oddsnark | Political Correctness Alive and Well In The Potato State

2005-06 College Bowls

Political Correctness Alive and Well In The Potato State

By Josh ⋅ December 31, 2005 ⋅ Post a comment

According to an AP article, MPC Computers CEO Mike Adkins apologized to Boston College DE Mathias Kiwanuka in a statement on Thursday for making fun of his name during a banquet before the MPC Computers Bowl.

Apparently Adkins read a list of the top 10 things Boise and Boston have in common. His list including, “No one in either city can properly pronounce Mathias Kiwanuka.” He mispronounced Kiwanuka’s name in the telling, which reportedly pissed off some of the BC players.

So Adkins’ ignorance is insulting? Or maybe the implication that Boise and Boston are both full of cracker-types that can’t pronounce his name is hurtful? Or is it just that Adkins didn’t bother to take two seconds to learn how to say his name?

The same AP article reported that Kiwanuka is the grandson of Uganda’s first prime minister, who was assassinated by Idi Amin. You wouldn’t think that Mathias Kiwanuka would lose much sleep over some jackass cracking on his name at a banquet.

Whether they were really insulted or not, the BC players used the “insult” — along with a pro-Bronco statement made by (gasp) the mayor of Boise — as motivation in a 27-21 win.

Said Kiwanuka, “As far as motivation goes, if we didn’t have it before two days ago, we definitely found it. I think that had a lot to do with why we came out so strong.”

That’s one sensitive 6-7, 261 lb. defensive end.