ESPN fires Harold Reynolds

[Pavlus53]

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ESPN FIRES REYNOLDS
By ANDREW MARCHAND

July 25, 2006 -- ESPN yesterday fired analyst Harold Reynolds from Baseball Tonight, sources told The Post. The reason was not immediately known.

"We are not going to comment," ESPN VP Josh Krulewitz said.

When asked how they are going to explain that Reynolds will never be on the air again, Krulewitz still declined comment.

Reynolds did not return calls.

Reynolds, 45, had been with ESPN 11 years. He had been a fixture on the show, which is a gathering spot for baseball fans, players and team executives.

The program already is dealing with the loss of information man Peter Gammons. Gammons is recovering from a brain aneurysm that occurred at the end of last month. The show's main analysts had been Reynolds, Gammons and John Kruk.

In Gammons' absence, ex-Met GM Steve Phillips has played a bigger role on the show. The program uses several analysts, including Orel Hershiser, Tino Martinez and Jeff Brantley.

Last night, host Karl Ravech was joined by Kruk and Phillips. Reynolds usually is on Monday nights.

Reynolds was known for a smooth style that usually was player friendly. He never found himself in too much controversy for what he said on the air. In fact, ESPN was so high on him he was expected to stay with the network through its just signed eight-year deal with MLB.

Now, after yesterday, Reynolds is no longer welcome in Bristol.

[Jetfanmack]

Whoa, did not expect that. He's not great, but he's better than Kruk and some of the others. Jeez.

[AMJets]

That's definitely surprising. He's not a bad analyst, he must've done something to piss ESPN off big time.

[Collingwood]

is he the funny black dude that was playing in the celebrity softball game and he was miked up to the commentators?

he was cool

[wildthing2022000]

is he the funny black dude that was playing in the celebrity softball game and he was miked up to the commentators?

he was cool

Yes he was. I have no clue of what he did.

[17a_tailgater]

who will broadcast the Little League World Series now????

[WesleyWuzTheMan]

That's definitely surprising. He's not a bad analyst, he must've done something to piss ESPN off big time.

Especially in the middle of the baseball season with Gammons on extended sick leave. Did he blow off an assignment? Refuse to appear with the San Diego Chicken in one of those funny promos?

I thought he was good, for what that's worth. Beats Steve Phillips with a tire iron. At least Reynolds was a success in the sport he covered.

[wa2k99]

Tino Martinez and Gary Thorne will likely do the LLWS.

As long as Steve Phillips doesn't get more time, I can deal with it. Reynolds did a good job I thought, so there must have been an incident that really set some bigshot off.

[Rextasy]

sexual harrassment suit in 3..2..1..

[boogerstyles]

that is surprising. they'll prob bring on another black/spanish guy to replace him. i liked harold... he wasn't very bold however, always picked the yankees in the begining of the year.

[wa2k99]

Mo Vaughn!

[mem_reddog]

Wow that is a big surprise. I sure didn't see this one coming. BTW who is the latin guy who has been getting a lot of facetime on Baseball tonight. He is/has been doing a pretty good job imo.

[xjets2002x]

Maybe it was alcohol. Reynolds accent sometimes seems accentuated by the booze.

-X-

[MSUJet85]

Damn he was one of the better ones, if Phillips gets more time I'll be pissed :sad:

SNY should give him a show

[Italian Seafood]

Did he blow off an assignment? Refuse to appear with the San Diego Chicken in one of those funny promos?

He definitely didn't piss out of a window, because ESPN doesn't fire you for that.

I hate ESPN but I liked Reynolds, he was like baseball's Chris Rock.

[kinghenry89]

Reynolds was Baseball Tonight's only smart, unbiased analyst and he also had great chemistry with Gammons and especially Kruk. The show is gonna suffer without his presence.

Hopefully instead of giving Phillips (idiot) more airtime they put Orestes Destrade on more. As much as I love Tino he's not a very good analyst.

[mem_reddog]

Well kinghenry you answered my question, so thanks. The latin guy I was speaking of is Orestes Destrade. And he has done a good job, and I like his style.

[Learn To Swim]

Why not Joe Morgan?

[ShadeTree#55]

Why didn't they fire Joe Morgan?

I agree.

