ESPN parts ways with talk show pundit Rob Parker
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Join the Nation's ConversationShare This Story!ShareEmailTwitterGoogle+LinkedIn ESPN parts ways with talk show pundit Rob Parker ESPN parted ways with commentator Rob Parker after controversial comments on Robert Griffin III led to him being suspended by the network. An ESPN spokesman said Parker's contract was not renewed. Post to FacebookESPN parts ways with talk show pundit Rob Parker on USAToday.com: http://usat.ly/UyUHmaCancelSendPosted!A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.
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ESPN parts ways with talk show pundit Rob ParkerMichael Hiestand, USA TODAY Sports4:14p.m. EST January 8, 2013Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III(Photo: David Richard, USA TODAY Sports)
Story HighlightsESPN notes Rob Parker's RGIII comments in saying he won't be re-signedRob Parker, already suspended, is out at ESPN'First Take' pundit made controversial comments about raceTV pundit Rob Parker, after making controversial comments on race in relation to Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, is gone from ESPN.
Parker, who is African American, made those comments on the morning talk show First Take, about Griffin, who is also African American, possibly being a "cornball brother" who is " not really down with the cause."
Says ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys, in a statement: "Rob Parker's contract expired at year's end. Evaluating his work and our needs, including his recent RGIII comments, we decided not to renew his deal."
ESPN had no further comment.
Parker, who had already been suspended for 30 days, suggests in this interview with a Detroit TV station that in an ESPN First Take production meeting his basic points about Griffin were understood to be the "way they were going" on the show and his comments weren't just "off-the-cuff."
About the Author Michael HiestandMichael Hiestand is a sports media columnist for USA TODAY. He's also written USA TODAY columns and features on the business side of sports. He's reported extensively abroad, including trips to Japan, Greece, Norway and Italy -- to write about local Olympic preparations before the Games themselves -- and lived in Australia for most of 2000. Previous to joining USA TODAY, Hiestand worked at Adweek and Newsweek magazines, wrote a book on marketing and graduated from Stanford.
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Search for a topic, full name, or @username Bahasa Indonesia Bahasa Melayu Deutsch English Español Filipino Français Italiano Nederlands Português Türkçe Русский हिन्दी 日本語 简体中文 繁體中文 한국어 © 2012 Twitter About Help StatusESPN fires Rob Parker | ProFootballTalk Skip to content ProFootballTalk NBC Sports ProFootballTalk HardballTalk ProBasketballTalk CollegeFootballTalk ProHockeyTalk GolfTalkCentral OlympicTalk ProSoccerTalk CollegeBasketballTalk Home Latest News & Rumors Rotoworld PFT Video Police Blotter Teams AFC Teams Baltimore Buffalo Cincinnati Cleveland Denver Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Kansas City Miami New England NY Jets Oakland Pittsburgh San Diego Tennessee NFC Teams Arizona Atlanta Carolina Chicago Dallas Detroit Green Bay Minnesota New Orleans NY Giants Philadelphia St. Louis San Francisco Seattle Tampa Bay Washington TV and Radio Schedule About Contact Feeds Advertising Privacy Policy PFT Gear Tickets ESPN fires Rob Parker Posted by Michael David Smith on January 8, 2013, 2:57 PM EST
Rob Parker, the commentator who created controversy when he questioned whether Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is a “cornball brother” because he has a white fiancee, has been fired by ESPN.
“Rob Parker’s contract expired at year end. Evaluating our needs and his work, including his recent RGIII comments, we decided not to renew,” an ESPN spokesman said in a written statement.
ESPN can spin this as simply a decision not to renew his contract, rather than a firing, but the reality is that ESPN specifically stated on December 20 that Parker had been suspended for 30 days, and as of December 20, ESPN was expecting Parker back at the end of his 30-day suspension. (He made the comments on December 13, so a 30-day suspension from that date would have ended on January 12.)
So why did Parker’s discipline change from a 30-day suspension to termination? ESPN isn’t saying, but it may be that the network was unhappy with a recent interview Parker gave in which he said that ESPN knew what he was going to say on the air before he said it. In that interview, Parker also seemed to backtrack on his previous apology, complaining that people took his “cornball brother” statement out of context.
