The Philadelphia Flyers suspended longtime radio play-by-play announcer Tim Saunders for two games after he was caught on a hot mic making a sexually explicit joke during Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
Saunders, in his 29th season with the team, believed the broadcast on WPEN 97.5 The Fanatic had gone to commercial during a third-period TV timeout. While someone in the booth crouched down, he said, "While you're down there, would you mind blowing me?" Color analyst Todd Fedoruk immediately replied, "I think we're still on the air, Tim," prompting laughter and Saunders' surprised response: "No we're not, are we?"
The clip quickly went viral on social media.
On Friday, December 19, 2025, the Flyers and station issued a joint statement announcing the suspension and apologizing: "These remarks do not reflect the standards of conduct or values we expect from anyone associated with our organization... We take this matter very seriously, and sincerely apologize to our listeners, fans, and all those affected."
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 19, 2025
Saunders later apologized via the Flyers Broadcast Network: "I made an error in judgment... I recognize how offensive my remarks were, and the harm it has caused. I take full responsibility... I promise that I will hold myself to a higher standard moving forward."
He will miss games against the New York Rangers (December 20) and Vancouver Canucks (December 22), with director of broadcasting Brian Smith filling in. Saunders is expected to return December 23 against Chicago.
Reactions are mixed: Many fans and commentators view the joke as harmless locker-room banter unintentionally broadcast, blaming production errors for the hot mic, while others deem it inappropriate for a professional setting. Social media trends like " #FreeTimSaunders" suggest widespread sentiment that the punishment is an overreaction, with some criticizing the team's public statement for escalating a minor gaffe into national news.