[The Dark Knight]

This just in: Sean Salisbury will be replacing him on Baseball Tonight and the LLWS. ESPN reports that Salisbury knows just as much about baseball as he does football. :)

[Learn To Swim]

This just in: Sean Salisbury will be replacing him on Baseball Tonight and the LLWS. ESPN reports that Salisbury knows just as much about baseball as he does football. :)
Don't forget BattleBots.

[mem_reddog]

Why didn't they fire Joe Morgan?

I agree.


He should be fired, the damn cubs hater. I hate when he announces Cubs games on ESPN, his bias is blatantly obvious.

[17a_tailgater]

This just in: Sean Salisbury will be replacing him on Baseball Tonight and the LLWS. ESPN reports that Salisbury knows just as much about baseball as he does football. :)
ha ha
post of the day

[NYJetFan37]

Michael Irvin didn't get fired for smoking crack...so uh I want to hear the reason he was let go

[Tight]

Michael Irvin didn't get fired for smoking crack...so uh I want to hear the reason he was let go

He did'nt smoke crack you peon. A pipe was found in his car. That he said his friend used.

[AlioTheFool]

He did'nt smoke crack you peon. A pipe was found in his car. That he said his friend used.

Because it would be so hard to believe that Irvin upsized his coke habit?

Seriously though, I would like to know why Reynolds was fired too. He was the only one on a show full of clowns with personality and relevant things to say.

[Italian Seafood]

He was the only one on a show full of clowns with personality and relevant things to say.

That's probably why they fired him. No room for that on ESPN, they're too busy clowning around and selling their phones and shit. I have no tolerance for them anymore. Last week I was on the road and stuck with ESPN for my sports coverage, it was awful. Trip was good, sports coverage sucked.

[Hobbes3259]

I thought he was good, for what that's worth. Beats Steve Phillips with a tire iron. .


Big Deal, you could get any Mets fan to do that.

[AlioTheFool]

That's probably why they fired him. No room for that on ESPN, they're too busy clowning around and selling their phones and shit. I have no tolerance for them anymore. Last week I was on the road and stuck with ESPN for my sports coverage, it was awful. Trip was good, sports coverage sucked.

I have to agree with you there. The sports coverage on ESPN has eroded to early Fox NFL coverage levels.

I think it probably has a lot to do with expansion. Just as expansion dillutes the talent in sports, it seems to be doing the same thing with ESPN. They should consolidate all of their people to one channel, and go with.

I have gotten to the point where I only watch ESPN News now. I can turn it on for a half hour, get all of the news for the day, then channel surf elsewhere. And if I am that desperate for news, I just go directly to the ESPN web site.

[Crapshooter]

Why didn't they fire Joe Morgan?

I agree.

One of the worst, Joe Morgan.

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[NYJetFan37]

He did'nt smoke crack you peon. A pipe was found in his car. That he said his friend used.

WTF is your problem with me?

[Jetfanmack]

One of the worst, Joe Morgan.

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I go there every day...

If it's alcohol, then why didn't they fire Sutcliffe?

[GreenMachine]

Could someone get Fox to fire Joe Buck and Tim McCarver?

[WesleyWuzTheMan]

It can't be substance abuse, because one-strike-and-you're-out isn't how places like ESPN operate. I wonder why Reynolds isn't giving his side of the story. It must be something bad for him to leave it like this.

[Yisman]

maybe he was found hanging out with Irvin and Salisbury.

[kbgreen]

I have to agree with you there. The sports coverage on ESPN has eroded to early Fox NFL coverage levels.

I think it probably has a lot to do with expansion. Just as expansion dillutes the talent in sports, it seems to be doing the same thing with ESPN. They should consolidate all of their people to one channel, and go with.

I have gotten to the point where I only watch ESPN News now. I can turn it on for a half hour, get all of the news for the day, then channel surf elsewhere. And if I am that desperate for news, I just go directly to the ESPN web site.

I agree - For me it's as if the hosts egos are getting bigger than the sports they cover.

Look at Phillips - now he is in a battle with Scott Boras over his opinion that A-rod should be traded. The real problem is that instead of giving unique insight into the issue Phillips is only giving his opinion.

I think that AL leiter should get the spot - I loved his insight in the playoffs about what pitchers are thinking and what pitch they should throw. He was right and called 8 of 10 pitches while I was watching

[Jetfanmack]

I agree - For me it's as if the hosts egos are getting bigger than the sports they cover.