Parker has long been known for drawing attention to himself by stirring up controversy, and it’s unsurprising that he eventually took it too far and got himself fired. But ESPN is hardly blameless in all this: Parker made his comments on ESPN First Take, a show that celebrates provocation, and at first ESPN’s producers were so pleased with Parker’s comments about Griffin that the network re-aired the comments on Best of First Take. It was only later, after ESPN was criticized for airing the comments, that the network apologized.
And now, much later, ESPN has finally done what many viewers said it should have done from the beginning, and fired Parker.
Permalink 191 Comments Latest Stories in: Rumor Mill, Top Stories, Washington Redskins Tweet Email Previous: Eagles will interview Lovie SmithNext: PFT Live 1/8: Bob Glauber191 Responses to “ESPN fires Rob Parker” eagles92 says: Jan 8, 2013 2:58 PMThank you ESPN …
tlmoon2112 says: Jan 8, 2013 2:58 PMbout damned time, jiminy crickets!!
jimiinpa says: Jan 8, 2013 2:59 PMabout time
daysend564 says: Jan 8, 2013 2:59 PMHe was fired because he kept trying to justify it. Just a couple days ago, he was saying that what he said was fine, just taken out of context.
Had he kept his mouth shut, he’d still be part of the network.
wipackman1265 says: Jan 8, 2013 2:59 PMSee ya. ” Cornball Brotha “. Idiot. !!!!
donkeykong2011 says: Jan 8, 2013 2:59 PMShocked! I am shocked!
blacknole08 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:01 PMGood riddance, jerk. And don’t let the door hit you on the way out. You won’t be missed!
thetooloftools says: Jan 8, 2013 3:01 PMBout time !
jetsclaps says: Jan 8, 2013 3:01 PMGood riddance
jobotjones says: Jan 8, 2013 3:02 PMGood!
tjh9985 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:02 PMWhen keepin’ it real goes wrong….
NoobTubeTV says: Jan 8, 2013 3:02 PMESPN is garbage. I heard it through a source.
xsfmed says: Jan 8, 2013 3:03 PMThey should fire Skip Bayless, Stephen A Smith and then burn down the First Take set too.
keepingitrealdumb says: Jan 8, 2013 3:03 PMcannot believe it took them that long to do it .. that just means that they didn’t want to. only cause he mouthed off some more after his ‘apology’ was espn forced not to bring him back.
nflfan1 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:03 PMFinally, ESPN does something right in this case. You sir, will NOT be missed.
dsjcn3 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:04 PMWhat the heck took so long
dsjcn3 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:04 PMShouldve been the first move instead of a joke suspension
ghostofgilchrist says: Jan 8, 2013 3:04 PMSomewhere, Jimmy the Greek is smiling…
rickastleydancemoves says: Jan 8, 2013 3:04 PMBecause middle-aged white conservatives that listen to and agree with Rush Limbaugh & Ann Coulter daily were sooo offended.
snap0179 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:04 PM6 weeks too late
dcfan4life says: Jan 8, 2013 3:05 PMGood firing. Now just get rid of Skip Bayless, Stephen A Smith, the entire embrace debate crap, replace it with some quality programming like Around the Horn and PTI and ESPN will have purged themselves of all the evil that has engulfed their programming. Wow i must be dreaming to think any of thats going to happen…
karlton3 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:05 PMFired like a Brotha who is down with the cause!
randallflagg52 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:05 PMNow they just need to fire Skip Bayless and ESPN will become almost watchable.
dlions18 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:06 PMI’d rather be a cornball the unemployed.
RG3
omniscient48 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:07 PMLong overdue.
Better late than never.
etc.
ESPN still blows. I can’t stand that network. They still have Skip Bayless so they get no props from me.
easyrider1903 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:07 PMNext should be Ed Werder!
xsfmed says: Jan 8, 2013 3:07 PMMan, I bet “logicalvoices” aka Skip Bayless is bummed!
spoilerfutbol says: Jan 8, 2013 3:07 PMPlease, Eric Mangini has to be the next……..
stillers7 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:08 PMGood start … how about Berman and Bayless next.
