20+ Meltdowns That Almost Destroyed ESPN

Curt Schilling Opens His Mouth

Curt Schilling is a Hall of Fame talent but he needs more than a couple of online colleges to help him learn how to be an analyst. Schilling’s time with ESPN turned out to be a disaster as the former pitcher repeatedly used his Twitter account to spew controversial and harsh opinions.

Curt Schilling Opens His Mouth

Mike Tirico’s Stalking Incident

Mike Tirico has been with the network for a long time and has been a steady voice in the booth for just about every sport event we can think of. Still, there was a point in time when Tirico was closer to a court room than a box office. Tirico reportedly had a problem stalking female co-workers. Do we need online PHD programs to realize that this is kinda messed up?

Mike Tiricos Stalking Incident

Peeping Tom Producer

Neil Goldberg was a producer at ESPN when he was arrested for looking through a woman’s window. Goldberg had been, ah, well keeping himself busy when a bystander saw what was happening. ESPN fired him immediately.

Peeping Tom Producer

Scott Sassa Texting Scandal

Scotta Sassa jumped into the broadcasting world when he was hired by Fox and he would quickly rise up in the industry until his career was cut short in 2008. Sassa was caught in a nasty, public blackmail incident when he sent numerous illicit texts to a stripper.

Scott Sassa Texting Scandal

Rush Limbaugh’s Ill Fated Tenure

The fringe radio host once had a job at ESPN, hard to believe isn’t it? Limbaugh was brought on as an NFL commentator in 2003 but he would quickly lose his job. Limbaugh went on a racially charged rant about Donovan McNabb that quickly made him a pariah. Maybe Limbaugh should head back and take a few online college classes in order to learn ‘tact’.

Rush Limbaughs Ill Fated Tenure

Sue Baumann’s Sour Grapes

We kicked off our list with Chris Berman and he’s back yet again. Berman got into Sue Baumann’s head apparently and the two started to get confrontational behind the scenes. Baumann was eventually fired from the company and it was revealed that Boomer, for once, wasn’t at fault.

The 2015 ESPYS Show

ESPN’s Crazy ’80s

When the book ‘These Guys Have All The Fun’ was released it revealed over 700 pages of insider information on the state of ESPN’s headquarters and the culture surrounding it. Most shocking was a revelation that the company harbored a drug and sex fueled atmosphere during much of the ’80s. We haven’t gone to any online colleges for broadcasting, but that can’t be normal.

Espns Crazy 80s

Keith Clinkscales Dirty Behavior

Can you ever really trust a guy with a name as shady as ‘Clinkscales’? Okay, that’s unfair — you don’t get to choose your name. You DO, however, get to choose whether or not you grope yourself while sitting next to your employees. Clinkscales was accused of this TWICE by two different employees: Erin Andrews and Joan Lynch.

Keith Clinkscales Dirty Behavior

Skip Bayless vs. Troy Aikman

Skip Bayless is the definition of ‘shock jock’. He speaks loud, speaks often, and speaks in order to rile people up. However, when Bayless started spreading rumors that Hall of Fame QB Troy Aikman was gay, well, he apparently went too far. Aikman and Bayless have been at odds ever since.

Skip Bayless Vs Troy Aikman

Jason Whitlock Fired for Criticism

ESPN is rigid when it comes to sticking to the party line. So when Jason Whitlock put two colleagues under fire, Mike Lupica and Scoop Jackson, the network acted quickly. After calling Lupica ‘insecure and mean-spirited’ and Scoop Jackson a ‘clown’, Whitlock was dumped.

Jason Whitlock Fired For Criticism

Paul Shirley Goes Full On Stupid

Shirley wasn’t a huge part of ESPN but he was a freelance contributor in the form of articles. In 2010 Shirley posted a blog regarding the recent Haiti disaster. He essentially said that he refused to help the victims of the earthquake because they won’t do “anything constructive with the dollar I might give”. He also went on to say that, essentially, Haiti should take care of themselves.

