When Sportscasters Get in Trouble

ESPN suspends Bill Simmons for controversial comments.

ESPN Suspends Bill Simmons Over Controversial Comments - ESPN didn’t waste anytime answering Bill Simmons’s dare. The Worldwide Leader in Sports suspended the outspoken personality for three weeks Wednesday for calling NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a “liar” for the way he handled Ray Rice’s disturbing domestic violence video. “Goodell, if he didn’t know what was on that tape, he’s a liar,” Simmons said during a recent podcast. “I’m just saying it. He is lying. I think that dude is lying, if you put him up on a lie detector test that guy would fail.” Simmons added: “The commissioner’s a liar and I get to talk about that on my podcast. Thank you. Please call me and say I’m in trouble. I dare you.” Guess that dare was answered loud and clear. With the suspension, Simmons joins many sportscasters who have been punished after making controversial comments. (Photo: AP Photo/ESPN I...

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ESPN Suspends Bill Simmons Over Controversial Comments - ESPN didn’t waste anytime answering Bill Simmons’s dare. The Worldwide Leader in Sports suspended the outspoken personality for three weeks Wednesday for calling NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a “liar” for the way he handled Ray Rice’s disturbing domestic violence video. “Goodell, if he didn’t know what was on that tape, he’s a liar,” Simmons said during a recent podcast. “I’m just saying it. He is lying. I think that dude is lying, if you put him up on a lie detector test that guy would fail.” Simmons added: “The commissioner’s a liar and I get to talk about that on my podcast. Thank you. Please call me and say I’m in trouble. I dare you.” Guess that dare was answered loud and clear. With the suspension, Simmons joins many sportscasters who have been punished after making controversial comments. (Photo: AP Photo/ESPN I...

Stephen A. Smith's controversial statement on females caught in domestic violence: - "What I've tried to employ the female members of my family...is that again, and this what, I've done this all my life, let's make sure we don't do anything to provoke wrong actions." (Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Time Warner Cable)

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Stephen A. Smith - Stephen A. Smith seemed to suggest that domestic violence against women is often provoked by the incidents’ victims and he did it live on ESPN’s First Take in late July. Making matters worse was the timing — the comments came one day after the NFL originally suspended Ray Rice for only two games for his involvement in a domestic violence incident with his then-fiancée, now wife. That drew the ire of the network, which suspended Smith for three days. When Stephen A. returned, he did so equipped with an apology, which he also delivered live on the air. (Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Time Warner Cable)

Rob Parker - In December 2012, Rob Parker controversially pondered live on ESPN's First Take whether or not Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is a “brother or is he a cornball brother?” That led to ESPN suspending him for 30 days. After the suspension, ESPN announced in January 2013 that Parker would not return.(Photo: First Take via ESPN)

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Rob Parker - In December 2012, Rob Parker controversially pondered live on ESPN's First Take whether or not Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is a “brother or is he a cornball brother?” That led to ESPN suspending him for 30 days. After the suspension, ESPN announced in January 2013 that Parker would not return.(Photo: First Take via ESPN)

Jason Whitlock - Jason Whitlock didn’t get suspended by Fox Sports for saying Serena Williams was overweight in 2009 and that “She'd rather eat and half-a-- her way through non-major tournaments and complain she's not getting the respect her 11-major-championships résumé demands.” Wow. But he did receive a whole lot of backlash on the Internet.(Photo: ESPN)

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Jason Whitlock - Jason Whitlock didn’t get suspended by Fox Sports for saying Serena Williams was overweight in 2009 and that “She'd rather eat and half-a-- her way through non-major tournaments and complain she's not getting the respect her 11-major-championships résumé demands.” Wow. But he did receive a whole lot of backlash on the Internet.(Photo: ESPN)

Tony Kornheiser - ESPN yanked Tony Kornheiser off the air for two weeks after his February 2010 comments about SportsCenter anchor Hannah Storm’s wardrobe. The talking head called Storm’s clothes a “horrifying, horrifying outfit,” adding that she’s wearing “red go-go boots” and her “Catholic school plaid skirt” is “way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now.” Wow, Tony. Respect that woman. (Photo: Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

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Tony Kornheiser - ESPN yanked Tony Kornheiser off the air for two weeks after his February 2010 comments about SportsCenter anchor Hannah Storm’s wardrobe. The talking head called Storm’s clothes a “horrifying, horrifying outfit,” adding that she’s wearing “red go-go boots” and her “Catholic school plaid skirt” is “way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now.” Wow, Tony. Respect that woman. (Photo: Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

