I haven't watched much Baseball Tonight since the Playoffs began, but apparently their missing one key player. Steve Phillips has been rumored to be suspended from ESPN after having a brief affair with a 22 year old, but that's just half of the story. According to the NY Post, the 22 year old not only stalked Phillips, but she even made contact with both his wife and son before finally showing up at his house....

The former Met general manager, whose tenure with the team was rocked by admissions of infidelity, confessed to his wife and local cops that he had slept with ESPN assistant Brooke Hundley several times this past summer before dumping her.

In retaliation, the jilted young woman repeatedly phoned Phillips' wife, Marni, saying, "We both can't have him!" an explosive police report claims.

Hundley's desperate actions -- including accidentally smashing her car into a stone column while speeding away from the Phillips' home after leaving the letter -- terrified the family, according to the Wilton, Conn., police report.

"I have extreme concerns about the health and safety of my kids and myself," Steve Phillips said in a police statement, adding that the woman became "obsessive and delusional" after he dumped her.

But Phillips, 46, declined to pursue criminal charges against Hundley, a Bristol, Conn., woman who cops learned may have used an ESPN computer to contact Phillips' 16-year-old son on Facebook while posing as a high-school classmate.

Phillips -- who admitted having multiple affairs with women while working for the Mets -- is now being sued for divorce by his 40-year-old wife, the mother of his four sons. Two months ago, Phillips deeded the family's five-bedroom, multimillion-dollar Wilton home to her.

While that is a pretty good summation of the events, the details are even wilder, and not only does the Post have various statements (including a detailed on from Phillips), but they even have a letter that Hundley wrote to Mrs. Phillips. Just a crazy mess, and while I don't wish bad things on anyone, I think a divorce is best for everyone in this case.

ESPN's Steve Phillips in foul affair with production assistant (NY Post)

Sorry for the delay in posting today. I'm a bit under the weather and it's going to be slow going today. Anyway, I found this press release from ESPN very interesting, especially on the heels of Scott Van Pelt's recent suspension. Apparently ESPN has apparently agreed to hook up with Major League Baseball to promote MLB.TV. Via ESPN...

MLB.com and ESPN Digital Media announced today that they are teaming to bring fans an all-access premium content pass to baseball that includes MLB.TV Premium’s unmatched live baseball streaming schedule and ESPN Insider’s distinctive, award-winning content. Beginning February 17, fans can purchase both of the leading premium content services together for a single, discounted price.

For an annual membership fee of $129.95, fans receive:

* MLB.TV Premium: Unlimited access to live and on-demand streams of every regular season game, 100 select Spring Training games and the first two rounds of the World Baseball Classic from MLB.com in 2009 (blackout and other restrictions apply). Among the features coming to MLB.TV Premium in 2009 are: proprietary speed detection allowing a hi-definition quality picture on any screen; live game DVR functionality; live game picture-in-picture capabilities; multi-game viewing options; home and away feeds for every available game; live game radio option; and real-time player tracker alerts for live at-bat look-ins.

* ESPN Insider: Among the most successful premium content services online, ESPN Insider delivers the best in predictive analytical content including exclusive professional level scouting information and the best in draft coverage from ESPN Scouts Inc., Buster Olney’s award-winning blog, and the latest buzz on athletes and teams in Rumor Central. In addition, Insider features exclusive video (including on-demand episodes of Baseball Tonight, Pardon The Interruption, Around the Horn and more), access to ESPN The Magazine through a regularly-updated digital edition, Insider-only chats with athletes and celebrities, special access to ESPN Radio and first-look offerings from ESPN.

ESPN was probably not very thrilled when an employee bashed the commish of Major League Baseball, on the eve of this announcement. I still think a suspension was too much, but we can sort of understand the reasoning behind it.

Here's the audio in case you missed it....

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.

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.

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.

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)

I honestly felt bad for Jemele Hill when she got suspended for her Hitler comment. It wasn't because I thought she shouldn't have been suspended, but rather the way various Bostonians and certain radio shows treated her in the following weeks. Well, now in the wake of yet another Hitler reference made by an employee, not only does she have to live with here original mistake, but she now has to deal with a possible double standard by her employer.

Hill actually spoke to A.J. from Deadspin today, and here were her thoughts on Holtz, Hitler and ESPN's policies....

The last couple days I've been inundated with calls and e-mails because of the Lou Holtz controversy. He made an inappropriate Hitler reference. I made an inappropriate Hitler reference. We both apologized, but only I was suspended.

A lot has been written about this. Many have said that ESPN treated me unfairly. The 64,000 question: How do I really feel?

My initial answer is a story, or rather, a moment. A couple years ago, I was visiting the Poynter Institute, one of the foremost journalism think tanks in the country, and I sat in on a session taught by one of my favorite columnist and people, the Washington Post's Sally Jenkins.

