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NFL Coach Calls 'Desperate Housewives' Skit Racially Offensive

Colts Coach Says Segment Played Off Stereotypes Of Black Athletes

POSTED: 9:35 pm EST November 17, 2004
UPDATED: 2:26 pm EST November 18, 2004

Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy has joined those criticizing the introduction to this week's "Monday Night Football" game on ABC, saying the steamy skit that featured an NFL player and an actress was racially offensive.
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Is the controversy surrounding the "Desperate Housewives" promotion during Monday Night Football being blown out of proportion?

The skit showed "Desperate Housewives" actress Nicollette Sheridan, wearing only a towel, provocatively asking Philadelphia Eagles receiver Terrell Owens to skip the game for her as the two stood alone in a locker room.

Sheridan, who is white, drops the towel and jumps into the arms of Owens, who is black.

Dungy was not impressed.

"I thought it hit at a lot of stereotypes toward athletes -- black athletes in particular," Dungy, who is black, said Wednesday. "I thought it was very insensitive on the heels of the Kobe Bryant situation, and I just don't know that the Eagles (public relations) people or the NFL would have let it go had it been a different player or a coach or an owner."

The segment, which preceded Philadelphia's game against the Dallas Cowboys, drew complaints from viewers and the NFL. ABC Sports apologized for using the introduction to promote "Desperate Housewives."
Nicolette Sheridan, Terrell Owens
ABC Image
Terrell Owens and Nicolette Sheridan in "Monday Night Football" opening

The Federal Communications Commission said it will review complaints and decide whether to open an investigation that could result in a fine against the network.

Dungy said the skit "took some shots" at the football profession and was in "really bad taste."

"If that's what we have to do to get ratings, I prefer not to get them. I know ratings pay our salary and that type of thing, but -- I can't speak for everybody -- I'd take a pay cut if it means we don't have to do that to get paid."

Dungy said stereotypes exploited during the segment included the notion that athletes are sexual predators.

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"That a guy was more concerned with that than the game, that's a terrible message to send," Dungy said. "I'm particularly sensitive to that. It could have been any player and I would have been outraged, but being an African-American, it particularly hurt me."

Reactions Among NFL Players Vary

In Philadelphia, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb wasn't quite as vocal, saying he didn't find the segment offensive and believed people were overreacting.

"Some people do different things," McNabb said. "Not saying that my wife would allow me to do that, but it's just something that was done, and you move on."

Owens wasn't at practice Wednesday, excused for what the team said were personal reasons.

Some players were shocked at the skit.

"My mouth dropped when I saw that," said Washington Redskins tight end Mike Sellers, who was watching the game with his wife.

But at least one of Sellers' teammates wasn't bothered.

"I thought it was kind of cool, myself," linebacker Marcus Washington said. "I enjoyed the skit."


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