Mark Nicholas has apologised to the West Indies captain Darren Sammy and his team after describing them as “short of brains” in the buildup to the World Twenty20 tournament in India.
On the eve of Sunday’s final in Kolkata, which West Indies won by four wickets in a dramatic last over against England, Sammy had revealed that the broadcaster’s comments “really set it off for us”, adding: “To describe our team, who were defending champions two years ago, as guys with no brains is really out of order.”
In his column for Cricinfo on Monday, Nicholas wrote: “[I] offer an unreserved apology to Darren Sammy, a man I hold in the highest regard, to his team and to the coaches around them for the throwaway phrase I used in a recent column on these pages.
“I would have made the same apology whatever the results of the day,” the former Hampshire captain added, “but I do so now in the knowledge that the people of the Caribbean will have celebrated long into the night and well into today.”
I am by no means a cricket fan but have to say that this is very insulting and out of order to WEST INDIANS. This man ought to be fired!!!! Apology not accepted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Sammy fro speaking out ..
One must commend you also for your critique the armchair guys who run west indies cricket ..these people add nothing to the game except sit in the best seats on the cricket stadiums ..get first class tickets ..bring their girlfriends in the BOX at the respective test venues and have the audacity to select second rate cricketers as they did in the last 50 OVER TOURNAMENT .
The rudeness of a young player called Holder to give Sammy one over to bowl etc and the condescending attitude to senior players by the cricket administrators when they have done nothing to add to the morale of the cricketers .
Really all west Indians always want is the victory from the best we have and we share their efforts to earn whatever they can whenever they can once they are available when-they are most need at venues such as this one where we all can be proud to be west indians
BACK OFF ADMINISTRATORS..enjoy your free travel but allow the best to pay at all…
By his ignorant statements , it is clear that Mark Nicholas was raised with hate towards humanity. It is shameful to see that these guys are given a forum to carry out their hate speech.
How can you malign an entire people and then apologize only when there was a back-lash against your hate speech? Apologies not accepted , because this is how you feel in your heart.
Ban him from coming to W.I to cover cricket in the future.
As an evangelist I have visited the Caribbean, ministered on Islands of the West Indies, stayed in the homes of many Black people, and preached in some of their largest and finest churches. I might add, I have been invited back. Some of my trips have been repeat visits.
The statement from Mark Nicholas that the West Indies are short of brains is untrue and totally inappropriate. I have observed many West Indian young people attending colleges and universities. They are receiving degrees and entering professions. Most Black pastors I interacted with in the Caribbean were obviously well trained and bore the marks of professionalism. More important they loved the people and were dedicated men.
I cannot understand why Mr. Nicholas would make such a statement because nothing I am aware of would lead me to believe it is true. Even if he thought it was the case – and I suppose a man is entitled to his opinion – he should not have expressed it.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
Mr. Nicholas choose not to pay attention to the words of his wise grand mother: when you spit, do so across not up. Now he has his face all SOILED WITH SPIT!!!
Hope you learn something sar.
HOTEP!
Mark Nicholas, you are a bigot and full of false pride. Your words are insulting. You said them without reason because of the color of their skin. You are out of place. Who do you think you are?
Your spoken word is already out and cannot be retracted. One of the four things that come not back is the spoken word.
We are to forgive and this is what you will receive. However, in the future, watch your careless words. Our God has taken note of them.
There are some people who think that because people are West Indians and as they say, black or black-skinned they are not intelligent. It is a grave mistake. Mark Nicolas has projected just that.
West Indians always have to prove they are the best and beat them at their own game as embedded in their warped minds.
The black woman, the Baroness, needs to take a page from your book.
Me ain’t saying a ting, cause DNO not posting my comments. But all you have European Blue Eye statue of Jesus in all you church – Bet if your priest put up a black statue of Jesus in de church all you would freak out. De brainwash cannot be washed away my friends.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is not a black person. His mother is a Jew who is of the House of David. You cannot have a statue of Jesus looking black unless he appeared as a black person to show the blacks he is one of them.
There is a Black Madonna because the Mother of God appeared as such. She also appeared as an Indian, as a Mexican to show the people that she identifies with them. God knows what He is doing.
If there is no picture of Our Lord showing he is black, so what? It should not bother a Christian one bit. We know who He is and what his color is. Furthermore, we West Indians are of a mixed race. Therefore accept Our Lord’s color.