A student asked her if she ever got upset when other writers rewarded — particularly if she knew they weren't as good. And Sally said — and I'm paraphrasing here — that she always prided herself on keeping her eyes on her own career.

That's my answer. That's how I feel.

I'm not trying to paint Jemele as a victim in any way, but I can't imagine how frustrating it was for her to read about the non-suspension yesterday. That however, is far and away the right way to handle any situation, and after all of this nonsense, Hill actually comes out looking like she used the suspension productively.

As far as ESPN is concerned, it had been awhile since they had come across as looking hypocritical, but with these last two stories today, you have to wonder what in the hell they were thinking in both instances. No matter how you look at it, the overwhelming sentiment is that punishment for a crime was different for a young black woman, than an old white man. The ultimate lesson though, is that everyone needs to just avoid "Hitler references" altogether.

Jemele Hill Just Taking This Whole Lou Holtz-Hitler Backlash in Stride (Deadspin)

It wasn't too long ago that writer Jemele Hill was being suspended by ESPN for referencing Hitler in an article, but now they have another employee in hot water for referencing the German leader. That person, Lou Holtz, will actually not be disciplined at all according to College Football Talk.

Holtz, who when referring to Rich Rodriguez said "Ya know, Hitler was a great leader too," issued an on-air apology and apparently that was enough for the brass at ESPN....

A source at ESPN tells me that the Worldwide Leader does not plan to discipline college football analyst Lou Holtz for saying, “Hitler was a great leader, too.”

Per the source, ESPN considers Holtz’s on-air apology to be sufficient.

Of course, it’s still possible that ESPN will reconsider, especially if it gets complaints from advertisers. But for now, it appears that Holtz will not be suspended.

“Last night while trying to make a point about leadership, I made an unfortunate reference. It was a mistake and I sincerely apologize. At the time, I tried to clarify my remarks. I’m not sure I adequately did so. I appreciate your understanding.”- Lou Holtz

I just really don't understand ESPN's suspension policy. There has always appeared to be a double standards of sorts, and I think this just proves the thoughts that most people have had about the network for awhile. Just because he's a kooky old man, doesn't mean that Holtz shouldn't be forced to take time off as well, and I'd be upset if I was Jemele Hill. Both were making just a bad attempt at a joke, but only one is getting suspended. You can draw your own conclusions there.

ESPN Plans No Discipline For Holtz Hitler Comment (College Football Talk)

Before I get into this I just want to say that I think Jemele Hill is a bit hypocritical and just plain dumb for her "Celtics-Hitler" line. With that said.... this stunt by WBCN in Boston has gotten a tad out of hand. The station is sending two people to ESPN to protest and their website has even published her address and phone number....

Fred:
"Jemele Hill wrote an an article for ESPN.COM's page two comparing rooting for Celtics to rooting for Hitler. The article was promptly edited by espn.com. This is the same woman who called for the firing of Don Imus after his remarks on the Rutgers women's basketball team. This hypocrisy cannot be ignored. Please call for Ms. Hill's firing."

Right now, Intern Nick and Adolfo are on their way to ESPN headquarters in Connecticut.

CONTACT ESPN and let them know Jemele should be fired!

Comment: She picked up the last number.. 7Mile Scribe Inc 19731 Glen Elm Way, Orlando, FL 32833 (321)251-XXXX (321)251-XXXX (877)259-XXXX

Come on people. I know that you're mad she bashed your team but seriously....everyone just calm down. She made a dumb joke and asking for her head is only going to make her appear on ESPN more. And also.....making a dumb, senseless comparison just isn't the same as racially degrading an entire team of women (in Imus' case). There are reports that she's getting harassing calls and even death threats, so it might be time to put an end to this Boston.

She's been suspended (although there are rumors to the contrary), so just let it pass. I posted the address so all of you industrious folks can write her a letter but "X"ed out the phone numbers. If you're really vindictive and care to call....they're in the link below, but seriously....let's just move on shall we?

Fred's Response (WBCN, 104.1)

You always love to see producers and the talent argue or fight at a.....umm fight, but you hate to see that confrontation almost come to blows. Via the boxing site Boxing Scene...

As the story goes, Atlas confronted Loughrey over allegedly showing favoritism to certain promoters and matchmakers, who were abusing their ESPN connections by taking fighters from other promoters with promises of potential ESPN dates. The verbal exchange was aggressive and heard by many who were present at the event.

This past Friday, Atlas was suspended by ESPN for a period of one-week. Several sources have indicated to BoxingScene.com that an internal inquiry is taking place to find out exactly what transpired between Loughrey and Atlas, and the basic facts of the subject matter involved in the argument.

I'm pretty sure the last person I'd want to get into a fight with is a boxing trainer. Also, it's been a suspension type few weeks for ESPN hasn't it? Who's next....Rachel Nichols???

ESPN's Loughrey, Yorgey Mess and Atlas Too (Boxing Scene)