Paul Shirley Goes Full On Stupid

Steve Phillips Assistant ‘Problem’

Longtime ESPN watchers will remember Steve Phillips for his job as an MLB analyst. Those same viewers will recall that the analyst was fired in 2009 when he was caught cheating on his wife — with a 22 year old assistant at the office. Phillips’ was summarily divorced and fired.

Steve Phillips Assistant Problem

‘First Take’ Rob Parker Gets Racist

When Robert Griffin III was first coming into the NFL he tried to make it clear that he wanted to be evaluated as a quarterback first and not just on his race. In an episode of ‘First Take’ host Rob Parker thought that RG3 was somehow condemning all black people. Parker went on a long and racially charged rant which include the phrase ‘cornball brother’ that led him to getting fired.

First Take Rob Parker Gets Racist

Ashley Madison Hack

Do you remember where you were when the infamous Ashley Madison cheating website was hacked? It ended up leaking private information of people looking to engage in affairs. A slew of ESPN executives, producers, and VPs were included in the hacking dump.

Ashley Madison Hack

Bill Creasy Gets Greasy

Bill Creasy was the first president of programming for ESPN but even that wouldn’t stop him from being suuuuuuper creepy. Creasy, who was 74 at the time of this event in 2004, demanded that 30 year old assistant Melissa DiMarco sleep over at his mansion for ‘sleepover meetings’. When DiMarco refused she was fired outright. Furthermore, she quickly came back with a sexual harassment suit.

Bill Creasy Gets Greasy

ESPN Sells out to Roger Goodell

The recent slew of concussion related stories surrounding the NFL has not made NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a happy camper. PBS, who was partnered with ESPN at the time, was going to air a 2013 documentary called the ‘League of Denial’ which was about the NFL’s failure to adapt to treat and prevent concussions. Moreover ESPN canceled the partnership with PBS prior to the documentary airing and after meeting with Roger Goodell. Goodell and the NFL have a deal with ESPN worth $15 billion dollars. Goodbye to fair concussion related reporting at ESPN.

Espn Sells Out To Roger Goodell

Back At It

Curt Schilling is back at it again and this time at the heart of North Carolina’s transgender law – basically all people must use the bathroom associated with the sex they were born with. Schilling then sent a tweet out, “LET HIM IN! to the restroom with your daughter or else you’re a narrow-minded, judgmental, unloving racist bigot who needs to die.” The tweet was accompanied by a hurtful image of a man dressed up as a woman – he was terminated immediately by ESPN.

Back At It

Strike Back

Ray Rice, in 2005, was caught beating his wife on an elevator and Stephen A. Smith, an ESPN commentator said, “Let’s make sure we don’t do anything to provoke wrong actions, because if I come — or somebody else come, whether it’s law enforcement officials, your brother or the fellas that you know — if we come after somebody has put their hands on you, it doesn’t negate the fact that they already put their hands on you.” Although he apologized for his comments, he was suspended for a week and things only got worse when Michelle Beadle tweeted her thoughts on the matter.

Strike Back

Erin Andrews

There’s no doubt that Erin Andrews is a gorgeous sportscaster for Fox but in 2008, she was the victim of a stalking. Michael David Barrett followed her from Nashville, Tennessee to Columbus, Ohio. Her stalker got ahold of her room number at the Nashville Marriott and videotaped her through a peephole, which he then published online. Since then, she filed a lawsuit and trusts absolutely no one.

Erin Andrews

Jay Mariotti

Jay Mariotti was a sensational columnist so his platform on ESPN made for good television until however he was arrested in 2010. Mariotti was charged with seven misdemeanors for physically attacking his girlfriend at the time in a public dispute.

Jay Mariotti

Bill Simmons

Former ESPN sportscaster Bill Simmons publicly spoke out about some network bosses and their coverage of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. This then turned into a heavy public feud and Simmons left ESPN.

Bill Simmons

Colin Cowherd

On his ESPN radio show, in 2015, Colin Cowherd said, “I’ve never bought into that ‘baseball is just too complex.’ A third of the sport is from the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic has not been known, in my lifetime, as having world-class academic abilities.” Obviously, that comment was not positively taken.