He knows the unkind and the bigots of the world. He said, “Vengeance is Mine. I will repay.”
Your main concern should be to worship him, pray to him, to do your best to live well and to vie for the eternal crown. One day, there will be no talk of color and no color discrimination.
Look lack biblical history, whoever you are. Where did civilization started? The Jews you see today are mainly Europeans. Many of whom are from Russia, Germany, France and all over Europe. Need I educate you for free? When did Israel became a Nation? How many Jews are living Europe daily and going back to Israel? Where was former prime minister of Israel (Mr. Peres) originally from? They are all mixed people. The book of Revelation gives us a clear depiction of the appearance of the Most High. “His feet were as polished brass.” Is the color of brass closer to white, or black? Man geemee a break, tan. Shhhoooo
You always pretend to have and know all things – Why is that? “Empty barrel?”
how they have no brains and they are champions! champions! champions!
When they won Mark Nicholas was probably ashamed which is why he apologized. My view of that man is he is prejudice and also crude and rude. He is not a nice man. Look at his face. It shows.
Mark Nicholas and Shane Warne – just racist idiots and to add people to their later titles we have “passing cloud” and “Dominican Passports” on this forum
shame on all those who support this racist
Wow. When did this simple comment turn racist. I think you people should calm down a few notches. Commentators make runaway comments all the time, in this case this one felt it was unjust and be apologised. I’m black and I’m more scared of you Commentators on here.
My thoughts exactly, I saw this article and race didn’t even come to my mind, people are called stupid everyday all around the world. Just shows you not only one set that racist.
Mark Nicholas,in this day and age whites can no longer Lynch blacks publicly but continue to seek to Sully the unity and undermine the humanity of black people. Racism is comfortable and easy, it helps make baseless decisions without the taxing act of thinking.Mark,stop imagining that being racist is only something that other people do and start looking closely at your own beliefs. Your apology is not accepted because you knew very well what you were saying and what it was meant to accomplish. You say you played with Andy Roberts and Malcolm Marshall. Therefore you must know that our cricketers have brains. You painted with a broad brush. You exposed yourself for what you are.
jonathan st jean, I agree with you 2000%.
Mark knew what he was saying, it was calculated and he did what he set out to accomplish.
It is because he believes we West Indians do not have brains that he thinks his apology has erased all he said and has done by his comments.
APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED AT ALL.
I have a somewhat different objective look at marks statement in light of his saying he played with Roberts and Malcolm,now here is the golden truth,i am going out on a limb here to say that what mark was saying is,that this west indies team today comparing to the west indies of his day were so different and played more intelligently, and that is a fact,i will tell you Sammy them is not ready,hey they won yes,but the t20 is like a type of cricket we used to play after six oclock,a sacky tapay,in other words just swing your bat,because you do not have much time and overs,unless west indies dominate four day cricket,i still holding them as less a intelligent team in comparison to west indies in their hayday
Wow didn’t know we had so many racist folks in Dominica… How many of yall got family in Europe and America working and sending stuff for yall? These countries are predominantly white and yet still you all flock over there by the grooves… Why not Africa? Afraid of the corruption, violence and stupidity that goes on over there? Bring on the thumbs down cuz yall talking to much koshone if it was a black commentator that said that about the West Indies it would not have been news.
Sheep!
@Rasben How am I the sheep when I chose to speak against wrong even though I know that you all would flame me for it? If anything you all are the sheep, the entire herd is ganging up on me trying make me feel stupid.
No we cannot and will not run to Africa because the resources that were stolen from Africa was brought to Europe and America, and we have enough brains to go reclaim our property that was stolen from our people our ancestors. This is why we will not go to Africa. Your using the word “koshone”, means you may be a Dominican, one of those who disclaim your African roots: and I have no beef with you marrying outside the race… that is perfectly fine with me. The point you are missing is that no black commentator would say that unless the individual would want to be fired. You see, India, Pakistan, Australia, England and whole lot of then would not hire a black commentator, so yours is a moot point.
But I do feel sorry for you because I see your application language used in America’s ghetto: “cuz yall”, of yall “, stuff for yall” which is not indigenous to Dominica, leads me to conclude you are a lost soul.
“still you all flock over there by the grooves.” ISN’T THAT “GROOVIE?”
Did you know the whites are flocking to Africa too??????????
@Tetcal I need proof of that lmao, Only people flocking to Africa right now are Chinese because resources are being sold over there for cheap RIGHT NOW!
