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BY RON BARR

Being a sportscaster is a fun job, especially if you have a large, worldwide stage.  But, with that stage comes the responsibility not to say stupid, ignorant or insensitive things.  I’ve always understood I was borrowing the airwaves, not own them.   Every broadcaster has their moments, even me, but it seems that more and more sports broadcasters are showing bad judgment and bad taste in their on-air comments.

And, most of the time it’s to create controversy where there may not be any, be funny when they’re not or make outlandish and sometimes-hurtful comments to increase their rebel image.

As the founder of the Sports Byline USA network, the first, national sports-talk broadcast network, and an on-air talk show host, I feel responsible for everything I say and all our sportscasters say.  Anything they or I say reflects on our company, as well as the radio stations or other delivery platforms our programming is heard on.  I once suspended two of my overnight sportscasters for saying on Sports OverNight America; “I wonder who is going to nail Venus Williams first?”  They were young and I’m sure they thought it was a cool, manly, flip thing to say.  And, since it was late night, no one would get upset or think it was inappropriate.  When I suspended them for 5 days, I told them I was suspending them for making a sexist, inappropriate remark and for stupidity.  Stupidity being the larger offense.  Their stupidity was that while most people listening in the larger, urban cities might not find their comment offensive, in Kansas City, Omaha and other heartland cities, those listeners would, and did.  Radio stations turn their signals over to us with the belief and expectation our sports programming won’t upset their listeners and their General Managers and Program Directors won’t get complaining letters, emails and phone calls. 

Having said this, I found it interesting and disappointing that ESPN had to suspend Tony Kornheiser for two weeks for his on-air comments about fellow ESPN sportscaster Hannah Storm.  What enhanced my disappointment is that Tony Kornheiser isn’t some young, up and coming, trying to make a name for himself journalist and broadcaster.  He’s a middle age, veteran, high profile writer and sportscaster.  He should know better.  He hosts ESPN’s highly viewed Pardon the Interruption and was also part of the three-man Monday Night Football on-air broadcast team.  People know him and listen to him.  What did he say that got him suspended?  He said on his weekday radio show on ESPN’s Washington, D.C., affiliate that Storm was on-air in a “horrifying outfit” with “red go-go boots” and a skirt “way too short for somebody her age.”  He also said Storm’s shirt was too tight and looked like “sausage casing wrapping around her upper body.”  Kornheiser has since made a public apology and also apologized to Storm personally.

There are several issues here.  The obvious ones are Kornheiser making on-air dress and sexual comments about Storm, or any woman for that matter.  The other is how stupid it was to make such comments about a colleague.  The workplace is hard enough, no company needs one group of employees (men) taking shots at another group (women).  ESPN has a history of sexual harassment issues over the years.  Harold Reynolds was let go over such allegations and Steve Phillips was fired for his affair with a young, production assistant.  ESPN executive vice president John Skipper said in a statement, "Hurtful and personal comments such as these are not acceptable and have significant consequences.”  For Kornheiser those consequences is a two-week suspension from his ESPN duties.

My concerns are for my profession.  Sports are supposed to be fun.  Sure athletes make a lot of money and are fair game for criticism and ridicule.  Teams, managers, coaches, leagues and owners are fair game as well.  But, personalizing those on-air comments in a sexual, racial or crass way has no place in broadcasting or in society in general.  Broadcasters have a powerful tool.  I reach millions of people every day with my show and with what I say.  What I say, or any broadcaster says, makes an impression upon listeners.  I think about what I’m going say before I say it, fully understanding that listeners accept what they hear and consciously or sub-consciously form attitudes or opines from that information.  An example, if a listener calls in and tries to get me and the listeners to believe that the sun comes up in the west, then I have a responsibility to challenge them with the right information or cut them off.  Not to do so will only leave the listener with the wrong information and impression. 

Not to get too heavy or idealistic, I know people listen to sports and sports talk to get away from their everyday issues and problems.  Sports talk radio is both informative and empowering.  It lets the fans and listeners learn and at the same time express their feelings and frustrations about their teams and athletes.  I challenge all sportscasters to use our airwaves to inform, entertain, challenge, educate and be creative with their on-air presentation.  There’s a big difference between being creative and funny and being crass.  The outstanding sportscasters and communicators know that difference.   

I’m Ron Barr.

Ron Barr is an Emmy award winning writer and the host of the nationally and internationally syndicated sports talk show, Sports Byline USA.