While perusing the replay of last night's chat, I noticed a request for my opinion on the "apology" from Ann Arbor dot com. So, by request, here it is:

When is an apology not an apology?

The short answer is, "when someone else makes it for you." And that is exactly what has happened at Horse Pucky dot com. Dave Birkett's remarks were not only inappropriate in the sense that he stereotyped Demar Dorsey as a criminal, but the original comment is very, very close to having racial overtones. I know it might sound absurd, but think about it: when was the last time you heard a white person referred to as someone who would bring a crowbar to your door? I'm sure Birkett didn't think about Dorsey's color when he made the original comment, but after 24 hours I can't shake the feeling that he wouldn't have said this about Corey Tropp.

Are the cases different? Of course they are. But I have never heard or seen Birkett refer to Tropp as someone who would bring a hockey stick to your door and use it to attack you from behind. Since he hasn't referred to anyone on the Misdemeanor State football team as someone who would come to your door in a ski mask, I should probably give Birkett the benefit of the doubt and say that his comments are "only" grossly inappropriate and not racially insensitive, but there is a very small nagging doubt in my mind about this.

If Birkett were to actually write an apology on his own and clarify his remarks, I would tend to be a lot more charitable toward him. Let Birkett himself tell us what was going through his head when he made the reference. Birkett's silence speaks more loudly than anything he has written so far.

Today, his UM football articles were decent. He reported on practice and didn't refer to NCAA violations, impending probation, or crowbars. That is a step in the right direction, but I would still like to see something come directly from Birkett.

If Dave Birkett the reporter was interviewing the Dave Birkett who made the inappropriate comment, would he let him off as easily as he is getting off right now? I think we all know the answer to that question.

So, what do I think about Dave Birkett's "apology?" Here's another short answer:

"What apology?"