ESPN Ombudsman Says Viewers Also Find Hannah Storm’s Clothing Distracting ESPN

ESPN ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer thinks the network mishandled the suspension of "Pardon the Interruption" host Tony Kornheiser, who was ordered off the air for two weeks for criticizing colleague Hannah Storm’s clothes.

And, Ohlmeyer, too, thinks her outfits are distracting, based on the comments he has received from many viewers.

Ohlmeyer--a longtime sports producer and former top NBC executive--qualified his remarks by saying that Kornheiser had been a longtime friend. Nevertheless, Ohlmeyer said he felt that Kornheiser should have suffered consequences for his comments because “It's unseemly to have a commentator publicly deride and insult a colleague's appearance. It's not good for morale, and it's not good for business.”

But Ohlmeyer questioned the network’s rationale, noting that instead of suspending him for insulting a colleague it called his comments “hurtful and personal.” Other commentators on the network, he said, make similar comments about sports figures all the time.