Mike Ditka clarifies ‘no oppression in 100 years’ remark

Mike Ditka has clarified a comment he made Monday when he said he wasn’t aware of any racial oppression in the U.S. over the last century.

“The characterization of the statement that I made does not reflect the context of the question that I was answering and certainly does not reflect my views throughout my lifetime,” Ditka said in a statement Tuesday, per WGN-TV. “I have absolutely seen oppression in society in the last 100 years and I am completely intolerant of any discrimination.

“The interview was about the NFL and the related issues. That’s where my head was at. I was quoted in the interview stating, ‘You have to be color blind.’ I stated that you should look at a person for what they are and not the color of their skin. I’m sorry if anyone was offended.”

In an interview with Westwood One’s Jim Gray before the Bears-Viking game on “Monday Night Football,” Ditka went off on players protesting the national anthem, taking aim at the rationale behind the kneeling and fist-raising.

“All of a sudden, it has become a big deal now — about oppression. There has been no oppression in the last 100 years that I know of,” Ditka said. “Now maybe I’m not watching it as carefully as other people. I think the opportunity is there for everybody — race, religion, creed, color, nationality. If you want to work, if you want to try, if you want to put effort in, I think you can accomplish anything. And we have watched that throughout our history of our country.”

Last year, the famed former Bears coach called on anybody who “disrespects this country and the flag” to “get the hell out,” a sentiment he reiterated on Monday. When asked about Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ recent threat to bench players to take a knee, Ditka said he would enforce a similar policy.

“Yes, I don’t care who you are, how much money you make. If you don’t respect our country, then you shouldn’t be in this country playing football,” he said. “Go to another country and play football. ... If you can't respect this flag and this country, then you don’t know what this is all about. I would say, adios.”