Dan Orlovsky Publicly Apologizes to Damian Lillard

Dan Orlovsky has apologized publicly to Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard for his cringeworthy comments made on Wednesday's edition of "Get Up" on ESPN.
Lillard expressed to Yahoo Sports, "If we come back and I don't have an opportunity to make the playoffs, I will show up to work, I'll be at practice and I'll be with my team. I'm going to do all that and then I'm going to be sitting right on that bench during the games."
Orlovsky compared Lillard to supermarket and front line workers, and explained on national television that Lillard should be "thrilled" about returning to work.
Sports Illustrated writer Jimmy Traina provided advice for the ex-Detroit quarterback in his latest column.
"Here's a rule I know fans (and hot takers) won't like, but it's really a good one to follow: Don't compare an athlete's job to other people's jobs. It makes no sense and one person's job has nothing to do with another person's job," Traina wrote.
The comment Orlovsky made that infuriated Lillard was the following:
"I struggle sitting here and going, 'you don't come off as, in some way spoiled and entitled brat by saying I'm not gonna play.'"
Lillard then went online, and expressed his frustrations via Twitter.
Entitled and spoiled? Mf watch yo mouth. My background , family, and character couldn’t be further FROM entitled and spoiled. I said what I said! https://t.co/yM30aU5xl2
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) May 28, 2020
Orlovsky tried apologizing after receiving a significant amount of criticism. He tweeted, "No you’re right I was wrong to use that phrase at the end. That’s my bad. My comment started with saying I hope we all realize nothing is meaningless anymore. And if it’s about protecting loved ones-100%. I shouldn’t have said entitled or brat and that’s on me and my bad."
No you’re right I was wrong to use that phrase at the end. That’s my bad. My comment started with saying I hope we all realize nothing is meaningless anymore. And if it’s about protecting loved ones-100%. I shouldn’t have said entitled or brat and that’s on me and my bad.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) May 28, 2020
Traina concluded his column by crediting Orlovsky for at least making the attempt to apologize.
"Like I said at the top, when you're on live TV several days a week, this is going to happen. It's inevitable. Orlovsky's apology seems sincere, though, and he genuinely seems like he regrets using the words he did. That's more than most people will give you after they screw up on TV," Traina said.
To read Traina's SI Extra Mustard column, click here.
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John Maakaron has covered Detroit Sports since 2013. Brings a vast array of experience covering the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Detroit Mercy Titans, and Oakland University Golden Grizzlies. John brings a wealth of sports broadcast experience. In 2013, John had the vision to establish the Detroit Sports Podcast Network. Has recorded over 3000 podcasts analyzing Detroit Sports. In 2019, Sports Illustrated Media Group, a historical sports media outlet, partnered with Detroit Sports Podcast to provide daily Lions content for their growing and expanding digital media outlet. Our Lions content can also be read in the newspaper at The Oakland Passionate about Detroit Sports and it is reflected in his coverage of the local teams!