Everyone makes verbal gaffes from time to time, but the one made by TNT Media personality Allie LaForce last night was pretty bad. Usually, it’s not worth devoting an entire post to someone making a simple mistake, but again, this slip-up was truly outstanding.
Like I said, everyone makes mistakes. In a recent NFL mock draft update, I screwed up by having both the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers draft the same guy. In a mock update a few weeks ago, I still had the Seahawks drafting with the pick that now belongs to the Saints.
I got called out for it by emails, on Twitter, in the comments section. As I should. You learn, you laugh, You move on.
You might have missed Allie’s gaffe as it occurred very late last evening, during the NBA on TNT postgame show
Allie LaForce, reporting from outside the United Center locker rooms in Chicago said:
“The Bulls have two days to rest… before they travel 90 miles west to Milwaukee.”
Nice try Allie, but MKE is actually 90 miles north of CHI. If the Bulls were playing the Rockford Icehogs of the International Hockey League, then maybe her statement might have some truth to it, as Google Maps tells us that Rockford is 87.9 miles west of the U.C.
At least Allie LaForce got the 90 miles portion of her statement correct, as Google informs us that the Bradley Center is 91.9 miles north of the United Center. We’ve linked the map of the northernly route. And it’s a good thing LaForce didn’t say “90 miles east;” because that would lead you into pulling a Michael Scott.
Also, to drive from Chicago to Milwaukee you would take I-94 West. So maybe we can award her a point for that? What makes this gaffe even funnier is the fact that LaForce is from two states over. She was Miss Ohio Teen USA 2005, and played basketball at Ohio University in college.
She should really be better at Midwestern geography than this.
This isn’t the first time a beauty pageant winner struggled with geography struggled with geography. You’ll recall the viral video sensation, 2007 Miss Teen USA, when Miss South Carolina had her issues with maps.
She took her embarrassing moment like a champ; eventually making light of it in a Weezer video. Not just any Weezer video; but one of the most creative music videos of all time.
Like I said, we’ve all made mistakes like Allie LaForce did here.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) and Instagram (@paulmbanks)
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