ESPN Fires Ron Franklin

Firing Sign of ESPN Getting Serious on Gender Issues

Once upon a time, the remarks ESPN announcer Ron Franklin reportedly made to his colleague Jeannine Edwards might have gotten him a slap on the wrist, or, at most, a stern talking to by a member of management.

According to fanhouse.com, that it cost him his job Tuesday is a sign that the Worldwide Leader truly does take the concerns of female staffers seriously, or is at least doing a better job of letting the public know that it does.

Franklin, who had been a staple of ESPN's college football and basketball coverage for 23 years, was fired Tuesday after word that he referred to Edwards as "sweet baby," then as an "a--hole" during a production meeting before a television broadcast of the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta last Friday, became public Sunday in a posting on the blog Sports by Brooks.

Franklin was pulled from the radio broadcast of the Fiesta Bowl Saturday as punishment, and issued an apology Monday, but company officials apparently decided that didn't go far enough.

"Based on what occurred last Friday, we have ended our relationship with him," an ESPN statement said.

ESPN has been plagued over its 31-year history by allegations that it essentially condoned sexual harassment or worse against female producers, on-air reporters and anchors and support staff, with winks and nods, but little punishment to male offenders.

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