ESPN Reportedly Suspends Van Pelt
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Last week, Scott Van Pelt criticized Bud Selig's whopping $18.5 million salary last week, and through multiple sources, AJ at Deadspin has found out that the anchor and radio host has been suspended. Via DSpin....
Last week, ESPN's Scott Van Pelt hammered Bud Selig about the MLB Commissioner's $18.5 million salary.A little too much, apparently: SVP was suspended from his radio show on Monday, according to multiple WWL sources.Well that's rather interesting, isn't it? I always wondered how much ESPN reeled people in, because of the rights given to them by leagues, and I guess now I know. There's word that the conversation actually WAS over-the-line, but suspending someone who's never had an issue before, seems a little harsh.
Van Pelt declined to comment on the incident, passing it along to ESPN media relations, who "do not comment about personnel decisions." The story, passed along through several people, was that Van Pelt's rant about Selig was "too personal" for some of the ESPN bosses — comments about his slovenly appearances, something about a "pimp cup" — which led to the suspension. Van Pelt, reportedly on his own volition, called Selig to apologize and was in agreement that his statements were a little harsh.
Selig does have close relationships with many of ESPN's top execs ( they are currently locked in an 8-year, $2.4 billion broadcast deal from 2005 for Sunday Night Baseball and have other contracts with MLB) and the initial story was that Selig himself heard the remarks and was personally offended by them, but that hasn't been confirmed.
I'm looking for the audio now, and if someone knows what day it went down, please shoot me an email.
ESPN Is Giving Scott Van Pelt Some Quiet Time (Deadspin)
10 Comments:
I believe it was wednesday of last week. I remember hearing it. It was the day that Scott hosted the show by himself
He wasn't on with Vanilla Ice Tirico on Thursday or Friday, so I just assumed he was taking his regular day off plus one during the week. This is bullshit, IMO, and smacks of being too politically correct.
suspending SVP is punishable by death in some countries.
So, you give someone a platform from which to express opinions and then suspend that person when he does so?
It will be interesting to see what kind of chilling effect this has on others at "The Leader."
He's absolutely correct though, I wish I could make 18 mil for being an ineffective, moronic leader.
Van Pelt is the best thing about both the Radio network and Sportscenter. This is fucking stupid.
sports media hacks are an enraged lot. Watch PTI or Around The Horn and you see angry, seething men. I believe this is because they work in an industry that is (A) easy and ripe for criticism and (B) financially strapped. We love throwing rocks at sports media people, whether they are on radio, TV, or print. They are magnets for rock-throwing just by their nature, but it's a key reason why they're always mad. So it is with Van Pelt: He was just blowing off his anger at being in a pressure-cooker of a business.
They also know that in the big picture, what they do is completely worthless to society.
It's why all these jackasses try to be like Frank Deford and constantly bitch about black guys not getting the chance to coach a fucking football team.
Eric Kuselias sucks, please bring Van Pelt back! I just want numerous ESPN analysts in favor of a college football playoff to continue to besmirch the sham that is the BCS. If ESPN keeps up this Gestapo business, no one will want to work for them anymore because I know already that Pat Forde and Mel Kiper have advocated strenuously for a playoff.
ESPN's commentators have less credibility on anything than Mean Gene Okerlund.
What a farce that place is.