Look at Phillips - now he is in a battle with Scott Boras over his opinion that A-rod should be traded. The real problem is that instead of giving unique insight into the issue Phillips is only giving his opinion.

I think that AL leiter should get the spot - I loved his insight in the playoffs about what pitchers are thinking and what pitch they should throw. He was right and called 8 of 10 pitches while I was watching
He kind of works for the YES network now, so he'd need to leave YES first. Who knows, he might or someone else might at the end of the year.

[Royal Tee]

Michael Irvin didn't get fired for smoking crack...so uh I want to hear the reason he was let go
Cause he was smokin' Michael Irvin? :lol:

[MisterMoss]

We can't say for sure why Harold Reynolds was fired from ESPN yesterday, because ESPN hasn't put out a statement or anything (and they don't have to), but we can tell you what the chatter in Bristol is: Everyone is hearing sexual harassment. Every single email we've received from the inside about this today has used those very two words.

Again, nothing concrete on this. But that is definitely what they're whispering in Bristol. Some highlights:

• Thirdhand info, but I'm told it's sexual harassment. There were allegations of inappropriate actions between him and female PAs on a couple different occasions, so I'm not entirely shocked.

• It's apparently sexual harassment, but no one knows who the victim was. It went down over the course of the weekend.

• I have on good authority that HR was fired for all things, hitting on girls. Allegedly, this has been going on for a while. The last straw was when a new PA was having none of what Harold had to offer and turned him in.

• Harold Reynolds was fired more or less for copious amounts of sexual harassment. Apparently, he brazenly hits on female employees constantly, despite the fact that his wife just had a kid six months ago. He was warned by the big-wigs on numerous occasions to cool it with the ladies, but someone finally lodged a complaint, and he was canned immediately.

• It's very difficult to get fired from ESPN. It takes multiple offenses ... they're usually so worried about getting sued for unlawful termination that people are suspended multiple times for the same repeated behavior before it finally comes to getting fired. Within the walls of the campus, there are only a few on-air talent guys that had an honest reputation as being overly friendly with the ladies, and HR was one of them.

So anyway, that's what they're saying on the Bristol campus. But since ESPN doesn't have to say anything -- in-house or otherwise -- and neither does Reynolds, we might never know for sure. (No announcement, we're told, has been made to the staff.) That's what they're saying, though; we didn't receive a single email suggesting anything but that.

But that's not what we're saying, because we don't know. To be clear.


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Who knows what to believe with this site though.

[Rextasy]

We can't say for sure why Harold Reynolds was fired from ESPN yesterday, because ESPN hasn't put out a statement or anything (and they don't have to), but we can tell you what the chatter in Bristol is: Everyone is hearing sexual harassment. Every single email we've received from the inside about this today has used those very two words.

Again, nothing concrete on this. But that is definitely what they're whispering in Bristol. Some highlights:

• Thirdhand info, but I'm told it's sexual harassment. There were allegations of inappropriate actions between him and female PAs on a couple different occasions, so I'm not entirely shocked.

• It's apparently sexual harassment, but no one knows who the victim was. It went down over the course of the weekend.



:rofl: Ha Ha, did I call that or what??

[Pam]

Could someone get Fox to fire Joe Buck and Tim McCarver?
That man annoys the crap outta me. :mad:

Good call Vision on the sex harrisment call! :up:

[kinghenry89]

That man annoys the crap outta me. :mad:

Good call Vision on the sex harrisment call! :up:
Join the club.

:lol: Does anybody else remember when Buck called Tim McCarver a "delicate little flower" during the 2003 World Series?

[Cakes]

He should be fired, the damn cubs hater. I hate when he announces Cubs games on ESPN, his bias is blatantly obvious.

He is biased against the Cubbies?

Cool.

Now I like him even more.

[Learn To Swim]

He is biased against the Cubbies?

Cool.

Now I like him even more.
I'm convinced that Harry Caray touched you as a child or Ron Santo ran off with your mother or something, because I have never seen such complete hatred for a baseball team.

[3rdAnd15Draw]

I'm convinced that Harry Caray touched you as a child or Ron Santo ran off with your mother or something, because I have never seen such complete hatred for a baseball team.

People talk more shit about the Yankees, it's just weird to see such strong feelings about a non-rival, loser of a franchise.

