Logo

ESPN Sportscaster Fired Over Alleged Sexist Remark

Jan 5, 2011  •  Post A Comment

An ESPN sportscaster who has been at the all-sports network for more than 20 years has been fired after he reportedly made sexist comments followed by an expletive to sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards, reports The Washington Post.

The fired sportscaster is Ron Franklin.

According to the article, "Franklin, 68, had worked at the sports network for nearly 24 years, primarily as a play-by-play announcer on college football and basketball games.

"The network pulled Franklin off the Fiesta Bowl college football game broadcast Saturday after Franklin’s encounter with sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards a day earlier.

"Franklin responded testily on Friday when Edwards tried to join a conversation he was having with two other male sportscasters hours before going on the air. Franklin rebuffed Edwards, calling her "sweet baby." When Edwards replied that she didn’t appreciate being addressed that way, he responded, "Okay, then, [expletive]."

The article adds, "In 2005, Franklin addressed another sideline reporter, Holly Rowe, as ‘sweetheart’ during a game. He later apologized to her. It’s unclear whether he issued a similar apology to Edwards."

That story also reports that ESPN said, in a statement, that "Based on what occurred last Friday, we have ended our relationship with him," referring to Franklin.ronfranklin1.jpg

5 Comments

  1. WHEN are these highly compensated, adrenaline-pumped on air personalities going to realize that they, along with the rest of us, WILL be held accountable for bad behavior? Remember Jimmy the Greek and Phyllis George on CBS? duh….. They have been given a trust by their employers which requires perhaps a higher level of self control and good deportment, plus a whopping annual salary. You’d think they’d put their brains in gear before letting the clutch out on their mouths! 24 years, ending is a firing for not behaving properly. Shameful.

  2. WordPress is indeed a fantastic application – I am just having a lot of pleasure running a blog.

  3. It’s scary out there. You work hard,you make your employer millions, and they can’t get rid of you for non-performance — then WHAMMO, you call someone “sweetheart” and your lifetime of hard work goes down the toilet. It’s like walking on eggshells if you’re a man. Women can still get away with calling a male reporter “sweetheart” and not get fired for it.
    But, will I get sued when I tell young actresses acting in “Kill Her…Not Me” which ones of them will not get a part in the sequel?
    Keith Warn Ibex Productions

  4. Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care and see you soon

  5. Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care and see you soon

Leave a Reply to marketing for restaurants Cancel Reply

Email (will not be published)