Reynolds was fired because he disseminated a memo around the office (although he insisted it was a 'mission statement') suggesting that ESPN should focus less on the Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets and more on the smaller teams, providing greater in-depth coverage that fans in those markets could really care about and appreciate.
ESPN discovered that Reynolds had fudged some information on his resume. Among other things, it turns out he didn't have 3000 hits, 500 home runs, nor a even the Ph.D. in Classical Literature he had claimed. They'd also discovered that he was leaking Chris Berman's appearance schedule to Keith Olbermann.
And of course, Steve Phillips still has a job is regarded as a keen baseball mind who brags that he drafted Jason Tyner with his #1 pick for the Mets once.
Harold Reynolds is a pretty common sight in the local bars here, one weekend a year. Last time I saw him he had a big wedding ring on, and a sweet young thing on each arm.
He was given three months to develop a trademark home run call for the highlight clips. All he could come up with was "Heavens to mergatroid!" and so they agreed to part ways.
Matt Kemp told ESPN to fire Harold. Matt Kemp's whim is reason enough.
Stephen A. Smith is still employed because Matt Kemp demands it. God sent a great flood to punish mankind for its wickedness; Matt Kemp sent Stephen A.
Kruk ate him. The firing is just a cover story so ESPN doesn't get sued by Reynolds' family for violation of OSHA regulations by letting a dangerous ManBearPig onto its premises.
I'm actually surprised they'd fire Reynolds. He probably had the best "delivery" and "polish" of any of their commentators. I didnt agree with most of what he said, but the manner in which he said it was agreeable.
May Stephen A, Stuart Boo Yah Scott, and Chris Berman be next!
So, what happens if BBTN comes on the air tonight - and HR is there?
If this is real, how can the reason behind the firing NOT have leaked yet? I just can't believe that ESPN - the same network that continues to employ Steve Phillips - is running that tight of a ship.
Here's no information for you, from a Wash Post beatwriter online chat:
Chicago, Ill.: Any idea what happened with Harold Reynolds?
Jorge Arangure Jr.: Seriously, this topic has a ton in baseball buzzing. Espn is keeping really mum about what happened and nobody seems to know. It's shocking he would get fired since everyone seemed to like Harold. Obviously something went terribly wrong. I kid you not, i've gotten several IM messages asking me if i know what happened.
How about moving Kyle Peterson over from ESPN U and into the big time?
They need more nerdy looking guys on the show. I have a feeling that Peterson would bamboozle everyone with his knowledge of three- and four-syllable words.
Now that Harold's gone, ESPN's "A guy" quotient went down by 50%.
See, this is a guy...
A-Rod is a guy that...
It's hard to face that guy...
When you face a guy with that good a curveball...
You're talking about a guy that plays defense...
At least ESPN still has Woody Paige. "Here's a guy..."
We can't say for sure why Harold Reynolds was fired from ESPN yesterday, because ESPN hasn't put out a statement or anything (and they don't have to), but we can tell you what the chatter in Bristol is: Everyone is hearing sexual harassment. Every single email we've received from the inside about this today has used those very two words.
...and Harold manages to prove once and for all that the classic "it's only sexual harrassment if you're ugly" theory of workplace romance is a misconception.
"Hello, HR?"
"Yes."
"This is HR."
"But I'm HR."
"No, we're HR."
"But I'm only one person!"
"Well, you're fired."
"But how can I fire myself."
"Just leave HR."
"Why?"
"Well, if you want to know, walk over to HR."
"How do I walk over to myself?"
"You were an athlete, figure it out."
78
ESPN doesn't have to say. But there are rumors of sexual harassment and that is one thing that big companies frown upon greatly. It's one thing that if you are working for the government that is frowned upon greatly.
It's not a good thing to get involved with or be accused of.
69 ESPN has had huge problems in the past with sexual harassment coughMikeTiricoGaryMillercough. For HR to get fired, it must have been a recurring problem.
There was the unfortunate "your in nation" episode, but also whispers of naughtiness. In any event, he's a very likeable fellow, and I saw him at The Who concert as the Hollywood Bowl last year.
Women can get fired for sexual harassment. It's just that it's not as common because the most frequent scenario is that someone in a position of authority demands something that shouldn't be asked for.
But I've seen cases of men complaining about men and women complaining about women too.
At ESPN, it's quite likely that there aren't a lot of female executives.
That could be the case. Or it might not be. But if Reynolds were to continually ask a female employee out all the time and she said no and he persisted, he's violating workplace rules.