[Learn To Swim]

I'm kind of suprised that so many people think Reynolds was a good analyst.
A brick would look smart next to Kruk and Phillips, but Harold was still an idiot (To view links in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. Your post count is 0 momentarily.).

[mem_reddog]

People talk more shit about the Yankees, it's just weird to see such strong feelings about a non-rival, loser of a franchise.

that's lovable loser sir. :)

[mem_reddog]

He is biased against the Cubbies?

Cool.

Now I like him even more.


Are you from St. Louis or something? I am used to hearing these kind of comments from Cardinal fans, not mets. :confused:

[Cakes]

I thought Reynolds was just okay. Morgan and Gammons and Kurkjian are the true baseball talkin' experts at ESPN and Destrada is showing promise, but it's too early to rank him just yet.


The Cubs beat out the Mets for the division in 1989.
Tuffy Rhodes hit three home runs off Dwight Gooden on Opening Day in 1994.
The only Cubs-Mets game I attended was a Cubs 13-5 victory.
The Cubs beat out the Mets for the postseason in 1998.
Cubs fans hate the Mets.
The Cubs and Mets used to be division rivals.

That's why I don't like the Cubs.

[Yisman]

sexual harrassment suit in 3..2..1..


good call .,m

[Yisman]

Are you from St. Louis or something? I am used to hearing these kind of comments from Cardinal fans, not mets. :confused:

Cardinals fans are rarely so hateful as to make those kind of comments.

[3rdAnd15Draw]

Cardinals fans are rarely so hateful as to make those kind of comments.

That's right, when a Cards fan is born they have a halo over their head. Also, they're the most knowledgable fans in baseball, and do a mean golf clap.

I hate Cards fans.

[mem_reddog]

Cardinals fans are rarely so hateful as to make those kind of comments.

Time to pull out the high boots, so I can walk through the BS. :)

[10nyjets87]

Could someone get Fox to fire Joe Buck and Tim McCarver?
tim mccarver is a goof, but joe buck is o.k

[mem_reddog]

Tim McCarver has some of the biggest ears I have ever seen. There is only one other pair of ears that comes close and that is Mitch Albom.

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[kinghenry89]

I'm kind of suprised that so many people think Reynolds was a good analyst.
A brick would look smart next to Kruk and Phillips, but Harold was still an idiot (To view links in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. Your post count is 0 momentarily.).
Many of those examples of Reynolds' "idiocy" weren't that bad at all. Not compared to most other ESPN analysts.

BTW mem_reddog, meet Jorge Posada.
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[vinsjets]

im not buyin the sexual harrasment just yet...remember, Steve Phillips has been all over baseball tonite since gammons went down. And Phillips had that sexual harrasment thing with a chick in St. lucie....

[wildthing2022000]

A guy on JI said Brently was fired for being drunk right after Harold was.

[Keeprunning28]

A guy on JI said Brently was fired for being drunk right after Harold was.
Yeah i read that too, im not sure if theres any credibility to that. I saw Harold Reynolds on 1st and Ten a couple of days ago, and cant believe he got fired
I wonder how Baseball Tonight will go....

[wildthing2022000]

JN has this:

(UPDATE: Another reader, with "contacts on the inside," refutes the sexual harassment whispers: "Anyone who is saying sexual harassment either has been given bad third-hand info or is lying. Harold has had a couple of rather heated arguments with the producers at "Baseball Tonight," and some of the suits at ESPN over the program's coverage of Alex Rodriguez. At the last production meeting, when it was made clear they were going to really play up the A-Rod angle during coverage of the Yankees-Texas series, Harold had a colossal meltdown, which led to his dismissal. The sexual harassment allegations are even more laughable when you consider that he is being replaced by Steve Phillips -- a man who has never met a skirt he wouldn't chase and who was caught in one of the more embarrassing front office sexual harassment scandals in MLB history."
True? Not true? This, like the rest of it, just reinforces our point: We don't know. And the longer ESPN pretends like nothing happened, like they're a corner shop with three employees, believing this stuff can possibly remain private, the more talk there will be. Still, this is the lone "it's not sexual harassment email" we've received.)
__________________

[Yisman]

That's from Deadspin. They updated the piece.

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[boomer]

I'm not going to say much about the Renyolds situation now because I don't know enough about the reasons why he was fired. All I can say is that I'm absolutely shocked and that he was one of the most competent and entertaining baseball anyalists I've ever seen and was one of the few remaining reasons why I continued to watch that disgrace of a network called ESPN.

