VENTURA, Calif. — No matter how big ESPN's on-air talent becomes, the network has always wanted to make sure its announcers know that none is bigger than ESPN itself.
It happened with Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick during their glory days together on "SportsCenter." It's happening now with Tony Kornheiser.
Kornheiser has been suspended for one week without pay, according to the Washington Post, for making remarks that were critical of management during his radio show.
Kornheiser, a writer for the Post who has always given me the impression he was dragged kicking and screaming into broadcasting, has become one of ESPN's most valuable assets. He also appears with Post colleague Michael Wilbon on "Pardon the Interruption" on ESPN.
"PTI" is far and away the best sports talk show on television. It has everything "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" on Fox Sports Net doesn't — namely class and taste.
The Post, citing sources familiar with the situation, said ESPN was unhappy with comments Kornheiser made during commercial breaks that aren't heard on the radio but which, until recently, were broadcast on the Internet.
ESPN has declined to comment on the suspension because it is a personnel matter.
The Hartford Courant reported Kornheiser has been upset over the firing of his senior radio producer, Dennis Horgan, and associate producer Kevin Alvarez.
"I was stunned by (the suspension)," Kornheiser told the Milwaukee Journal, "because nobody ever said to me, 'We're thinking of suspending you. We have these grievances against you. What is your response?' "
The Kornheiser suspension follows the recent firing of Jason Jackson, the popular host of "NBA 2Night" on TV and "GameDay" on radio. A source told the Courant that Jackson was fired for "allegedly making unwanted and suggestive comments to a female colleague."
ESPN management later examined e-mail from a number of its employees which contained profanity, the Courant said, and that led to the suspension of five employees and the firing of four producers, including Horgan and Alvarez.
The Hartford paper went on to say that about a dozen staff members, including ESPN general manager Eric Schoenfeld, have been fired or suspended for violations of company policy. A source told the Courant that Schoenfeld was suspended for allegedly threatening a co-worker.
It's not surprising that Kornheiser, who makes a reported $500,000 annually from his ESPN package, is taking on a "bad boy" image with ESPN management, much the way David Letterman has with CBS and NBC before that. In fact, this will do nothing but make him more popular with his audience and more of an occasional pain for ESPN executives.
This is not the first time ESPN's dirty laundry has been exposed. A 2000 book, "ESPN: The Uncensored History" by Michael J. Freeman, told of the network's power struggles and alleged problems with sexual harassment, racial discrimination, drug use and gambling addictions.
On the air, ESPN and ESPN Radio appear to be the classiest outfits in the business. Things behind the scenes, though, look more unsavory.