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Max Bretos - ESPN cracked down on two employees in February 2012 over the racially-insensitive manner that they covered then-New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin. One such employee was ESPN anchor Max Bretos, who uttered the phrase “chink in the armor” to describe a weakness in Lin’s game on television. Although there might have been no ill-intent behind the phrase, it was deemed offensive to Lin, who is of Asian-American descent. Bretos was suspended for 30 days and offered up an instant apology. Meanwhile, another employee, who ran the phrase as a headline on ESPN’s mobile website, was terminated.(Photo: ESPN)

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Max Bretos - ESPN cracked down on two employees in February 2012 over the racially-insensitive manner that they covered then-New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin. One such employee was ESPN anchor Max Bretos, who uttered the phrase “chink in the armor” to describe a weakness in Lin’s game on television. Although there might have been no ill-intent behind the phrase, it was deemed offensive to Lin, who is of Asian-American descent. Bretos was suspended for 30 days and offered up an instant apology. Meanwhile, another employee, who ran the phrase as a headline on ESPN’s mobile website, was terminated.(Photo: ESPN)

Max Kellerman - Max Kellerman was suspended from ESPN-LA Radio and SportsNation last month for a few days after telling listeners live on the air about a time years back when he and his then-girlfriend, now wife, were both intoxicated and he responded to her slap in his face by slapping her right back. Kellerman shared the story as part of the discussion about Ray Rice’s domestic violence incident. That’s exactly what ESPN warned their personalities not to do, which is why they took him off programming for a few days. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Max Kellerman - Max Kellerman was suspended from ESPN-LA Radio and SportsNation last month for a few days after telling listeners live on the air about a time years back when he and his then-girlfriend, now wife, were both intoxicated and he responded to her slap in his face by slapping her right back. Kellerman shared the story as part of the discussion about Ray Rice’s domestic violence incident. That’s exactly what ESPN warned their personalities not to do, which is why they took him off programming for a few days. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Dan LeBatard - ESPN suspended one of its best television and radio hosts, Dan LeBatard, for two days last month after he paid for billboards reading, “You’re Welcome, LeBron. Love, Miami” in Cleveland following LeBron James return to the Cavaliers on July 11. LeBatard is from Miami and was standing up for Miami Heat fans. His stunt didn’t “reflect ESPN’s standards and brand,” the network said in a statement. (Photo: Highly Questionable on ESPN)

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Dan LeBatard - ESPN suspended one of its best television and radio hosts, Dan LeBatard, for two days last month after he paid for billboards reading, “You’re Welcome, LeBron. Love, Miami” in Cleveland following LeBron James return to the Cavaliers on July 11. LeBatard is from Miami and was standing up for Miami Heat fans. His stunt didn’t “reflect ESPN’s standards and brand,” the network said in a statement. (Photo: Highly Questionable on ESPN)

Kirk Minihane  - Boston’s WEEI’s Kirk Minihane went wild on Fox’s Erin Andrews in July for backing off on asking Adam Wainwright more questions on whether he purposely threw Derek Jeter a hittable pitch in the 2014 MLB All-Star Game. He took to the air and yelled: “What a b---h! I hate her! What a gutless b---h! Seriously, go away. Drop dead.” He was suspended without pay for a week by the sports radio station.(Photo: WEEIVideo via YouTube.com)

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Kirk Minihane  - Boston’s WEEI’s Kirk Minihane went wild on Fox’s Erin Andrews in July for backing off on asking Adam Wainwright more questions on whether he purposely threw Derek Jeter a hittable pitch in the 2014 MLB All-Star Game. He took to the air and yelled: “What a b---h! I hate her! What a gutless b---h! Seriously, go away. Drop dead.” He was suspended without pay for a week by the sports radio station.(Photo: WEEIVideo via YouTube.com)

Rush Limbaugh - Rush Limbaugh isn't even a sportscaster, but his controversial remarks on a sports television show landed him in hot water anyway. The opinionated political radio host set off a firestorm of backlash during an October 2003 appearance on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown by suggesting that “The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well” in reference to then-Philadelphia Eagles’ QB Donovan McNabb. He was not yanked off the air by his The Rush Limbaugh Show radio program, but did resign from his post on ESPN. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Rush Limbaugh - Rush Limbaugh isn't even a sportscaster, but his controversial remarks on a sports television show landed him in hot water anyway. The opinionated political radio host set off a firestorm of backlash during an October 2003 appearance on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown by suggesting that “The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well” in reference to then-Philadelphia Eagles’ QB Donovan McNabb. He was not yanked off the air by his The Rush Limbaugh Show radio program, but did resign from his post on ESPN. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)