Nofoolnodrool says: Jan 8, 2013 3:08 PMLomas is next, Stuart Scott , skip Bayless , and Stephen A to follow. Haven’t watched any espn since Parker stepped on his junk on air. Can some more of the idiots and then maybe I ll ….no I won’t.
citizenstrange says: Jan 8, 2013 3:09 PMThe arc that is Rob Parker’s life has peaked.
49erdynasty says: Jan 8, 2013 3:09 PMRob Parker insists that the firing was taken out of context.
geniusesq says: Jan 8, 2013 3:10 PMThere is a God.
brownsalwaysrebuilding says: Jan 8, 2013 3:10 PMRacism goes both ways, Mr. Parker.
We’re all humans.
steelerben says: Jan 8, 2013 3:10 PMDoes this mean that they are done milking this story for publicity or do you think that Parker makes one last ditch effort to block his termination via litigation?
patfic15 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:10 PMSomewhere Rush is laughing.
SparkyGump says: Jan 8, 2013 3:10 PMUntil they fire Skip Bayless, ESPN is just a collection of hypocrites.
nflofficeadmin says: Jan 8, 2013 3:10 PMWhat can you learn from this Robert?
csilojohnson says: Jan 8, 2013 3:11 PMESPN is just a responsible for his comments as he is. They re aired it.
Swaying to the breeze of the masses.
Yeah, a little too late there ESPN. You obviously thought long and hard about whether to do it or not, should have been an instant decision.
That’s why you still suck (among other reasons).
newkirk850 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:11 PMHe couldn’t keep his trap shut. This should have already happened. See ya cornball brother, you will NOT be missed!
FinFan68 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:11 PMGood, now fire the idiots that produced and re-aired that garbage. ESPN should return to being a sports channel instead of catering to the reality tv and gossip crowd.
jhein23 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:12 PMFire Skip Bayless next please
udontknowjacku says: Jan 8, 2013 3:12 PMVery NICE!!!! were to now? ESPN is the bottom of the barrel !!!! couldnt have happened to a better guy….
skoobyfl says: Jan 8, 2013 3:12 PMThey corn-rolled him.
timbuttrum says: Jan 8, 2013 3:12 PMCowherd next please
blackqbwhiterb says: Jan 8, 2013 3:13 PMMaybe like Kieth Olberman he’ll move from sports to news reporting, where he can espouse his viewpoint without criticism
packerbackernj says: Jan 8, 2013 3:13 PMFact, rather. PS, Warren Moon definately thinks rob parker being fired is because espn is racist. Drew brees wants an explaination.
bennyb82 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:13 PMWhat is more disturbing than what he said is that he actually believes what he said…
irishphilly87 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:14 PMHes a jabroni
thestrategyexpert says: Jan 8, 2013 3:14 PMI’d like to hear more details on the possibility that ESPN shows are scripted and possibly collaborations and not original and sincere opinions of the people providing them. Interesting.
everythingsab says: Jan 8, 2013 3:14 PMand yet Skip Bayless continues to work….
tcmiller30 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:14 PMAbout 30 days too late, but hopefully this is the last we have to hear about this guy.
paychrisjohnson28 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:15 PMAs many others say, it is about time…it shouldn’t of taken this long… Good luck to Rob Parker finding another job in a similar field ! It has to be tough after showing such an incredible lack of judgement !
packownsu says: Jan 8, 2013 3:15 PM“Parker has long been known for drawing attention to himself by stirring up controversy”
I guess he won’t need Mike Florio as a mentor anymore.
countduku says: Jan 8, 2013 3:15 PMGood move by ESPN. Your too good for this guy.
khennigan says: Jan 8, 2013 3:15 PMWell done! My ESPN boycott was getting tough, but I was budging till this fool was shown the door.
texanfan62 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:15 PMESPN= Excessively Stupid People Network
packattack1967 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:17 PMI only watch espn when I absolutely have no choice. Please fox, get your sports station up and running.
dabearsk says: Jan 8, 2013 3:17 PMLike Clint Eastwood says “a man has got to know his limitations” as well as when to shut up. . and stop trying to defend the indefensible. What a moron!
weepingjebus says: Jan 8, 2013 3:17 PMHe was truly the Mark Twain of his generation.
phelbin says: Jan 8, 2013 3:18 PMRacism out of context = still racism.
macneil4025 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:18 PMMaybe him and Sean Salisbury could start a show?
tincansailor981 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:18 PMGood. Now do a total house cleaning and get rid of: Stephen A, Skip Bayless, Berhman, and Stuart Scott. That would be a good start.
imodan says: Jan 8, 2013 3:18 PMUsed to be a big fan of First Take but since it went to the current format of hollering and screaming I haven’t watched a minute. Put Skip and Steven A in a locked room and let’s all pray neither comes out.
coltzfan166 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:18 PMHe didn’t get fired. He just didn’t get re-signed. Duhhhh
bartlettruss says: Jan 8, 2013 3:18 PMThey suspended him for 30 days because that’s how much time he had left on his contract. After that they could simply say they chose not to renew. If they had fired him outright he would have had a court case for wrongful termination because they evidently approved the gist of what he said beforehand.
At least he’s gone though… thank God.
I wonder what he’ll do next…
caseyinkc says: Jan 8, 2013 3:19 PMTook ya long enough ESPN
tigers182 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:19 PMHe should have been fired for being a terrible commentator.
sewalters79 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:19 PMMaybe he can get a job at MSNBC covering sports. I’m sure his views will fit right in.
purplemary54 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:20 PMYou know, First Take used to be kind of a fun show, back when it was Jay and Dana doing interviews and silly stunts, with small doses of Skip Bayless arguing with whoever interspersed. But then they reformatted the show, forced out Jay and Dana (and forced Dana out, period), and made it all about Skip yelling inanities at people. Rob Parker is just a symptom of this stupid mentality. He’ll get a job with Fox, or one of the new channels popping up, and keep saying the same stupid stuff. It still won’t matter.
ravenator says: Jan 8, 2013 3:21 PMThis is so awesome. You completely deserve this Parker. Cheers!
mcconnellrules says: Jan 8, 2013 3:21 PMESPN is equally responsible. They put it on twice that day and even the “best of” first take.
Clowns
boondocksaint7 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:21 PMAmazing ESPN/TMZ took this long to make this decision.
pnut87 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:21 PMESPN just got ever so slightly less full of themselves…
ctiggs says: Jan 8, 2013 3:23 PMas a black man with a white gf……. thank you espn.
superschrec says: Jan 8, 2013 3:23 PMBut Stephen A. Smith can drop the most racial of remarks and no discipline?
No wonder i dont watch ESPN anymore.
Downside…more air time for Stephen A. Smith.
Perhaps a three-in-all special-fire Parker, Bayless, and Smith together.
steelers88 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:24 PMFinally! ESPN did something right!
godofwine330 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:25 PMGood, but ESPN’s whole business strategy revolves around people like this. People who purposly make inflamatory comments for shock value. For years I have compared it to E! Sports Edition rather than the sports news show it used to be. All of the created rivalries and all. If not for Monday Night Football I wouldn’t watch the network at all. Good riddance, Rob Parker.
SeenThisB4 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:26 PMHe’ll end up partnered with Costas on NBC.
stigman2012 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:27 PMDon’t get too excited…I’m sure Parker will explain to us that we are taking ESPN’s comments out of context.
wallacejay says: Jan 8, 2013 3:27 PMHey Rob, looks like your suspension was taken out of context too.
southpaw2k says: Jan 8, 2013 3:27 PMHopefully he won’t qualify for unemployment and no one will consider hiring him now that’s he is a freelancer.
ravenator says: Jan 8, 2013 3:27 PMHe needs to change his twitter account now. What a moron.
bishopdon says: Jan 8, 2013 3:28 PMAnother black man thrown under the bus so the real culprit(Skip Bayless) can get away with his race baiting while his flunky(Steven A. Smith) can shine for the audience.. That show is a microcosm of America today.. I will not watch again..
tharoostah says: Jan 8, 2013 3:28 PMESPN is just worthless. You would think some of the other stations would get a clue and learn how to compete with them. NFL network is good but it’s NFL only and if you want to see a little of everything else you have to go elsewhere. How about NBC Sports stops airing bass fishing and finally competes with ESPN?
jp4120 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:29 PMnow they should fire that douchey blowhard Chris Berman because he sucks
raiderrob21 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:29 PMHonestly never heard of him. Also only tune into BSPN to watch MNF and thats it.
metitometin says: Jan 8, 2013 3:29 PMGood riddance to bad rubbish. He is a disgrace. His opinions about the Patriots were so offensive to me. He always kept bringing up that because the Pats haven’t won a Superbowl since Spygate that that invalidates Belichick’s greatness. Yeah, I think 2 Superbowls and 4 playoff appearances tends to invalidate that opinion. Go suck on it Parker!!
fargo49er says: Jan 8, 2013 3:30 PMHope he ends up shining shoes in an airport somewhere!
emulex20 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:32 PMI wonder if ESPN will now bring Jay Mariotti back to replace him
damagecontroller says: Jan 8, 2013 3:33 PMMy only question is…What took so long…?
tonyromohaschildbearinghips says: Jan 8, 2013 3:36 PMAt least he will get unemployment and won’t even have to look for a new job! I guess being “down for the cause” works or him especially well now
swagger91 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:36 PMYesssss I benn waitin for this man to be fired rg3 got a beautiful woman a college degree dozens of records a heisman and was a first round pick…being a black young man (21) dats the cause im “down” for…rob parker prolly loves our men who think jail is better than college…who thinks sellin drugs is better working hard to provide for a family. And a barbershop??? Any black man knows dat as fast as they talk about rg3 to rob parker they started talkin about rob parker as soon as he left the shop….thanks for being “real” rob im glad u will never be on my favorite network again
4sacroc says: Jan 8, 2013 3:37 PMI’m certain The Justice Bros. (Jesse & Al) will be chiming in with their racist BS any second ….
klownboy says: Jan 8, 2013 3:37 PMOh they will NEVER fire Skip “Brainless”. I wish they would as well, but they won’t. His stupid arse is what drives that show’s ratings up…
ilovefoolsball says: Jan 8, 2013 3:38 PMThey couldn’t take the heat they were receiving from these comments and he just wasn’t valuable enough for them to stick their neck out any longer for him.
Meanwhile you’ll hear silence and crickets from the likes of Cowherd, VanPelt, Mike & Mike etc.
duncanthecat says: Jan 8, 2013 3:39 PMIt’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood.
ningenito78 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:39 PMESPN is spineless. I can’t STAND Parker but he’s always been a race baiting punk. ESPN is just pissed he outed them as knowing what he was going to say. Period.
green41563 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:40 PMI want to live in a world where even idiots can give an opinion without fear of being fired.
trbowman says: Jan 8, 2013 3:41 PMCan we fire ESPN?
honkerdawg says: Jan 8, 2013 3:43 PMESPN should fire itself for hiring and keeping some of the clowns bit has “reporting” and talking sports. The network is a joke!
drstrangehawk says: Jan 8, 2013 3:45 PMHe just eclipsed the “Classless” mark. Send him packing.
chawk12thman says: Jan 8, 2013 3:47 PMNot extending his contract was the correct move. Now; let some of the others’ found to be culpable in the handling of this serve a suspension and not have their contracts renewed as well.
fwippel says: Jan 8, 2013 3:47 PMThis is a cop-out. Parker wasn’t fired outright, but rather his contract wasn’t renewed. There is a difference.
