The world of sports broadcasting was shocked when San Diego sportscaster Ross Shimabuku found himself at the center of controversy for remarks made regarding racing sensation Danica Patrick.
Shimabuku’s suspension without pay for a week following his comments praising Patrick’s debut in the Daytona 500 generated a debate about professionalism and gender bias in sports journalism.
Shimabuku’s comments wandered into an unpleasant area when he was filmed on camera replying to Patrick’s talk about the labels applied to female athletes. His choice of words, hinting at a disparaging epithet starting with ‘B,’ left many viewers surprised and prompted a firestorm of condemnation.
This event underlines the persistent difficulty of negotiating gender dynamics and maintaining civility in the fast-paced world of sports broadcasting.
As Shimabuku faces the consequences of his statements, it provokes consideration of the broader themes of respect, equality, and accountability in sports media
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Why Was Ross Shimabuku Suspended
San Diego sportscaster Ross Shimabuku has been suspended for a week without pay for remarks made regarding Danica Patrick before her Sprint Cup Series debut in the Daytona 500.
After viewing a film in which Patrick discusses the adjectives she’s been described with during her racing (and advertising) career, Shimabuku states, “I’ve got a few terms. It starts with a ‘b’, and it’s not lovely.”
The presenter came just short of calling Patrick a nasty name on the air after the NASCAR driver claimed the media usually label female athletes like her as “sexy.”
When the broadcast returned to Shimabuku, he reacted by saying: “Oh, I’ve got a few words . Starts with a ‘B’, and it’s not ‘beautiful.’ ”
Shimabuku has since apologized. He joined the station in 2009. This isn’t the first time that an anchor has been suspended over comments concerning a high-profile athlete. ESPN anchor Max Bretos was punished for 30 days after using the word “chink in his armour” in a talk with Walt Frazer regarding Jeremy Lin.
An identical sentence was also used in a headline on ESPN’s mobile website, and the editor who created the headline was dismissed.
While Shimabuku is at San Diego’s Fox affiliate and Bretos is at ESPN, it is important to notice the contrast in suspension durations for the two anchors, especially given that Bretos was in the course of an unscripted, on-air chat and that Shimabuku’s comment was plainly premeditated and, frankly, rather foolish.
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Ross Shimabuku Biography
After living in Berlin, Germany for 12 years, Shimabuku moved to Naha, Okinawa, Japan in 2016 where he is currently situated.
From the beginning of the 1990s, he has journeyed to many places in Japan and beyond, creating performances and installations that consider the daily lives and cultures of people he encounters, as well as new ways of communication.
He also works in a varied range of media including sculpture, video and photography. Full of poetic passion and comedy while also motivating others in metaphorical ways, his style has garnered an international renown.
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