U are such a whimp
They always see Blacks as inferior to them. Freaking slave master mentality! This is not 1850 you piece of ish. You are going to regret ever saying that about our champions! Your career is going to be over real soon, Mark Nicholas.
Not all Whites see Blacks as inferior. In fact racism is a mental condition more prevalent among less educated White people.
What Mr. Nicolas was actually saying was more like “West Indian people may be athletic. So they beat us at cricket. But they are not as intellectual.” This would not come from a well informed person.
Please do not blame us all for us having such delusions. I am a Canadian White man who considers himself somewhat of an activist for racial equality. How could I not be? It is like the wife of the pastor of a great church in Dominican Public said to me while I was conducting a massive crusade in a ball park sponsored by their church. “We are family.”
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
Whoops
That should have been “in Dominican Republic” not “Dominican Public”.
Sincerely, Rev. Don Hill.
Rev said: “In fact racism is a mental condition more prevalent among less educated White people.” Are you for real, man! The apartheid regime…not poor whites. The people who subjugated us to physical slavery…not poor either. The same ones subjugating us to mental and economic slavery…not poor either…not certain of your view here reverend, you need to research and be accurate in your dissemination of information.
Congratulations to the West indies team…Well done guys. Let’s not forget the ladies.. Congratulations to both champion teams! Australia.. you lost to West Indies,,better luck next time.
Victory is sweet. Blasts from the past. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06P0RdZyjT4 and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBLjx-Uuzyk
Disrespectful & Racist. Mark Nicholas, you spoke your truth. We should doubt the sincerity of his apology. He would not have apologized if West Indies had not won. Well, Windies are the champions of the ICC World Cup T20 2016. England has been a low performing team for years and never have we seen that type of disrespectful reporting. In his article, he did not give West Indies a chance at winning. Imagine.. a no. 2 team who won in 2012 and reached semi finals in 2014. While he tried to position India as the potential winner, (he could not insult the hosts) he tried to belittle the ‘brown’ teams and compliment the white. N.B. (South Africa whites still dominate cricket) QUOTE: “South Africa are real contenders. Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh are short of class but will cope okay with the conditions. West Indies are short of brains but have IPL history in their ranks. New Zealand are worth a look for they have a savvy bunch of scrappers and some mighty hitting power to boot…
He’ll be eating those words for a long time because West Indies are the champions!!! all the so called brains and tricks in world could not help the English team! Only Sticks and stones my brotha, only Sticks and stones!
That sucker lie. He only apologize because we won. Mark is just expressing how these people feel about us black folks. This is nothing new. Fire in Babylon. We have to be stronger, and smarter and beat them at thier game. Then rub it in thier faces. Rules have been changed to put us off. Tell him take his apologies and stick it up his as….. The west Indies team represent me. Disrespect to them is disrespect to entire region.
Well every bread has it’s cheese and there is an end to every thing..Not all white men are evil and not all black people are good people..Nonetheless the whites can see now that it is pay back time for them,that is one of the main reasons why i love Castro ,he said “my patrie or death ” he never bowed down to america, we should not never make the same mistake again to be enslaved by the whites,we must move on because those who made the crimes are dead,payback time is now,the proof is in our open eyes,blacks can educate themselves,open there own business,become president in one of the countries where blacks are still oppressed ,killed and bitten by the police for no valuable reasons..this mans apology is just to turn the page but he knows very well that he does not mean it…any nation with brains will not rub another nation of it’s wealth and the lives of humans to build their empire…cut of local resources from the EU and the are doomed…
Your comment is almost impossible to read. There is no punctuation except commas. It just runs off the page like a verbal runny nose. If you are offended by what the person said, perhaps you should educate yourself.
The castro’s “Bowed and Bends over” to the Russian, Soviet, Marxist Lennist, communist gods,And that why he is still begging for America to closed down their military base in his backyard. While the cuban people run.fly,swim, to america. “C.Barry.b” when ever you want to move and reside in the Castro’s socialist paradise, I will pay your airfare to go there
Europeans have been insulting people of African descent since we made contact and they feel compelled to destroy the legacy of a great people. It seems to improve their lot in life; the best way to go about it is to demean others. This is the insecurity of the cra@ker and the fear of the Black man. Kill him in whatever form. They could not accomplish the physical genocide – so destroy the intellect. Let him apologize but it rings hollow.