Colin Cowherd

Keith Olbermann

A Penn State student tweeted Keith Olbermann a link to the university’s pediatric cancer fundraiser, which included the school cry “We Are…” To which Olbermann answered, “…pitiful”. He would apologize and call his tweet a mistake.

Keith Olbermann

Ben Roethlisberger

2009 was the year that Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault and all media sources ran with the story…apart from ESPN. They believed it was unfair to report on the scandal until further evidence came out. Maybe they need online college classes in proper reporting.

Ben Roethlisberger

Favoritism

Certain ESPN reporters have been accused of favoritism as they tend to focus on talking about certain players on teams in length. Reporters such as Mike Greenberg have been accused of favoring teams like the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Patriots, and the Jets.

Favoritism

Washington Redskins

In September 2015, the wife of Washington Redskins GM Scot McCloughan, Jessica sent out a rather nasty tweet. While her tweet was quickly deleted, the damage had been done. McCloughan had accused ESPN reporter Dianna Russini of giving out “BJs” in exchange for inside stories about the Redskins. She apologized and told The Washington Post, “I deeply apologize for the disparaging remarks about an ESPN reporter on my personal Twitter account. The comment was unfounded and inappropriate and I have the utmost respect for both the reporter and ESPN.”

Washington Redskins

On The Road

ESPN can’t shoulder all the blame but they could step up and do a better job of protecting their female reporter’s rights. Far too many female reporters report sexual harassment on the job, but far too many choose to stay silent as they fear for their jobs. Many say they’ve received inappropriate phone calls, knocks on their hotel doors, and that some players have flashed their genitals.

On The Road

Paul Finebaum

Just about everyone knows the story of San Francisco 49er Colin Kaepernick who took a knee during the national anthem. Kaepernick was protesting for African Americans and minorities of the United States after many police killings toward these races. ESPN radio and SEC commentator Paul Finebaum said on the matter, “this country does not oppress black people.” However many viewers strongly disagreed with his remarks and Finebaum apologized.

Paul Finebaum

Britt McHenry

The ESPN reporter Britt McHenry was caught via a security camera at a tow yard when her car had been towed and she spoke harshly to the cashier. She said, “Lose some weight, baby girl,” and furthermore she said, “I’m in the news sweetheart, and I will [explicit] sue this place.” McHenry went on to say, “Maybe if I were missing some teeth they would hire me, huh? Oh like yours cause they look so stunning. ‘Cause I’m on television and you’re in a [explicit] trailer honey.”

Britt McHenry

Tony Kornheiser

Pardon The Interruption host Tony Kornheiser was subsequently suspended for two weeks when he made rude and uncalled for comments towards SportsCenter anchor Hannah Storm. “Hannah Storm in a horrifying, horrifying outfit today. She’s got on red go-go boots and a catholic school plaid skirt … way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now. She’s got on her typically very, very tight shirt. She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body … I know she’s very good, and I’m not supposed to be critical of ESPN people, so I won’t … but Hannah Storm … come on now! Stop! What are you doing?” He did make an apology the next day but was suspended regardless.

Tony Kornheiser

Max Bretos

Max Bretos, an ESPN reporter, was suspended for a month in February 2012 and an unnamed writer was fired, as the pair had spewed racial slurs at Knicks player Jeremy Lin. Lin’s family is from Taiwan while Lin himself was born in the states. ESPN immediately apologized, “We again apologize, especially to Mr. Lin. His accomplishments are a source of great pride to the Asian-American community, including the Asian-American employees as ESPN.”

Max Bretos

Mike Tirico Back Again

Mike Tirico stalked yet another female ESPN coworker, this time though, a producer. Tirico and his then-fiance were out at dinner with his female coworker, he then started sending her inappropriate emails asking her for sex. In an intense and scary event, Tirico followed her in her vehicle as she left for work, he tailed her on the highway in an attempt to get her to pull over so they could hook up. As such, he was then suspended for three months.

