Greenberg’s slip-up not nearly as costly

It was the philosopher and essayist George Santayana who once said those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

ESPN's Mike Greenberg obviously didn't get the memo.

The "SportsCenter" and national radio talk show host committed a slip of the tongue over the radio airwaves Monday when he addressed the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday as "Martin Luther Coon King Jr. holiday."

The racial slip-up has created a firestorm in the media world, and it brought back memories of 2005, when a former Las Vegas weatherman used the same word in a forecast. Rob Blair was working at KTNV-TV (Channel 13) when he talked about pleasant temperatures on "Martin Luther Coon Day." He was promptly fired by the station.

Greenberg issued an apology Monday, explaining he had slurred his words and somehow "Jr." became "Coon."

However, it appears history will not totally repeat itself. Unlike Blair, Greenberg still has his job and was on the air Tuesday.

• L.T. MOCKED -- It was bad enough for LaDainian Tomlinson that his San Diego Chargers made an early exit from the NFL playoffs Sunday. The fact Tomlinson was a virtual nonfactor didn't help. But the mocking he took at the expense of the New York Jets in the aftermath of the Chargers' 17-14 loss had to be humbling.

Tomlinson made a rap video for Nike a couple of years ago called "L.T. Style: Electric Glide." It resurfaced a couple of weeks ago, and the audio version was airing on radio stations in San Diego.

According to the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger, the Jets put their own soundtrack to the video on their flight back to New York, and it was far from flattering as several players mocked and derided Tomlinson.

"I thought it made 'The Super Bowl Shuffle' sound like the best rap ever written," linebacker Bart Scott told the Star-Ledger.

If the Jets beat the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday and advance to the Super Bowl, perhaps they'll make their own rap video.

• GET HIM A DIAPER -- There always have been rain delays in tennis. But when was the last time there was a urination delay?

It happened Tuesday at the Australian Open when the match between Donald Young and Christophe Rochus was delayed 30 minutes after a ballboy was unable to control his bladder and wound up urinating all over himself.

The incident happened in the fourth set of Young's 1-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 win. The kid began to wet himself, and as he ran off the court, he left a trail of urine in his wake. And when officials tried to blow-dry the liquid and the blower failed, they had to resort to toweling off the surface to prevent the players from possibly slipping.

"I looked back and it was dripping on the court,'' Young said to AOL Fanhouse. "He ran off. And when he ran off ..."

The unidentified ballboy is expected to work the rest of the tournament. But he might be required to go to the bathroom before he enters the court. Or wear a diaper.

COMPILED BY STEVE CARP LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL