CBS broadcasters mock Poor Bear Chandler

WICHITA, KS—Last week CBS broadcasters decided to have some fun with the surname of Wichita State big man, Isaiah Poor Bear Chandler, Their insensitive remarks deeply impacted Chandler and forced the network and the university to condemn the remarks and issue support for Poor Bear Chandler.

The 6-9 Poor Bear Chandler is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe and was raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Six years ago, the NSNT interviewed then Omaha Central Senior Poor Bear Chandler after an historic exhibition game between Central and the little upstart school, defending state champion and LNI champion, Winnebago. It might have been an exhibition game, but it was played before a packed house, and hotly contested. Poor Bear Chandler and Winnebago’s David Wingett were the two opposing big men, and although Wingett lit up the scoreboard, he could not overcome the depth advantage of the bigger school.

Extremely large and powerful, Poor Bear Chandler proved to be a kind, gentle, respectful person in the post-game locker room interview. This long-anticipated matchup was made possible because both big men were enrolled tribal members and the cream of the Nebraska high school basketball playing crop.

From Central, Poor Bear Chandler went on to Wichita State, a highly respected, topflight basketball program. Things did not go well. He struggled after a knee injury and left the game and took a job. But last week he returned to the Wichita State line up, a walk on, and according to the Wichita Eagle: “Poor Bear-Chandler played eight minutes, the second-most of any bench player, and contributed four points and two rebounds. He drilled a 15-foot jumper on his first shot attempt in the first half, then grabbed an offensive rebound and made both free throws after being fouled in the second half.”

Poor Bear Chandler told the Wichita Eagle: “When I put on that uniform, that’s when the nostalgia hit,” Poor Bear-Chandler said. “I felt like I was young again. It was so much fun.”

It was in the next game, at Richmond, that the controversy occurred.

Chick Hernandez and Chris Walker were the CBS broadcasters. Hernandez was the play-by-play man, Walker the former player. They stumbled out of the broadcast blocks by misreading the name on the back of Poor Bear Chandler’s jersey, repeatedly referring to him as “Pooh Bear.”

Walker said: “He’s got Pooh Bear on the back of his jersey. I love that’”

“It’s one of the better names in college basketball,” Hernandez said.

“No, that is the best name in college basketball,” Walker said “Pooh Bear? You’ve got to be kidding. I was like, ‘OK, let me look in my notes. Maybe I said something wrong here.’”

Later in the broadcast, the duo mentioned Poor Bear-Chandler’s Oglala Lakota heritage but followed with another “Pooh Bear” joke.

“I love that and shout out to coach Isaac Brown for allowing him to have that on his jersey,” Walker said. “I love it.”

“You know opponents are calling him ‘Winnie’ at some point,” Hernandez said.

Even after the broadcast duo were informed it was Poor Bear, and that Poor Bear Chandler was half Lakota, they continued to giggle over “Pooh Bear.”

Given it is their job to be informed about the team, and they are professional communicators, servicing a fairly large audience, it is surprising they could be this tone deaf about a player’s heritage. They knew more about a literary character, a cartoon bear, than they did about a nearby Indian tribe. In addition, the town and the team are named after the Wichita Tribe, a Caddoan people related to the Pawnee and Arikara.

Poor Bear Chandler’s social media response?—”This (is) not cool (for real).”

On Twitter, Poor Bear Chandler wrote: “So it’s okay to make fun of my last name? Just shows your ability to be serious in a professional setting. Just because my people was almost colonized doesn’t mean I don’t know where I come from!”

CBS went into full damage control mode, and Hernandez and Walker met with Poor Bear Chandler. Hernandez said: “Chris and I would like to take this time to publicly apologize to Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler, his family, the Native American community, the NABC and the Hall of Fame Classic for our comments and lack of sensitivity surrounding Isaiah’s name during yesterday’s game. We asked for and met with Isaiah this morning to apologize in person and express our deep regret. We appreciate Isaiah taking the time to educate us on the significance of his name and his heritage. We will continue to learn from this and be better moving forward.”

Wichita State also made a statement: “Unfortunately, during the Nov. 21 broadcast of the Shockers’ victory over Grand Canyon University, CBS Sports Network’s on-air talent made inappropriate and insensitive comments directed at Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler, insulting both Isaiah and his Oglala Lakota heritage. We are appreciative of CBS Sports Network’s apologetic efforts, both in-person at (the) pre-game meal this morning and on-air during today’s NABC Hall of Fame Classic Championship contest. To his credit, Isaiah facilitated an educational and enlightening discussion engaging numerous individuals, including CBS Sports Network’s on-air talent. Isaiah strongly desires for this unfortunate circumstance to serve as a positive learning opportunity in support of the Indigenous community.”

Since his return, Poor Bear Chandler has played 34 minutes over three games, scored eight points, had seven rebounds, a blocked shot, and a steal.

(Contact James Giago Davies at skindiesel@msn.com)

 

 

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