Larry Cochell, head baseball coach at Oklahoma since 1991 and winner of a College World Series with the Sooners, used a racial slur in two off-camera interviews with ESPN journalists last Tuesday. Here's what Mr. Cochell, who is white, said, in reference to black outfielder Joe Dunigan Jr.: "There's no n----- in him." And: "There are honkies and white people, and there are n------ and black people. Dunigan is a good, black kid."What do you think? Was what Cochell said reflecting an intolerance toward people, or an ignorance about the power of language? Both? Was his resignation warranted?
Mr. Dunigan -- whom Mr. Cochell was trying to compliment -- and his father forgave the coach, as did many others with the program who said they had never seen any signs of racism from the man. But on Sunday Mr. Cochell resigned in the face of widespread criticism of his remarks and apparent pressure from the university.
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