Tony Kornheiser Suspended From ESPN For Hannah Storm Wardrobe Remarks

[HOOT]

I don't know where this can fit so I'm going to put it in here.

I'm sure there are some PTI fans in CP and if you are a PTI fan, you are a Kornheiser fan!

Kornheiser being the character he is, mocked Storm’s wardrobe by commenting on her “very, very tight shirt,” and said that she looked like she has a “sausage casing wrapping around her upper body.” After these remarks he admits that he is not supposed to be “critical” of any ESPN employee’s but asks Hannah Storm to “stop!” and asks her “what are you doing?”

http://www.inentertainment.co.uk/201...drobe-remarks/

[PIMking]

I wondered why he wasn't on PTI the last couple of days.

[flip]

That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. The suspension that is. The whole point of that show is to be a little controversial/funny.

[HOOT]

I think it had more to do with it being an ESPN employee.

[PIMking]

go to deadspin.com they have some decent articles about stuff

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by flip

That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. The suspension that is. The whole point of that show is to be a little controversial/funny.

I disagree - it's tough enough for women to gain credibility and respect in sports journalism without having one of the biggest voices in the business talking about her "tight shirt".

It's not acceptable in a professional envrionment, particularly when the target of the poorly formed joked isn't amused.

[flip]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I disagree - it's tough enough for women to gain credibility and respect in sports journalism without having one of the biggest voices in the business talking about her "tight shirt".

It's not acceptable in a professional envrionment, particularly when the target of the poorly formed joked isn't amused.

That sounds like a pretty lame excuse though.

"we have to be extra nice to the women because they get no respect". That is the exact opposite of equality.

I gather you don't watch PTI because it wasn't like Bob Costas doing something like this on NBC. PTI is like Off the Record sort of. It is a place for personalities to speak their minds and make lots of jokes.

On one episode Kornheiser called coach Ryan of the Jets a fat jerk like 20 times in 1 segment.

If it was said on Sportscenter it would be offensive and unnecessary. This isn't about equality for women it is about ESPN censoring their 2 best personalities.

If you regularly watched PTI you'd know that Kornheiser and Wilbon say worse stuff about people on EVERY single show. I'll assume you don't watch the show because I remember you locked a thread a while ago and implied you had never watched PTI. Remember?

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by flip

That sounds like a pretty lame excuse though.

"we have to be extra nice to the women because they get no respect". That is the exact opposite of equality.

I gather you don't watch PTI because it wasn't like Bob Costas doing something like this on NBC. PTI is like Off the Record sort of. It is a place for personalities to speak their minds and make lots of jokes.

On one episode Kornheiser called coach Ryan of the Jets a fat jerk like 20 times in 1 segment.

If it was said on Sportscenter it would be offensive and unnecessary. This isn't about equality for women it is about ESPN censoring their 2 best personalities.

If you regularly watched PTI you'd know that Kornheiser and Wilbon say worse stuff about people on EVERY single show.

I do regularly watch it - just because some disagrees with you doesn't mean they don't know anything about the topic at hand. I've been watching PTI for years and normally I'm a fan of Kornheiser.

As well no where did I say that you have to be "extra nice" to women - but rather just treat them with the same respect that you would any colleague.
It was a stupid and unprofessional comment from someone that should know better. You don't embarrass a co-worker in front of millions of viewers like that unless they are in on the joke, and by all reports, Storm was not.

[flip]

But Kornheiser and Wilbon don't treat people with respect. They make fun of them ALL the time.

I don't get how calling Rex Ryan fat is ok but making fun of a SHIRT is not. Total double standard on your part IMO.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by flip

But Kornheiser and Wilbon don't treat people with respect. They make fun of them ALL the time.

I don't get how calling Rex Ryan fat is ok but making fun of a SHIRT is not. Total double standard on your part IMO.

Because one is a co-worker, the other is not.

ESPN has a responsibility to protect their employees, they hold no such obligation towards Rex Ryan.

[flip]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Because one is a co-worker, the other is not.

ESPN has a responsibility to protect their employees, they hold no such obligation towards Rex Ryan.

Of course that is the only reason. It doesn't make it a good idea. What about when Kornheiser says stuff like that to Wilbon?

I bet you ANYTHING if similar comments are made about ESPN male personalities nothing happens.

Just because Storm is a female doesn't mean she's allowed special protection or to be overly sensitive. (Not sure if she initiated the complaint or if ESPN did) There is a point where the whole PC crap is just over done. It isn't like he attacked her in private and is going to get fired for harassment. It was him on air in his on air personality.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by flip

Of course that is the only reason. It doesn't make it a good idea. What about when Kornheiser says stuff like that to Wilbon?

I bet you ANYTHING if similar comments are made about ESPN male personalities nothing happens.

When Kornheiser says stuff like that to Wilbon its part of what is an established part of the show and the back and forth between them. Again - Storm was not in on this joke until she was made fun of in front of millions.

The one article I read suggests that Kornheiser was suspended because of his comments about Storm AND Chris Berman which would mean that in fact offensive comments made towards male personalities are treated the same way.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by flip

I'll assume you don't watch the show because I remember you locked a thread a while ago and implied you had never watched PTI. Remember?

I locked that thread because it was a crappy thread.

I would suggest though that you don't bring up my actions as a mod on this site - it's irrelevant to the discussion.

Fart - I can't believe you even wasted your time to track down something as silly as that.

[flip]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

When Kornheiser says stuff like that to Wilbon its part of what is an established part of the show and the back and forth between them. Again - Storm was not in on this joke until she was made fun of in front of millions.

The one article I read suggests that Kornheiser was suspended because of his comments about Storm AND Chris Berman which would mean that in fact offensive comments made towards male personalities are treated the same way.