If ESPN had any guts they would have fired Parker the same week he made his comments, and been done with him. Instead, ESPN suspends him and then chooses to run out the clock on his contract; the coward’s way out.
bobzilla1001 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:50 PMWhat about Lomas Brown?
donkeykong2011 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:52 PMi love how this thread quickly turned into a “skip bayless sucks” forum. which i happen to agree with.
sdiegosteel says: Jan 8, 2013 3:53 PMYou could form a sports department off of all of ESPN’s fired workers: Parker, Jay Mariotti, Sean Salisbury, Ron Franklin, Harold Reynolds, Steve Phillips, etc.
rcali says: Jan 8, 2013 3:53 PMNext up, Fox Sports.
cags777 says: Jan 8, 2013 3:57 PMGood riddance, Mr. Parker. You were privileged to work for an organization many sports fans and writers would dream of and you blew it by backtracking from your apology. If you can’t take this as a humbling experience and continue with the stance that people took your words out of context, perhaps it is time for you to blacklisted (no pun intended) from the world of sports journalism.
pdmjr says: Jan 8, 2013 3:57 PMHe won’t qualify for unemployment, the dismissal was with just cause and it’s on tape
unbreakable02215 says: Jan 8, 2013 4:00 PMHAHAHAHA. He deserves it. ESPN finally does
something right.
Rob was a doofus on the airwaves in Detroit and the story continues…
Past performance is indicative of future behavior.
binkystevens says: Jan 8, 2013 4:02 PMGood. No room for trash like that on TV
myopinionisrighterthanyours says: Jan 8, 2013 4:05 PM@bishopdon:
I hope you don’t really believe that. Stephen A. was incredibly the voice of reason in this whole debacle. And if you think Parker was thrown under the bus, you fail to realize/acknowledge/accept that racism works both ways.
13arod says: Jan 8, 2013 4:05 PMespn has all sorts of problems with there commentatiers
connie73 says: Jan 8, 2013 4:06 PMAbout time. I know who he is. Have not watched him for so long. Will not lower myself to watch the idiots at ESPN. I got NBC sports. Three hours every day watching Dan Patrick. Who needs ESPN not me.
edge661 says: Jan 8, 2013 4:08 PMNow fire skippy da hippie! Only good program out of the 4 letter network is pardon the interruption!! Do rules
jodave5 says: Jan 8, 2013 4:08 PMDon’t stop there! Please!!!!
rajbais says: Jan 8, 2013 4:08 PMSorry, even though I didnt agree with Parker making those comments let’s face it ESPN is making him a scapegoat.
Its producers are also cowards by having him fired while they get to be in hiding from those questioning the show’s motives.
modellforprez says: Jan 8, 2013 4:09 PMslob parker is a worm anyway. he is a cornball host
lawyermalloy says: Jan 8, 2013 4:14 PMThey’re hiring at Burger King.
huskersrock1 says: Jan 8, 2013 4:14 PMI tried watching first take yesterday.
Skip Bayless was blaming Dr. Andrews for RGIII’s knee injury because he put the idea in RGIII’s head that the knee wasn’t in perfect condition and he played differently…..
Click
vegaskid21 says: Jan 8, 2013 4:15 PMThank you!!! Stephen A Smith needs to be next.
mrlaloosh says: Jan 8, 2013 4:16 PMBug bye, loser
howiehandles says: Jan 8, 2013 4:17 PM“This is a cop-out. Parker wasn’t fired outright, but rather his contract wasn’t renewed. There is a difference.”
Welcome to the corporate world. It’s easier for the employer, and makes them less likely to be sued for:
a. discrimination
b. wrongful termination
c. some other bs
He may not have been fired, but he was shown the door. Same difference.
7ransponder says: Jan 8, 2013 4:19 PMDrew Brees wants an explanation…. wait a second, where am I?
draculalambert says: Jan 8, 2013 4:20 PMsweet! Bring back jay Mariotti…
joshhatesthesteelers says: Jan 8, 2013 4:21 PMI’ll miss the guy
armorgan67 says: Jan 8, 2013 4:21 PMIts funny people complain about ESPN but they still watch and comment about how bad they are. In terms of daily sports programming they are it. No Fox Sports, CNNSI tried and failed, no yahoo network, NBCSN? They show Dan Patrick and Pro Football Talk and their nightly sports show but that’s it. Face it folks ESPN isn’t going anywhere and no one will seriously challenge them. Parker got fired because he ran his mouth again when he didn’t have to. All he had to was keep his mouth shut until he returned and he would still have a job but he couldn’t help himself and now has to suffer the consequences. SMH!!!
rc33 says: Jan 8, 2013 4:21 PMWas it a Cornball Cracker that did the firing?
bartlettruss says: Jan 8, 2013 4:22 PMESPN reminds me of the movie “Network” where they continually spin off the craziest person into their own show. Let’s face it, they had just promoted this guy to co-anchor of the weekend version of First Take….
ziplock10 says: Jan 8, 2013 4:36 PMWho?