Ultimately, you want your employees to be able to do their work without having to worry about someone coming by your desk asking you out all the time.
With a personnel matter, companies will never say what the exact cause was. That's just they way things are. Unless Reynolds would do something like file suit for wrongful termination. Then all the dirty laundry would have to be aired.
103 LOL...during the KPCC fund drive recently, they did one of those, "what would [insert NPR personality] do, if they weren't in public radio" bit, where persumably, because all the free-loading NPR listener did not contribute, these talented people had to turn elsewhere to express their talent. They had Nina Totenberg do her signature play by play dialog on a really mundane subject (which I cannot recall right now).
If sexual harassment is such a big issue at ESPN why would ESPN choose to hire Steve Phillips, who was suspended by the Mets for that very thing? Maybe Steve Phillips was sexually harassing Harold Reynolds and HR got fired for being a whistleblower?
"Anyone who is saying sexual harassment either has been given bad third-hand info or is lying. Harold has had a couple of rather heated arguments with the producers at "Baseball Tonight," and some of the suits at ESPN over the program's coverage of Alex Rodriguez. At the last production meeting, when it was made clear they were going to really play up the A-Rod angle during coverage of the Yankees-Texas series, Harold had a colossal meltdown, which led to his dismissal. The sexual harassment allegations are even more laughable when you consider that he is being replaced by Steve Phillips -- a man who has never met a skirt he wouldn't chase and who was caught in one of the more embarrassing front office sexual harassment scandals in MLB history."
It's still all rumors but I'm hoping HR got fired for calling out ESPN for their A-Rod fetish.
Getting fired from the Worldwide leader is very difficult. That's not my opinion, it's an opinion offered by a few ESPN employees around the interwebs. Frankly, I don't believe having a meltdown over Alex Rodriguez is getting anybody fired, especially when you're a quasi-brand, like HR is. Little League videos, coaching clinics, all that jazz. All sponsored by ESPN. Throwing all of that out over an argument over a third baseman? Methinks not.
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"Harold Reynolds Loses ESPN Gig Over Internet Sex Video With ManBearPig"
Cameron Crowe co-authored the mission statement.
Get well soon Peter Gammons!
Well, other women can ... (not that I would have any first-hand knowledge of such)
http://blogs.suntimes.com/scanners/2006/07/you_dont_even_want_to_know_wha.html
http://blogs.suntimes.com/scanners/2006/07/me_mr_colbert.html
Now we just need Matt Stone and Trey Parker to weigh in, and the cycle of hilarity would be complete.
Stephen A. Smith is still employed because Matt Kemp demands it. God sent a great flood to punish mankind for its wickedness; Matt Kemp sent Stephen A.
I like to think he killed a man. It's the romantic in me.
"Rosebud..."
Was that funny? Not particularly. I just like saying "Trey Wingo."
(and it was Kruk's eclair ...)
why thank you Eric!
I'm actually surprised they'd fire Reynolds. He probably had the best "delivery" and "polish" of any of their commentators. I didnt agree with most of what he said, but the manner in which he said it was agreeable.
May Stephen A, Stuart Boo Yah Scott, and Chris Berman be next!
Music:MTV:Sports:ESPN
Thats really all ya need to know.
Tino-- not sure why they waste time on him. He's brutal I think, of course its only his 1st year. Maybe they think he'll improve?
Orestes Destrade--I think he's the best commetator they have. He should get more air-time.
Please continue.
32 That was funny precisely because the object was Trey Wingo.
If this is real, how can the reason behind the firing NOT have leaked yet? I just can't believe that ESPN - the same network that continues to employ Steve Phillips - is running that tight of a ship.
Color me skeptical.
He lives for that stuff.
Chicago, Ill.: Any idea what happened with Harold Reynolds?
Jorge Arangure Jr.: Seriously, this topic has a ton in baseball buzzing. Espn is keeping really mum about what happened and nobody seems to know. It's shocking he would get fired since everyone seemed to like Harold. Obviously something went terribly wrong. I kid you not, i've gotten several IM messages asking me if i know what happened.
They need more nerdy looking guys on the show. I have a feeling that Peterson would bamboozle everyone with his knowledge of three- and four-syllable words.
See, this is a guy...
A-Rod is a guy that...
It's hard to face that guy...
When you face a guy with that good a curveball...
You're talking about a guy that plays defense...
At least ESPN still has Woody Paige. "Here's a guy..."
