ESPN: Making an example of Kornheiser
by Bryan
ESPN suspended Tony Kornheiser for two weeks ostensibly because he criticized Hannah Storm’s wardrobe, but he also criticized Chris Berman’s weight.
ESPN’s making an example of Kornheiser, throwing down the gauntlet against both perceived misogyny (good move) and intra-company criticism (bad move). Two weeks wouldn’t seem like much if Kornhesier didn’t co-host the only consistently bearable show on the network, but he does. For what it’s worth, he did what he could to get in front of the story, apologizing to Storm both publicly (on his radio show) and privately. In this sense, and only this one, his a victim of his own adulthood. By drawing attention to himself by doing the adult thing, ESPN did what it does — rule over its kingdom like a bunch of ecstatic-happy-to-be-here College Republicans. Having already admitted he was wrong — and he was wrong — ESPN inflicted punishment that they knew he would take without incident to teach the dumbasses who work there, which is basically everyone else, not to do this type of stuff.
The whole thing will go away soon enough, and I’m sure we’ll be treated to an Inside SportsCenter commercial where the two yuk it up at Kornheiser’s expense. If this keeps a less visible woman from getting mistreated by a less self-aware guy, fine with me.
Bryan Joiner 
That tag cloud doesn’t seem to update.
You’re right about the non-employee thing. I mean, the rules at ESPN are just made up as they go along, and they basically admit as much. Kornheiser’s punishment is what it is because he’s willing to accept it, which he’s willing to do because he’s willing to honestly admit he made a mistake… but if we’ve learned anything from Tiger et al, it’s the fake apologies that keep the ball rolling over there.
He made the kind of comment that would be actively encouraged by Espn were it about any non-employee. It’s their best show partly because he and Wilbon are so honest and flippant. Whatevs.
hey, are you gonna rectify the fact that the “Celtics” seem to rank behind the giants, barry bonds, thanksgiving, and a host of other topics on your little side word-thingy? now they’ve got nate aka fitty aka tricky.