[Pavlus53]

According to Reynolds, it was just a hug.

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ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT
By ANDREW MARCHAND

July 26, 2006 -- After being accused of sexual harassment and fired by ESPN, former "Baseball Tonight" analyst Harold Reynolds said yesterday he doesn't think he did anything wrong and is still hoping to regain his job.

"This was a total misunderstanding," Reynolds told The Post. "My goal is to sit down and get back. To be honest with you, I gave a woman a hug and I felt like it was misinterpreted."

Reynolds declined to give any more details. The woman who accused Reynolds of the sexual harassment is an ESPN co-worker, according to sources.

Yesterday, ESPN confirmed The Post's report that Reynolds had been fired, but they would not comment any further.

"He no longer works here," ESPN VP Josh Krulewitz said.

Still, Reynolds is hopeful ESPN executives will change their minds. Besides being with the network for 11 years, Reynolds had just signed a new six-year contract to remain in Bristol and he recently got married.

Reynolds limited his comments, because he didn't want to go into too many details for fear of saying something that could hurt his chances of reversing ESPN's decision.

Reynolds, 45, started with ESPN after a 12-year major league career.

ESPN has been vigilant about sexual harassment because it reportedly has been a problem in Bristol for years. In 2000, the book "ESPN: The Uncensored History" reported rampant cases of harassment of women. Most prominently mentioned was Mike Tirico, who was even suspended at one point.

Tirico, though, never was fired and now is one of the main faces of the network. This fall, he will be ESPN's new voice for "Monday Night Football." Since the book's release, ESPN has denied its validity.

ESPN is known for giving its top on-air employees warnings. There are many cases where ESPN executives have chosen to provide on-air personnel with second chances.

Last NFL season, Michael Irvin was charged with a misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Despite Irvin's past problems, he was only suspended for a weekend and that was mostly because he did not immediately report the incident to ESPN executives.

Earlier this baseball season, Rick Sutcliffe conducted a rambling on-air interview while intoxicated. Sutcliffe was only suspended for one game.

Without Reynolds, "Baseball Tonight" will continue to have an unfamiliar look. The show was already dealing with the loss of its other fixture, Peter Gammons, who suffered a brain aneurysm last month. Gammons is recovering nicely, but is not scheduled to return soon.

Karl Ravech is still the show's main host. He will be joined by the other mainstay, John Kruk, on most nights. Ex-Mets GM Steve Phillips, who already was seeing more time in place of Gammons, figures to become an even more integral part of the program.

ESPN also can call on Orel Hershiser, Jeff Brantley, Tino Martinez, Orestes Destrades, Tim Kurkjian and Buster Olney as replacements for Reynolds.

"We'll get contributions from everybody from our deep commentator pool," Krulewitz said.

[OhioJetsFan]

I liked Reynolds on-air. He came across as less pompous than everyone else. Kruk will be okay for me because he is the Chris Farley of sports broadcasting.

[ButtleMan]

This an excerpt from ESPN.com

"It was a total misunderstanding," Reynolds told the Post. "My goal is to sit down and get back. To be honest with you, I gave a woman a hug and I felt like it was misinterpreted."

Hugging a woman while you have an erection and whispering in her ear to help you with it is grounds for sexual harrassment. :smile:

[mem_reddog]

Hugging a woman while you have an erection and whispering in her ear to help you with it is grounds for sexual harrassment. :smile:


This made me crack up :lol: :rofl:

[Scikotic]

BOO ESPN!!!!! ok im over it...ill miss HR

[MSUJet85]

Damn he was one of the better ones, if Phillips gets more time I'll be pissed :sad:

SNY should give him a show

2 years later and it looks like SNY has taken my advise being part of the pre/postgame shows :up:

[kevmvp]

2 years later and it looks like SNY has taken my advise being part of the pre/postgame shows :up:

I always like Harold Reynolds. I think he was the best that ESPN had. As a Mets fan i'm happy to hear that Harold Reynolds has joined the SNY crew.

[MobiusOne28]

I have to say they replaced Raynolds with fucking Kruk so regardless of your feelings about Reynolds it's only gone downhill since he left.

[17a_tailgater]

can reynolds pinch hit for the mets too?