremists.
  
  If she had been able to get enough condoms she would not have gotten pregnant. If she had adequate access to abortion she would not have had an unwanted child. If they did not have an unwanted child he would not have had to get a gun because of the emotional state he was forced into.
  
  I’m sure the puke progressives will be able to use this situation to demonize the conservatives.
  
  Report this comment
ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:37am
What right do either of these two have to voice their personal opinions on National TV ? They should both be fired.

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- Cabo King
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:43am
  I Concur !!!
  
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- Like_Clint_Said
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:09pm
  I totally agree. Down the road kicking horse turds.
  
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- MDECKER
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:22pm
  They have their right to voice their opinion, it’s their logic that is messed-up. Using their logic, I could state, if the NFL didn’t exist, Jevon Belcer would not have played for the Kansas City Cheifs and thus would not have killed himself in front of team officials. “Brilliant” people generally do not make ignorant comments such as those made by Costas.
  
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- Johnnytour
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:50pm
  Yep, I paid for the TV that I watch the game(s) on, and I pay a very expensive cable/satellite package to watch….wait for it…..FOOTBALL! And I’m getting a lecture from this little dweeb about my owning a handgun. If I wanted to watch the news I would turn on BlazeTv, Fox, or on my dish channel 212, but I was wanting to watch overgrown, overpaid, men cause extreme bodily harm to each other while being yelled at by thousands of intoxicated fans…..instead I get idiot Costas giving me a gun control lecture.
  
  Report this comment
ZAP
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:35am
If you take away guns,how will Eric HOLDER arm the Mexicans?

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- Cabo King
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:39am
  Guns? Guns???? we dont need no stinking Guns !! lol
  
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- RightUnite
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:40am
  Butter knives and spoon, and don’t forget sporks!
  
  Report this comment
Brad Wesselmann
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:33am
I had no idea both Costas and Gray were so galacticly stupid.

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COFemale
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:32am
If Jovan didn’t use a gun, he could have used his hands, a knife, a baseball bat against his girlfriend and pills, a noose, or a combination of the above on himself. Where there is a will there is a way.

People fail to see the thought process that goes into someone using the gun on other than an intruder. Rather than face the fact that NO ONE teaches kids how to handle their anger issues, they just let it go and ignore it. They make excuses and then the child grows up to be an angry adult, who still does not know how to deal with anger. Then when the adult uses a gun, they blame the inanimate object and not the person behind the gun. Well had he/she not had a gun they would still be alive. NO, not necessarily. He would have killed them some other way.

Bob Costas is entitled to his opinion, but I do not believe it belongs during a sports cast. It should have been said off air. Bob equates law-abiding gun owners with owners who misuse their fire arm. How do you keep guns out of the hands of people without anger issues without trampling on those who have no anger issues? We know that keeping guns out of criminals and people with mental issues has not worked at all. I mean the Colorado theater shooter had no record of mental issues, but we know he may. I don’t believe he does, I believe he is faking everything.

We can’t let a few dictate the rights of the many. Like atheist telling Christians no Nativity scenes.

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- Obama Snake Oil Co
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:38am
  I just hopes he thanks that hammer for building his home….idiots……they have no clue and voice it in public.
  
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az11697
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:31am
This is so Bush’s fault.

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Cabo King
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:31am
Well it’s a good thing he didn’t stab her with a knife!! my god there would be a ban on knives, “No Steak For You” bunch of jackwagons and Nit Whitlock is their leader

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- Lord_Frostwind
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:35pm
  Well OJ…er, I mean “the Real Killer” killed Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman by stabbing both to death. Of course, who could forget the greatest murder suicide in this country’s history involved a few men using airliners, guess we’ll have to ban those too.
  
  Report this comment
- yiska8
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:09pm
  This coward could have easily used his hands to kill her. And used his own hands to hang himself. What would the argument have been then? Ban NFL players from being too strong??? Or prohibit stores from selling players ropes to tie a hang noose?? This girl knew and probably felt this crazy SOB was on the edge, but she took no steps to protect herself that I’ve read about. These kinds of guys just don’t act out. I’m sure he was violent before.A good weapon in the hands of a trained and confident woman is no match for anyone, be it a knife, a gun, or a Louisville Slugger. Costas and Gray are two GE employees running their mouths Obama style, who went out to LEFT field long ago and stayed there mentally.
  
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Metallicat
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:28am
If there were no NFL,there would be fewer criminals on the street. Keeping murderers and rapists out of prison just to play football on Sundays has led to many rapes and deaths. The NFL should stop employing criminal felons and metro sexual sportscasters who need to voice their opinion on topics other than football.

