ESPN mum on Reynolds' axing

[min0 lee]

I thought he was pretty good, I'm sure he'll get picked up by someone.

I wonder what did he do?

BY BOB RAISSMAN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Harold Reynolds, the popular ESPN baseball analyst, was dumped by the network following Sunday's edition of "Baseball Tonight" and Bristol suits are not saying why.
"He (Reynolds) is no longer working for the company," Chris LaPlaca, an ESPN spokesman, said yesterday. "That's all we are saying."
Reynolds, 45, joined ESPN in 1996. He played 12 seasons in the big leagues, spending the majority of his career with the Seattle Mariners. Since his arrival at ESPN, Reynolds has built a loyal following. He also is popular with players around the majors.
When contacted yesterday by the Daily News, Reynolds declined to disclose why he was dismissed.
"I'm trying to sort everything out," Reynolds said. "I can't really get into it, but I would love to. I'll probably talk in a couple of days."
According to industry sources, ESPN company policy outlines three violations which are grounds for immediate dismissal: 1)Fighting with co-workers; 2) Transmitting Internet pornography; 3)Sexual harassment.
Reynolds' firing had nothing to do with his actual on-air performance. That fact would indicate that whatever led to his demise was likely a behind-the-scenes infraction.
Over the past eight months, ESPN executives have been forced to dole out penalties for incidents involving their personalities that did not occur while they were performing on the all-sports cable network.
Last December, Michael Irvin, an analyst on ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown," was suspended for one week for not telling network executives he had been arrested and charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia after Dallas police searched his car.
In May, ESPN baseball analyst Rick Sutcliffe was suspended for one game after making a cameo appearance in the San Diego Padres TV booth while under the influence of alcohol.
The nature, and extent, of the punishment handed out to Irvin and Sutcliffe suggests Reynolds' alleged transgression was more severe. The mystery surrounding Reynolds' firing closely resembles the circumstances attached to ESPN's May 2002 dismissal of Jason Jackson, an anchor who worked on the network's NBA shows.
In 2002, ESPN execs did not say why Jackson was fired. Jackson confirmed he violated an ESPN policy but declined to specify which one. When speculation mounted he violated ESPN's stringent sexual harassment policy, Jackson denied the charge but admitted making "comments that had sexual overtones on occasion in select company." Since ESPN has a number of baseball analysts under contract, it is doubtful it will rush out to find a replacement for Reynolds.

Originally published on July 26, 2006

 

[MCx2]

I liked him too. I especially liked when he did the comentary for the Little League World Series. You could tell he really enjoyed watching the kids play. I don't think he's the brightest guy out there but I'd rather hear him talk than say a Stephen A. Smith. Oh well, I'm sure he'll jump on board somewhere.

 

[I Are Baboon]

Bummer. I liked Harold Reynolds.

Rumor has it this was because of sexual harrassment. Reynolds should have known better than to touch John Kruk like that.

 

[Pedigree]

Bummer. I liked Harold Reynolds.

Rumor has it this was because of sexual harrassment. Reynolds should have known better than to touch John Kruk like that.

 

[min0 lee]

Bummer. I liked Harold Reynolds.

Rumor has it this was because of sexual harrassment. Reynolds should have known better than to touch John Kruk like that.

It's actually ironic that they were arguing a few days before his firing.

Not for nothing but Kruk's greatest achievement on TV was at the allstar when Randy Johnson threw him a high heater at him at he was showing the viewers how scared he was in a funny way.