Mike Tirico Back Again

Gary Miller

Sportscaster Gary Miller attended a party held by the American baseball league in October 1997 and he got just a bit too giddy with the open bar. However when Miller needed to use the restroom, he thought the lines were too long so he chose to urinate out a window instead. As a result, he was charged with indecency, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest – originally he pled not guilty, but later changed his answer to no contest.

Gary Miller

Farewell

Ron Franklin was with the ESPN for many, many years, until he wasn’t. In 2010, at the Chick Fil-A Bowl pre-game coverage, Franklin sent reporter Jeannine Edwards to the sidelines but he called her “sweet baby” as he did. Edwards asked that he not do that so he answered with, “Fine, [explicit].” Therefore, he was immediately fired from the network.

Farewell

Sean Taylor and Colin Cowherd

During November 2007, Washington Redskins player Sean Taylor was killed during a fumbled home robbery. Colin Cowherd, an ESPN Radio personality, however dismissed all Redskins fans and others who were mourned his death when he said, “Sean Taylor, great player has a history of really really bad judgment, really really bad judgment. Cops, assault, spitting, DUI. I’m supposed to believe his judgment got significantly better in two years, from horrible to fantastic?” Needless to say, Redskins fans weren’t the only unhappy fans.

Sean Taylor And Colin Cowherd

‘Cold Pizza’ Gets Creepy

Woody Paige and Jay Crawford are two longtime ESPN hosts with, well, questionable backgrounds in the office. In 2007 both hosts were accused by a former makeup artist of making sexual advances amongst other forms of harassment. The hosts denied it and the story quickly went away.

Cold Pizza Gets Creepy

Jemele Hill’s Poor Wording

We can give some leeway to an off the cuff, emotionally charged statement. However, Hill has made several controversial statements that have made it through her editors and onto ESPN. Hill said that rooting for Boston is ‘like saying Hitler was a victim’ and that Coach Calipari was basically Charles Manson.

Jemele Hill’s Poor Wording

Ric Bucher

While Ric Bucher was covering Utah Jazz’s recent success in the NBA, he made some harsh comments about the team and its fans. He said, “It is the most intimidating place to play because of the configuration of the arena… and, let’s be honest… they are Mormon. They are in Salt Lake, and there’s nothing up there. They gotta smile and be happy all the time… and this is the one opportunity for people to get vicious in a fair arena. And the fans seem to take full advantage of it.”

Ric Bucher

Clippers Announcers Analyze ‘Borat’

Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith analyzing a Memphis Grizzlies player of Iranian descent, Hamed Haddadi, when they said some incredibly rude things. Both commentators received a one-game suspension for their comments.

Some things they said included:

“He’s from Iran?”

“The real Iran??”

“You sure he’s not Borat’s older brother?”

Clippers Announcers Analyze Borat

Paul Hand

During the 2016 Rio Olympics, commentator Paul Hand was accused of making some homophobic quip during a particular ‘kiss cam’ feature at a tennis match between Johanna Konta and Svetlana Kuznetsova. When the cameraman focused in on some couples in the stands, particularity two women, Hand said some things he really shouldn’t have. The BBC apologized on his behalf.

Paul Hand

ESPN Monday Night Football host Chris Berman

Yup, he’s back! Apparently Berman said something to the production staff along the lines of: “When I’m doing TV and I say ‘hit me with the turkey gravy,’ it means hit me with the damn turkey gravy!!” This was during an off-air commercial break and it’s totally unprofessional.

ESPN Monday Night Football Host Chris Berman

Howard Cosell Gets into the Sauce

Yes, even the late, great sportscaster Howard Cosell makes the list. It’s no secret that Cosell would sometimes indulge in a drink or more while commentating, and a former ABC executive even wrote in a book that Cosell had once gotten so drunk that he vomited on Don Meredith’s cowboy boots while calling a game.