If that is indeed the case and ESPN covered it up by saying it was for 2 reasons then it is slightly less of a fraud.

I don't watch PTI every day but I'm curious if previous events in which Kornheiser has made disparaging remarks (as a joke usually) about ESPN personalities in the past who weren't on the show in person resulted in any sort of a suspension/warning.

[SteveToms]

Seems like the reprogrammed flip has been rolled back to the old flip

[Displaced Flames fan]

Quite frankly, it's a very blatant act of workplace sexual harassment. ESPN has an obligation to protect Storm as an employee and their shareholders from potential law suits.

They absolutely can not let something like this go.

Very, very stupid act by Kornheiser

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Quite frankly, it's a very blatant act of workplace sexual harassment. ESPN has an obligation to protect Storm as an employee and their shareholders from potential law suits.

They absolutely can not let something like this go.

Very, very stupid act by Kornheiser

My post is gone - I got Hannah Storm and Pam Oliver mixed up.

[flip]

Originally Posted by SteveToms

Seems like the reprogrammed flip has been rolled back to the old flip

Nope. Me and Jiri had a very sophisticated and civil argument. Old flip would have flipped out. Plus he's a mod so I know I have to be nice. (just look at how I ripped that ignoramus in the Colbert thread)

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Quite frankly, it's a very blatant act of workplace sexual harassment. ESPN has an obligation to protect Storm as an employee and their shareholders from potential law suits.

They absolutely can not let something like this go.

Very, very stupid act by Kornheiser

Then I guess there should be dozens of multimillion dollar law suits for what Kornheiser says about Wilbon, Jaws, Mel Kiper Jr etc etc. (not sure if all those guys are employed by ESPN but you know what I mean...Kornheiser doesn't hold back for any other ESPN employees, why should he only do it for a woman)

No one is debating that ripping fellow employees is dangerous. It is the fact that it ONLY applies to women.

To me it is blatant discrimination towards women to hold them to a different standard. It is also blatant discrimination towards men because they are also held to a different standard.

If you guys are ok with blatant double standards then I guess that is your right but I think it is terrible. If he can rip his male co workers but not the female ones then there is still something very wrong with our society.

By your logic when O'Toole and Onrait do TSN sportscenter and they rip each other it is harrassment and Onrait should be fired. Or you are saying it is ok for Onrait to do to O'Toole but not Jenifer Hedger. (DFF you might not know who I'm talking about but Jiri will)

I'm not saying that harassment is ok, I'm saying absurd and offensive double standards are not. Well, ok I'm saying harassment is ok as long as it is applied equally by the employer. ESPN are a bunch of hypocrites for defending a woman but not the men.


Edit: Instead of the TSN analogy DFF, how about one from Basketball. You know that ABC (I think) basketball guy that wears those horrible suits with the like yellow plaid pants? Craig Sager is his name. Google him and you should recognize who I mean if you watch a fair amount of sports.

That guy dresses TERRIBLE and frequently gets ripped on air by his fellow employees for dressing like a moron. To date no one has filed a sexual harrassment suit, nor have they been suspended.

Why not? Based on your post you should be against ANY harassment, by men or women, on men or women. Unless you only think men can't say things about women which makes you no better than Kornheiser.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by flip

Nope. Me and Jiri had a very sophisticated and civil argument. Old flip would have flipped out. Plus he's a mod so I know I have to be nice. (just look at how I ripped that ignoramus in the Colbert thread)




Then I guess there should be dozens of multimillion dollar law suits for what Kornheiser says about Wilbon, Jaws, Mel Kiper Jr etc etc. (not sure if all those guys are employed by ESPN but you know what I mean...Kornheiser doesn't hold back for any other ESPN employees, why should he only do it for a woman)

No one is debating that ripping fellow employees is dangerous. It is the fact that it ONLY applies to women.

To me it is blatant discrimination towards women to hold them to a different standard. It is also blatant discrimination towards men because they are also held to a different standard.

If you guys are ok with blatant double standards then I guess that is your right but I think it is terrible. If he can rip his male co workers but not the female ones then there is still something very wrong with our society.

By your logic when O'Toole and Onrait do TSN sportscenter and they rip each other it is harrassment and Onrait should be fired. Or you are saying it is ok for Onrait to do to O'Toole but not Jenifer Hedger. (DFF you might not know who I'm talking about but Jiri will)

I'm not saying that harassment is ok, I'm saying absurd and offensive double standards are not. Well, ok I'm saying harassment is ok as long as it is applied equally by the employer. ESPN are a bunch of hypocrites for defending a woman but not the men.


Edit: Instead of the TSN analogy DFF, how about one from Basketball. You know that ABC (I think) basketball guy that wears those horrible suits with the like yellow plaid pants? Craig Sager is his name. Google him and you should recognize who I mean if you watch a fair amount of sports.

That guy dresses TERRIBLE and frequently gets ripped on air by his fellow employees for dressing like a moron. To date no one has filed a sexual harrassment suit, nor have they been suspended.

Why not? Based on your post you should be against ANY harassment, by men or women, on men or women. Unless you only think men can't say things about women which makes you no better than Kornheiser.

Dude, are you missing the part about her 'shirt being tight'?? It isn't that he blasted her wardrobe he attacked her in a sexual manner. Does he accuse Wilbon of wearing tight pants to accentuate his junk? THAT would be sexual harassment.

If you can't see the difference I don't know what else can be said!

[moon]

100% stupid move by ESPN.

Kornheiser did nothing wrong except for not pointing out the fact that Storm has done nothing to earn her position other than having a pair of tits.

The comment was funny and correct and not close to warranting a suspension.

I know that ESPN has historically overreacted to these type of things in the past but it is unfortunate that they took this stand in this situation.

Hopefully, Kornheiser comes back and doesn't change at all because he did nothing wrong in this situation.