Sophisticated Humor, Oklahoma-Style



from the Associated Press :

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- An Oklahoma radio ad for a hockey game between the New Mexico Scorpions and the Oklahoma City Blazers has offended Navajo Indians and others.

The ad said the New Mexico team was "composed of Navajo Indians from Santa Fe who can't shoot, can't check, can't pass, but in-between periods will be selling jewelry."

The commercial was meant to promote a Dec. 5 Central Hockey League game between the Scorpions and the Blazers, which the Blazers went on to win 6-1.

Bob Hammock, chief executive of Oklahoma City-based New West Group, said the ad was his mistake, and he wished he hadn't written it.

To make amends, he said he is writing a radio ad for an American Indian charitable cause and will put it on the air at no cost.

Deana Jackson, spokeswoman for Navajo Nation president Joe Shirley Jr., said the ad was "just appalling."

"It's discrimination of this sort that brings the nation to a halt," Jackson said. "We're shocked as a nation that this type of advertisement would ever be conceived."

There are 36 federally recognized Indian tribes in Oklahoma. The Navajo reservation is about 300 miles west of that state's border with New Mexico.

"We just screwed up," Hammock said.

He said the ad was an ill-conceived attempt at humor.

"I've probably written 10,000 radio and TV spots, and only one or two would I do something different if I had it to do over again," he said. "This is one that I definitely wish I could do over again."

Duane Lewis, Central Hockey League vice president of operations, said the league would investigate.

The ad ran on five or six stations in and around Oklahoma City in the week leading up to the Dec. 5 game, Hammock said.

Scorpions owner Doug Frank called the ad "inappropriate and in bad taste. It's offensive to Native Americans. It's embarrassing to the league." But he said he didn't believe it reflected Blazer management.

Scorpions player Craig Stahl, who is part Cree Indian from Canada, said he was disappointed and shocked by the ad, "but I don't think they really meant to insult Native Americans."

I can't confirm the rumor that ad's revised copy claimed that both teams are composed of "white North Americans who lack the skills to compete at a higher level".

Posted: Sun - December 14, 2003 at 07:49 AM      

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