OKC Thunder Suspend Announcer for ‘Cotton-Pickin’ Comments; Larry King Says “I Would Take It As a Compliment”

— blogged by @lovelikejhoney

NBA game announcer, Brian Davis is suspended after saying Russell Westbrook was playing so well Wednesday night that he was “out of his cotton-picking mind.”

The Oklahoma City Thunder addressed Davis’ comments as, although a misinterpretation, completely unacceptable.
“We think, obviously, the use of that term was offensive and inappropriate, and I expressed that to Brian last night,” said Dan Mahoney, the team’s vice president of broadcasting. “Brian assures me that it was not meant in any derogatory way, and he apologizes. But again, we feel strongly that it’s inappropriate and offensive.”
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While the NBA team has taken control over the situation with necessary consequences, other public figures such as successful tv and radio host, Larry King, seem to think differently.
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King spoke to TMZ about the controversy, saying that he would take Davis’ comments as a compliment since he was referring to Westbrook’s master skills on the court.
“‘Cotton-picking mind’ was probably an adjective, he got a triple-double again…Russell Westbrook is an incredible player, and I would take it as a compliment.” King continued. “If people were offended, I’m sorry, but that statement’s been around forever…That’s like saying ‘You’re crazy.’”
“What about people with mental health problems? So, if you say to someone ‘you’re crazy,’ you’re offending every mental health patient in America. Right? But you don’t think of that,” the host explained.
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Commentator Matt Pinto will replace Davis for Game 1 of the Thunder’s NBA playoff game against the Jazz.
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“It is with great remorse and humility that I accept this suspension for the insensitive words I used during Wednesday’s broadcast. While unintentional, I understand and acknowledge the gravity of the situation. I offer my sincere apology and realize that, while I committed a lapse in judgment, such mistakes comes with consequences. This is an appropriate consequence for my actions,” Davis said in a statement with ESPN.