by Sabrina Salas Matanane, KUAM News Friday, June 17, 2005 Subscribe to Sabrina's newsfeed   E-mail this article Printable version KUAM Toolbar Web Widgets Get RSS headlines

Calling it "insensitive" and "inappropriate", international sports information network ESPN has removed from it's web site a story written by a freelance reporter who came to Guam to visit relatives. The article struck a chord with the community not only on the island, but with Guamanians throughout the world, setting off a firestorm of feedback, demanding an apology.

On KUAM's sister station Isla61-AM this morning, ESPN issued an official apology during an interview with talk host Tony Blaz on his Positively Local radio program.

Since first appearing on the World Wide Web on ESPN.com, an article written by freelance writer Mike Ogle has created a tsunami of uproar from Guamanians both on- and off-island.

Ogle described his visit to the territory to see his sister, whose husband is stationed in the military here, chronicling how the three decided to go to a cockfight. While the article, "Blood, Sweat and Cockfighting" gave an account of their experience, stated were some choice remarks about the culture and people of Guam that some people took offense to. One of these is active member of I Nasion Chamoru (The Chamorro Nation) Fanai Castro, who told KUAM News, "I think that it's very common for outsiders to misperceive our island and our people, and that's nothing new."

Ogle in his article wrote statements like, "Evidently this is what locals do to pass their time on this 341-square mile island stuck all by itself in the middle of the Pacific, truly in the middle of nowhere, entertainment options are limited. People here fit into two categories. Either they've lived here their entire lives, or they're stationed here by the U.S. military."

Other statements read, "They say if an American man walks through a particular poor village in Guam, families will offer up their daughters."

For Senator Jesse Anderson Lujan (R), the remarks in the article were offensive enough to prompt him to introduce a resolution in the 28th Guam Legislature. "The resolution that we sent to ESPN [was] in regards to the CEO over there, so it would be up to the [them]. It might get a public hearing, maybe not. We're hoping to expedite it as soon as possible so it can be sent to ESPN," he summarized of his actions.

The second-term policymaker continued, "All its subsidiaries, I mean it has a subsidiary here as we speak. Again, ESPN is involved. Walt Disney has subsidiaries with children's books. So this behavior once again, of one of your subsidiaries is allowing this type of behavior, its just not conducive to the whole organization, so that's what the message we're trying to send out. So you scrutinize the writings that's submitted to the different public. [sic]"

And today, ESPN issued an apology for Ogle's article. The self-proclaimed "Worldwide Leader in Sports" called KUAM's morning talk show radio program and spoke with Positively Local host Blaz. Paul Melvin with ESPN's Communications Department told Blaz (a former senator himself) that the article was not only yanked from ESPN.com, but erased from its archives entirely.

Following is their a portion of their conversation from our broadcast this morning:

Tony Blaz (KUAM): What is your title sir at ESPN for the benefit of our listening audience?
Paul Melvin (ESPN): I'm with ESPN Communications. I am aware of the piece and actually I was calling because I do have an apology for that.
KUAM: And if you would Mr. Melvin, relay that apology there are thousands of people listening to you right now, and I think we would welcome this apology.
ESPN: One clarification - Mike Ogle is a freelance writer for us.
KUAM: And so he doesn't work for ESPN?
ESPN: He is not an ESPN employee. ESPN.com sincerely apologizes for the use of the hearsay in regards to families and daughters and for any directly or indirectly offensive statements in the story that ran about cockfighting on Guam. It was insensitive, inappropriate and the story has been removed from the site and its archives.