Wichita State claimed victory during the November 21st game, with a score of 55-43 over Grand Canyon University. The team’s victory quickly became overshadowed by CBS Sports Network broadcasters Chris Walker and Chick Hernandez’s remarks concerning the Shockers’ forward, senior Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler.
During the WSU and GCU game, Walker and Hernandez, broadcasters for CBS Sports Network, made out-of-place remarks concerning Poor Bear-Chandler’s name in their live commentary. The two broadcasters, discussing the offensive rebound, turned to mocking Poor Bear-Chandler’s name instead of simply covering the game.
Walker earns credit for starting the back-and-forth during the broadcast, “Who got that offensive rebound? I don’t even want to say it. I’ll let you say his name because I want to be sure. Is it ‘Pooh Bear?’ Come on. You got to be kidding me.”
Hernandez attempted to clarify the cultural significance of Poor Bear-Chandler’s name but still mispronounced it: “Isaiah’ Pooh Bear’ Chandler is 50% Native American from the Oglala Lakota tribe, so he chose to use ‘Pooh Bear’ on his jersey.”
Poor Bear-Chandler is a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe and grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota until high school, when he relocated to Omaha, Nebraska. He is the son of Larry Chandler and Pte San Win Poor Bear, and carries the name with him as a part of his Native ancestry.
Walker’s response to the cultural background was a shoutout to Coach Isaac Brown for ‘allowing it to happen,’ then continued to compare the forward to Winnie the Pooh – live on the air.
It was not long after the comments were made by the broadcasters that fans took to social media to express their distaste, including Poor Bear-Chandler himself.
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! #WeAreStillHere #WildOglala #TeachHim https://t.co/P36LTJhmLb
— Isaiah Poor Bear (@Big_I35) November 21, 2022
After the incident, both Walker and Hernandez personally met with Poor Bear-Chandler to apologize for the incident. Hernandez is quoted, saying, “Chris and I would like to take this time to publicly apologize to Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler, his family, the Native American community, NABC, the Hall of Fame Classic for our comments and lack of sensitivity surrounding Isaiah’s name during yesterday’s game.”
🖤💛 All, please keep in mind @MrChickSports and @CWalkerSports made both a 1-on-1 apology to Isaiah and a public apology on air. Cancelling them isn’t the answer. They took accountability. That’s a great first step. Now they learn to grow. Google to see more. pic.twitter.com/teAAZuRwC8
— Ryan W. Gates (@RyanWGates) November 24, 2022
Wichita State Athletics also took to Twitter to clarify the incident and to express that Poor Bear-Chandler desires that the circumstances serve as a positive learning opportunity in support of the Indigenous community.
— Go Shockers (@GoShockers) November 22, 2022
Hernandez added, “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.”