TV commentator in on-air apology over Pinder error
CAIRNS Taipans coach Adam Forde has used his post-game press conference to call out an NBL commentator for incorrect details about star big man Keanu Pinder’s background.
While Forde did not name the commentator, he said the reigning NBL Most Improved Player had been “cut” by the words.
Forde was referring to former Australian Opal Jenni Screen, who is part of the commentary team and has since apologised on air.
“Just remember where he’s from, Torres Strait Islands, hasn’t had the upbringing that we would have had here in the other areas and Danny Morseu’s worked a lot with him,” Screen said of Pinder during Saturday night’s call of the Taipans’ clash with South East Melbourne. “It’s going to take time with someone of his calibre and then adding (to) the Boomers’ line-up that he got this year in … the Asia Cup, that only adds to him getting some leadership.”
Pinder is not from the Torres Strait. He grew up in Derby in the Kimberley region of WA, the son of Indigenous woman Tracey Smith and Perth Wildcats dual-NBL champion Nate ‘Tiny’ Pinder, who was born in the Bahamas.
“Tonight, a mention of Keanu’s background and it was highly incorrect and it’s rather disrespectful to him and his family,” Forde said, post-game.
“I’m not trying to throw barbs at anyone, you can write us off, that’s fine, I get that, it’s all good, (but) just Google search, man.
“It was disappointing. Keanu had a great game and it cuts him a little bit, so I felt like I needed to do that for him and his family. “He’s upset.” Screen issued an apology during the call of Perth’s clash with Illawarra. “I said something culturally insensitive about Keanu Pinder, which I’d like to correct and apologise unreservedly for,” Screen said.
“I said Keanu was from the Torres Strait, when in fact he is a proud Aboriginal man from Derby and someone who loves representing his family and community,” Screen said.