We’re not sure if ESPN was trying to sweep it under the rug, but the story eventually hit its front page.
Longtime announcer Ron “Sweet Baby” Franklin has been fired by ESPN for verbally berating colleague Jeannine Edwards.
According to an initial report on Sunday from SportsbyBrooks.com, Franklin referred to Edwards as *ahem* “sweetcakes” in what Edwards described as a condescending tone. Later, in an email to the USA Today, Edwards clarified that Franklin actually called her “sweet baby”. Either way, Edwards objected to the derogatory comment and Franklin, who we can only guess was wearing a wife beater and a John Deere trucker hat, promptly called her an “a–hole”.
As a result, Franklin was initially suspended by ESPN for the Fiesta Bowl, before being officially let go Monday.
“Based on what occurred last Friday, we have ended our relationship with him,” ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys said earlier today.
You stay classy, Ron Franklin.
I love scotch
Ron Franklin is German for “a whale’s vagina”.
Jeannine needs to get some breast implants. Her titties are just not big enough for a female sports reporter.
Who is Janine Edwards?
4letter just trying to avoid a lawsuit
Don’t know her at all but this might be a good move for RF. Think Fox needs a new morning radio show and/or maybe he can connect with Steve Philips on his Sirius/XM gig.
You see no one knows who Jeannine Edwards is because her titties are too small. You have to have a package to be a female sports reporter.
i guess we know that huskersrock likes women with packages. it takes guts to come out and say that buddy
Obviously moolah954 said it for the rest of you.
To bad, Ron Franklin was a good play by play man and Edwards is a nobody. Unfortunately game coverage will suffer because ESPN to PC and worried about a lawsuit. If Edwards said something derogatory nothing would have happened.
If you can’t handle the heat get out of the kitchen………you see that is a tough guy cliche from a femine perspective. Someone should force this lady to write that down 1,000 times.
This is a load of BS….maybe that guy is a jerk, but give me a break. You’ve never been demeaned and degrated by a superior or co worker….you are gonna whine about it and get the guy fired?!?!?!?
Lame lame lame.
ESPN is simply to big for their britches. Franklin did good work on college football and baskets.
He was always prepared and this seems like an over reaction. He did not pull a Salisbury and send pictures of his privates to ESPN staffers. Nor did he take it Harold Reynolds style.
I will be shocked if Franklin is not hired by the Big 10 network.
I don’t know exactly what was said and Franklin might be a jerk but he has always seemed knowledgable to me, I certainly wish that I could have had everyone fired who I felt berated me over the years or even those who did it in front of other. some people are just tooo sensitive. Maybe Ms. Edwards just needed a career boost. Controversy sure helped Ms. Andrews (I know it was different)
All Franklin had to do was apologize instead of calling her an asshole. As I age, I’m pretty careful to steer clear of sounding like a dirty old man when I talk to younger women. It really isn’t that hard to be respectful to colleagues.
Also, scotch sucks. I much prefer a properly aged tequila, Irish wiskey, or bourbon.
paperlions says:
Jan 5, 2011 7:41 AM
Also, scotch sucks. I much prefer a properly aged tequila, Irish wiskey, or bourbon.
Tequila better than scotch? To each, their own…
Franklin was a pretty good announcer. Maybe he’ll end up somewhere else.
paperlions says:
Jan 5, 2011 7:41 AM
All Franklin had to do was apologize instead of calling her an asshole. As I age, I’m pretty careful to steer clear of sounding like a dirty old man when I talk to younger women. It really isn’t that hard to be respectful to colleagues.
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Paperlions, I couldn’t agree more that being respectful to colleagues is vitally important in a working environment. But what he said, although crappy, was hardly worth being fired over. I mean seriously if this girl can’t take a negative comment, then that is a reflection on her fragile self-esteem. We as a society need to stop catering to frivelous issues and wasting a court’s time (which is where ESPN thought they might land if they didn’t discipline Franklin) and save their time for more pressing issues. ESPN should have handled this internally with a write up if they felt that strongly about it, but not fire the guy.
But she didn’t fire him, ESPN did. She took exception to a demeaning term, all he had to do was say “Sorry, it won’t happen again.” Situation over. As a society, we can’t continue to support sexist attitudes that demean a person, ignoring such attitudes may as well be a pat on the back that says its okay. All the old man had to do was be profession, instead, he acted like an asshole, so he’s gone. If ESPN let it go, because the guy was good at his job, then anyone could get away with similar conduct because of the precedent inaction would set. Again, it just is not hard to be respectful.
I’m not saying let it go or ignoring it. But it doesn’t have to be a fired or let it go completely reaction. And yes, ESPN did fire him, but I am fairly certain it was because she complained indirectly and they were afraid of a lawsuit. Yes, he handled it poorly. NO he should not have been fired. Women and men have long made sexist comments either to each other or behind one’s back. Many people think things like that all the time, but only the foolish say them. I give you that. But seriously, as a teacher we preach to children everyday that they should treat each other with respect and apologize. We also teach them to let words go. Sticks and Stones…even. The point I am making is this. He could have said a hell of a lot worse and I would have completely agreed with the firing. But I do not not feel that what was said was worth being fired over. Written up, Yes! suspended even, yes! Fired… No Way! And its not about whether he is good or not. Its about blowing things out of proportion. And that’s what happened.
So why wasn’t Bob Griese fired last year about his racist taco remark?
I know it seems foolish to actually respect your females colleagues and that it might also seem as an overreaction but guys, this wasn’t his first time when it came to addressing a female staffer in that fashion. Let it go long enough and you’ve got enough of them that may decide to band together and make a hell of a mess. ESPN is finally getting its act together BUT I sure as hell would like them to make a certain Catholic school girl dress more appropriately, like her colleagues because she’s sure as hell hurting their credibility when it comes to sexual harassment.
Franklin was a good announcer and will be missed. I hope he gets on somewhere, uhhhh forgot. ESPN pretty much has a monopoly
dmo84 says:
So why wasn’t Bob Griese fired last year about his racist taco remark?
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1. He realized quickly that he may have crossed the lines and apologized shortly after his remark and again, at halftime.
2. He didn’t call Montoya an “asshole” BEFORE he apologized. I believe that Griese was genuinely sorry for what he said while Franklin was only apologizing AFTER he called the woman an asshole and was suspended.
If the shoe were on the other foot, this would be a non-issue. ESPN has no balls.
yowillie12 says:
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Really? Can you name an instance where a female reporter ever did this to Franklin or another male at ESPN?
Speaking of harrasment… who is the chubby blond sideline reporter for ESPN. I have a feeling she was the one who complained. She was jealous Franklin didn’t call her Sweetcakes…
My old corporate boss hired me as a writer because I have a sweet face and seem pliable. Then he tried to dump his personal admin needs on me. I told him to hire a secretary. Other women used to complain to me that–even though they outranked him–he’d “make” them take minutes in meetings because they were women. They wanted to know how I “handled” him. Easy: I said no. He could have fired me, and then I’d have raised a ruckus. Until then, I took care of myself.
If some old codger called me “sweet baby,” in a condescending tone, I’d probably come back with something like “Thanks, gramps.” Surely women can handle irrelevant disputes with colleagues without someone getting canned. HR shouldn’t be involved unless the problem is egregious harassment. The key question is: If Franklin had called a male colleague an SOB, would he still have a job? If so, then Edwards is receiving preferential treatment.
Thank you Deb! Spot on with your comments.