COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Former Australian Test star Dean Jones has apologized for the "stupid and ridiculous" remarks that labeled South African Hashim Amla as a "terrorist" and cost him his job as a TV commentator.
Jones was heard by viewers saying "the terrorist has got another wicket" after Amla took a catch to dismiss Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara in the second Test in Colombo.
Dubai-based Ten Sports, responsible for the TV broadcast, immediately sacked Jones.
It issued a statement on Tuesday saying it deeply regretted the incident.
Ten Sports marketing manager Jude de Vallier said that the comment was made when Jones believed he was 'off air' during a commercial break.
Unfortunately for Jones, viewers in South Africa did not take the commericials.
"We terminated his freelance contract immediately. There's no room for actions of these kinds," said de Vallier.
Amla, a devout Muslim, is easily recognizable in cricket circles for his flowing black beard which he wears for religious reasons.
Jones has apologized to Amla personally and to South Africa coach Micky Arthur.
A veteran of 52 Tests for Australia, Jones left Sri Lanka on the next available flight to Melbourne, Australia.
"I'm gone. It was a silly and completely insensitive thing to say and, obviously, it was never supposed to be heard over the air," Jones said.
"I am truly sorry to have caused offense to anybody and the last thing I intended was to be disrespectful."
Jones told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday that he'd waited "four or five seconds" after the dismissal before making the "stupid, ridiculous off-the-wall comment that unfortunately was picked up in the background."
"There was only one country in the world that didn't take the ad break live and that was South Africa," he said. "It was picked up by a few viewers.
"I wanted to make a full blown apology to Hashim Amla and the South African team so I wrote out a full page apology expressing my sincerest apology to all involved."
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/08/08/cricket.jones/index.html
Dean is such a turd,the entire nation wants his head on a stick for this comment.
Jones was heard by viewers saying "the terrorist has got another wicket" after Amla took a catch to dismiss Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara in the second Test in Colombo.
Dubai-based Ten Sports, responsible for the TV broadcast, immediately sacked Jones.
It issued a statement on Tuesday saying it deeply regretted the incident.
Ten Sports marketing manager Jude de Vallier said that the comment was made when Jones believed he was 'off air' during a commercial break.
Unfortunately for Jones, viewers in South Africa did not take the commericials.
"We terminated his freelance contract immediately. There's no room for actions of these kinds," said de Vallier.
Amla, a devout Muslim, is easily recognizable in cricket circles for his flowing black beard which he wears for religious reasons.
Jones has apologized to Amla personally and to South Africa coach Micky Arthur.
A veteran of 52 Tests for Australia, Jones left Sri Lanka on the next available flight to Melbourne, Australia.
"I'm gone. It was a silly and completely insensitive thing to say and, obviously, it was never supposed to be heard over the air," Jones said.
"I am truly sorry to have caused offense to anybody and the last thing I intended was to be disrespectful."
Jones told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday that he'd waited "four or five seconds" after the dismissal before making the "stupid, ridiculous off-the-wall comment that unfortunately was picked up in the background."
"There was only one country in the world that didn't take the ad break live and that was South Africa," he said. "It was picked up by a few viewers.
"I wanted to make a full blown apology to Hashim Amla and the South African team so I wrote out a full page apology expressing my sincerest apology to all involved."
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/08/08/cricket.jones/index.html
Dean is such a turd,the entire nation wants his head on a stick for this comment.
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