We can't say for sure why Harold Reynolds was fired from ESPN yesterday, because ESPN hasn't put out a statement or anything (and they don't have to), but we can tell you what the chatter in Bristol is: Everyone is hearing sexual harassment. Every single email we've received from the inside about this today has used those very two words.
Oops ... I may have erred .... my bad!
- His "Insider" subscription expired.
- Caught viewing "disturbing" Joe Buck "promos" on his computer.
- Caught writing "This ship is sinking" in magnetic letters on fridge in ESPN commissary.
- Suddenly, and violently head-butted Chris Berman in the chest.
- Had the unmitigated audacity to acknowledge the existence of a MLB Division other than the AL East.
- Violated ESPN dress-code posing shirtless on a rock in Central Park.
- Thought it would be really funny to secretly dehydrate Buck Showalter.
uh oh!
Guess HR might not have seen this particular South Park episode!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_Harrassment_Panda
HR was caught sexually harrassing the panda.
the show will be called "Stump the Schwa"
(insert groan here)
... especially since the video is 28 seconds in length ...
12 is still the best one I've heard so far.
Though more likely it was that something embarrassing happened in the arrassment-hay department.
well ... unfortuantely, my 12 post was only slightly tongue-in-cheek.
I'm sure we could write chapter and verse on the demise of sports journalism brought on by ESPN and the like ...
"Hello, HR?"
"Yes."
"This is HR."
"But I'm HR."
"No, we're HR."
"But I'm only one person!"
"Well, you're fired."
"But how can I fire myself."
"Just leave HR."
"Why?"
"Well, if you want to know, walk over to HR."
"How do I walk over to myself?"
"You were an athlete, figure it out."
Post of the day nominee!
ESPN doesn't have to say. But there are rumors of sexual harassment and that is one thing that big companies frown upon greatly. It's one thing that if you are working for the government that is frowned upon greatly.
It's not a good thing to get involved with or be accused of.
I thought that Gary Miller's problems were more with John Barleycorn. But he's straightened himself out in that department I know.
but when chicks do it to us sexy beasts it's o.k.??, double standard?
Nahhhh.
Women can get fired for sexual harassment. It's just that it's not as common because the most frequent scenario is that someone in a position of authority demands something that shouldn't be asked for.
But I've seen cases of men complaining about men and women complaining about women too.
At ESPN, it's quite likely that there aren't a lot of female executives.
what dose "your in nation" mean? (not jk)
there's sex at work all the time, I guess the chick didn't dig HR.
You need to pronounce it faster and it comes out as one word describe something that you aren't supposed to do in public.
That could be the case. Or it might not be. But if Reynolds were to continually ask a female employee out all the time and she said no and he persisted, he's violating workplace rules.
Ultimately, you want your employees to be able to do their work without having to worry about someone coming by your desk asking you out all the time.
Oh.o.k.
exactly, I guess Reynolds couldn't take a hint. this is all speculation of course.
poty mouths :o)
HR: What, are You Kiddin' me?
HR: Your fired for sexual harassment.
HR: Sexual harassment?! You know Trey Wingo wanted me.
Based on an annoying novel by Michael Crichton.
oh man, LOL.
Yeah, but it's useally ugly chicks that do that. I wish a hot chick would do that to me.
And no, I am not harassing you.
It's probably not all that much fun and most likely the women who do that don't look like Demi Moore either.
Hawk: He Gone!
The "annoying" need not be said, it's a given.
"Maybe Steve Phillips was sexually harassing Harold Reynolds and HR got fired for being a whistleblower?"
=====================
Is that what they are calling it know ... whistleblowing? :-)
(NTTAWWT)
Reminds me of a Dave Letterman "Top Ten Scottish Joke Punchlines. One of them was, "No, it's not a bagpipe, but don't stop."
"Anyone who is saying sexual harassment either has been given bad third-hand info or is lying. Harold has had a couple of rather heated arguments with the producers at "Baseball Tonight," and some of the suits at ESPN over the program's coverage of Alex Rodriguez. At the last production meeting, when it was made clear they were going to really play up the A-Rod angle during coverage of the Yankees-Texas series, Harold had a colossal meltdown, which led to his dismissal. The sexual harassment allegations are even more laughable when you consider that he is being replaced by Steve Phillips -- a man who has never met a skirt he wouldn't chase and who was caught in one of the more embarrassing front office sexual harassment scandals in MLB history."
It's still all rumors but I'm hoping HR got fired for calling out ESPN for their A-Rod fetish.
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