Howard Cosell Gets Into The Sauce

Mike Patrick asks the Question We’re All Wondering

So, basically it was overtime and #22 Georgia is trailing #18 Alabama. It’s a pretty big game that’s unfolding because whoever scores is gonna win. But one thing happens, the commentator, Mike Patrick says something…odd, “I have an important question… what is Britney doing with her life?” The best bit is the lingering awkward silence that follows because his co-announcer is trying to figure what in world he’s talking about.

Mike Patrick (pictured right)

Brian Kinchen

ESPNU commentator Brian Kinchen was trying to explain about using your hands to catch a ball and then it just kind of got weird and he finished it off by saying, “That’s kind of gay.”

Brian Kinchen

Lou Holtz Gets Weird

Former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz once explained that his last name translates to….”Hard wood.” Odd.

Lou Holtz Gets Weird

Dan Marino SuckerPunch

HBO’s Inside the NFL got a bit abusive when Dan Marino was on. He got frustrated by a slip-of-the-tongue so much so that he punched the desk.

Dan Marino SuckerPunch

Brent Musburger Opens His Mouth

Commentator Brent Musburger stepped over the line when he spoke about Katherine Webb, girlfriend of Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron. However, while most thought Musburger was in the wrong, Webb herself said she was flattered. Hmm.

Brent Musburger

Andy Gray and Richard Keys

Soccer broadcasters Andy Gray and Richard Keys totally were out of line when they proceeded to spew misogynistic comments about a female linesman while on air. They were both let go even after they apologized.

Andy Gray And Richard Keys

Pam Shriver’s Loud Mouth

Basically ESPN’s Pam Shriver was commentating on tennis player James Blake and well, she was a bit loud with all her criticism. To the point that Blake himself got fed up and turned to say, “I’m not deaf!”

Pam Shrivers Loud Mouth

Hannah Storm and Adam Schefter

SportsCenter hosts Hannah Storm and Adam Schefter got a wee bit too excited when they broke the news that Eric Mangini had been fired as head coach of the Cleveland Browns. They even high fived.

Hannah Storm And Adam Schefter

Boomer and Dan Marino’s Ego

Former Cincinnati Bengals QB Boomer Esiason spoke a bit poorly just before the Colts’ 2007 Super Bowl victory. Basically, he goes on bit of a tangent about Peyton Manning and he even calls Manning “this generation’s Dan Marino” because he doesn’t believe that Manning can win a Super Bowl. Although Boomer never won a Super Bowl anyways!

Boomer And Dan Marino’s Ego

Imus in the Morning

All right so Don Imus isn’t really a commentator, but the infamous “nappy-headed hos” remark that he made regarding the Rutgers women’s basketball team on his radio show, Imus in the Morning, deserves to make this list.

Imus In The Morning

Bryant Gumbel

During the Winter Olympics, Bryant Gumbel just wasn’t satisfied with the athletes and while he didn’t go berserk, he did use the word “paucity” repeatedly.

Bryant Gumbel

Territory

Jimmy the Greek would always voice his opinions without a care in the world or thought even, but the comments he made in a television interview in 1988 completely crossed the line and ended up costing him his job.

Territory

Doug Adler

ESPN announcer Doug Adler recently came under fire via social media regarding a crude comment he made about Venus Williams during her second-round Australian Open match against Stefanie Voegele. He said, “She misses a first serve and Venus is all over her. You see Venus move in (and) put the gorilla [guerrilla] effect on. Charging.”

Doug Adler

US Open Win

In 2016, Dustin Johnson won the US Open for the very first time but all anyone spoke about was his wife, Paulina Gretzky’s backside. Moreover a certain cameraman was just a bit too focused on Paulina and viewers were outraged!

US Open Win

Marv Albert

In 1997, Marv Albert pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery charges and was subsequently fired after 20 years as a sports announcer.

Marv Albert

Danyelle Sargent

ESPNEWS anchor Danyelle Sargent did something pretty crazy, she dropped the F-bomb on national television! Apparently, she thought she microphone had been cut. She was not asked to return the following season.

Danyelle Sargent