Very well stated!
Black people wil continue to be insulted by the white man and also our own,Scottland told Dominicans to go suck salt,and the leader of the country rejoiced.SMH.
This is sports commentary on racial prejudice, not politics… wrong forum dude!
What Nicholas said was an insult and it should be taken no other way. He basically said that West Indians are stupid. He could have used alternative terms like: “poor strategy”, “not well thought through”, “careless”, etc. But we have heard cruel words like these said about us for centuries.
Jaded, he could not have used the terms you suggested because that is not what he meant to say; he used exactly the works he meant to use.
It seems Nicholas is learning the hard way that he who laughs last, laughs best.
You still go to their churches to praise the god they gave us. Their lie is showing more and more. Just listen to the comantators the way they talk down Black people. Time to rise. Africans.
There is only one God over all the world. He cannot be confined to our parochial identities, He is Lord and God over ALL. Find him and serve him, He is willing to be found by those who search with all their hearts. “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery” includes rising above reacting to perceived racial slurs at every turn. If we take offense every time an idiot says something stupid we are keeping ourselves in bondage.
Selah.
Nothing new here. It’s ‘the great white way’. It has been the way white people have gone about describing Black people historically. Especially after proudly enslaving what was once one half of Humanity at the time – all without ever paying Reparations. Except today the way it’s done is to say their sht then apologize shortly afterwards.
Well, I see how that makes Nicholas the brainless melanin deficient Idiot in the room.
I will follow up with an apology in next publication.
Melanin deficient? Racism in it’s finest form.
yes Melanin deficient! Caribbean people are victims of a most brutal racist policies of the brutish english,dutch,french,german,portugesee,spanish and american ruling elites and their opportunist followers. Justice we seek now. Its the truth; whites are melanin deficient,simply biology,no racism here.
Brainless? Racism in top form as usual.
My comment isn’t aimed at the good white or black people among us, some of us don’t lay down and take it anymore. It’s time we get right back at racists.
I offered to follow up with an apology in next publication, didn’t I? You see, that’s the way it’s done in the US, still happens all the time.
@Annon if the man made a statement like you made that would have been the end of his career… Not even going to try and debate this because like I said,because is koshone alone I’m seeing on this thread.
I do accept the apology as a west Indian but, I feel Sammy over reacted. If his offense was because an English commentator made that statement then I understand him a little. However, he and others must admit that most times in the past 10 years, we have been playing like we are short of brains. In fact not only the players but our administrators, selectors, coaches have all been acting as though they are short of brains, which is why we are not winning more often
You must be short of brains
No thanks for your uncle Tom views.
You guys are so inconsistent like the weather. I have listened to so many of you call Ossie program and made statements to that effect. Even last Thursday I heard so many of you Called for Marlon Samuel to be dropped because he is brainless, scared of fast bowling and can’t think. I have even heard regional commentator make statements to similar effects. I bet a million that if they had not made it to the finals and won, you all would say they are brainless. You all are like the weather. So too all you called for Skerrit to resign for the ng lap seng saga, although Dominica has not been implemented; yet all you want to cut Linton head for asking his deputy to resign for something he has been arrested for.
Your point of view I respect,but I disagree with.So if you and your woman have a disagreement and you raise your voice at her,are you saying that you agree for any man to meet her on the street and raise his voice at her.I’m sure you would stand up for her.Because you discipline your kids,does that give everyone else the right to discipline them.No.They are not family so they don’t have that right.You got It? Mark is not family neither by race or region
Isn’t amazing how truth stings … I agree with everything you said apart from Sammy overreacting … he didn’t. It is his role as the leader (the best we have had since Lloyd) to point out these things and use them as motivators for his group. But to deny that a multitude of players playing for West Indies in recent years (yes Tino Best, Wayvel Hinds, Adam Sandford etc.. I am looking at you!) have played without fully using their grey matter is to be delusional. Our spectacular fall from cricketing grace has much to do with our administration … but administrators don’t play and when the determination to succeed as team which propelled the 80’s and 90’s teams gets into the current team they will rise again. Sometimes it takes ridiculous comments like Tony Greig’s ‘grovel’ or Mark Nicolas ‘brainless’ to get us going…. for us to find our switch and the result is Sunday when you see out full force of will .. but we do not always use it .. that much is clear.
Fix yours.
Imperialistic mentality that these white men have,keep ur apology u wrote it so it was well thought of before.