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- longknifed
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:28pm
  All day at work I hear nothing but grown men talking about FOOTBALL FOOTBALL FOOTBALL. This society has become so childlike and boring. Watching a fake pigskin ball move all of FIVE minutes in 3 hours. It’s just watching a clock tick down with little actual sporting involved. BORING AS HELL.
  
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Mandors
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:28am
Just another trumped up little troll who thinks his cocktail party diatribes are worthy of public discourse. Take away the million dollar contract, and no one has to suffer a puerile lecture.

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sls357mag
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:27am
Just because this man decided to take out his girl friend and decide he was wrong doesnt mean the rest of us should be punished for his stupidity.

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- AmericanEagle1392
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:51pm
  If the girlfriend had had a gun she would be alive today.
  
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mrunner
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:26am
I have no beef with Gray- no matter how wrong I find his view. He stated his opinion in the right venue. Costas on the other hand- WAY out of line spouting his anti-constitutional viewpoint on a sports broadcast. He needs to be benched… What a left wing tool.

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TheGreatMan
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:25am
Maxwell Silverhammer………..liberal idiots.

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Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:25am
So if guns “exacerbate our flaws” then perhaps the government shouldn’t have them.

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- aragona
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:28am
  and before guns were invented there were no murder/suicides.
  
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Average_Joseph
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:23am
All this proves is that Jim Grey is an empty suit and has an empty mind.

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drphil69
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:22am
“Handguns do not enhance our safety. They exacerbate our flaws, tempt us to escalate arguments, and bait us into embracing confrontation rather than avoiding it,” Costas said on Sunday.

YES, WHEN SECONDS COUNT, THE COPS ARE ONLY MINUTES AWAY!!

Great idea for all you gun grabbing idiots – PLEASE PUT SIGNS UP ON YOUR LAWN, ON YOUR WINDOWS… “THIS IS A GUN FREE HOME” – THAT WAY THE CRIMINALS WILL KNOW WHO TO ATTACK – IT WILL BE MUCH SAFER FOR THEM THAT WAY.

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sls357mag
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:22am
Just because a man with a temper decides to take out his girl friend and decides after words that he did wrong doesnt mean rest of us should be punished for his actions.

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ImChiquita
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:21am
Thanks to the DVR, my husband’s shocked “WHAT DID HE SAY???!!” prompted me to look at the television.

There it was, Bob Costas all smug and elitist in his mid-life crisis hair coloring, agreeing with Jason Whitlock by paraphrasing Jason Whitlock: “Guns are the REAL enemy here.”

Silly Bob, it’s been quite a long time since anything you said held any kind of weight with me. Chalk your latest political commentary to the file of “I just don’t give a crap what you say.”

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Independently_Independent
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:20am
If someone has it in their mind to do something, it will get done. If no gun were available then the weapon may have been a knife (or maybe even bare hands). So let’s outlaw knives, too. Are the feds going to come knocking at the door to empty my kitchen drawers? This is a stupid premise. As the saying goes, guns (or knives) don’t kill people, PEOPLE kill people.

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sandrunner
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:20am
when a sports caster speaks about football…they need to man up. enough on political correctness.

I think we need to keep guns away from blacks…they are more likely to kill themselves.
I know the truth hurts but those are the facts. Do your research and you will be shocked.

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john vincent
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:19am
‘offsides…….’

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biohazard23
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:19am
So then take away knives, swimming pools, cars, trucks, pencils, peanuts, tree nuts, protractors, forks, sporks, bicycles, ropes, prescription medications, marbles, silly putty, play doh, chicken nuggets, all food items, water, crayons, super glue, duct tape, cinder blocks, chains, machetes…. I mean, where does it all end??

Man, these people are all slinkies and they’ve got me looking for a stair case.

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- Cabo King
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:32am
  And 32oz soft drinks!!! lol
  
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- biohazard23
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:45am
  And trans fats, excess sodium, feeding the homeless…. You’re right, I forgot about those!
  
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- 50211bs
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:47am
  Don’t forget to ban the salt.
  
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- Stelex
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:03pm
  I suspect Obama is cutting and pasting your list as we read and type.
  
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Unbelievable
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:16am
If Jovan Belcher didn’t have all the head injuries from playing football they would both still be alive. BAN FOOTBALL!!

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- colascguy
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:31am
  Brilliant two thumbs up
  
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- BookMDanno
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:46am
  Ban SPORTSCASTERS. Jim Gray was the guy who bushwacked Pete Rose and turned the cherished spectacle of All Star honorees into a disgusting wallow in slime. And Costas has clearly overstepped his bounds. Suddenly they’re all qualified socio-political analysts?
  
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