On what channel?
rascalmanny says: Jan 8, 2013 4:42 PMI guess it finally reached a point where even BSPN couldn’t cover for that racist.
mn2long says: Jan 8, 2013 4:47 PMrickastleydancemoves says:
“Because middle-aged white conservatives that listen to and agree with Rush Limbaugh & Ann Coulter daily were sooo offended.”
No suspension for you. You’re fired immediately
baywolfe says: Jan 8, 2013 4:51 PMWow, except for actual live sporting events, does anybody even still watch the other shows on ESPN?
anarchopurplism says: Jan 8, 2013 4:52 PMRacist dingbat deserved to go from the get-go.
Nice that people are starting to get……there is no such thing as “reverse-racism.” Racism is racism
It’s great when liberals lose to their own game.
crush22 says: Jan 8, 2013 4:57 PMEnough of the (somewhere) (somebody) is…………
lines.
Good first step. Now fire Bayless, Cowherd, Hoge, McShay, Kiper, Berman, and Jackson. Then MAYBE, just maybe, ESPN will have some integrity.
bensstinkyfingers says: Jan 8, 2013 4:58 PMThey had to make room on the roster for another arrogant, self righteous, on air personality. -Ray Lewis
mungman69 says: Jan 8, 2013 5:02 PMGood move.
gizzmonic says: Jan 8, 2013 5:03 PMDont give him any “pub” by printing his name. Just headline that an ignorant racist nobody became unemployed by makeing remarks offensive to all races colors or creeds.
fwippel says: Jan 8, 2013 5:03 PMhowiehandles says:
Jan 8, 2013 4:17 PM
“This is a cop-out. Parker wasn’t fired outright, but rather his contract wasn’t renewed. There is a difference.”
Welcome to the corporate world. It’s easier for the employer, and makes them less likely to be sued for:
a. discrimination
b. wrongful termination
c. some other bs
He may not have been fired, but he was shown the door. Same difference.
————————————————
Actually, no, letting one’s contract expire is NOT the same as firing a person under contract. If you’ve ever worked under contract, you know these are drawn up for a specific period of time, and in many cases (in the real world at least) the contract is set to coincide with the end of the work for which the contracter was hired.
It may not be that way in broadcasting, but if not, that is because of a faulty perception on the part of the contractee.
That said, ESPN was gutless for not firing Parker outright. They choose the coward’s way out.
savojah says: Jan 8, 2013 5:04 PMWhen keeping it real goes wrong! Bye bye Parker, my day just gets better.
deeppurple23 says: Jan 8, 2013 5:08 PM30 days too late
moeman79 says: Jan 8, 2013 5:15 PMlook out the double standards are slowly going away.
eatitfanboy says: Jan 8, 2013 5:15 PMESPN isn’t spinning anything in any direction.
When someone’s contract comes up, you “fire” them by not renewing it.
They suspended him with the intention of renewing his contract after 30 days, and then reversed their decision and let him go, most likely due to his going back on his apology.
What did you want them to do, renew his contract just so they could “actually” fire him?
astiowa says: Jan 8, 2013 5:18 PMIts about time. Rob should never have been hired. How does ESPN hire someone who had zero credibility in his home market? As a columnist for the Detroit Free Press he got caught making up a story about Kirk Cousins getting in a fight with teammates (I believe supposedly over race). Too bad for Rob when all this supposedly happened Cousins was IN CHURCH with a couple hundred witnesses. Rob Parker – Zero Class, Zero Credibility, and now Zero Income.
melikefootball says: Jan 8, 2013 5:24 PMNice finally to see ESPN sees the racist aren’t always on the white side. To bad they don’t look into the entire show FIRST TAKE.
smupreacher says: Jan 8, 2013 5:38 PMGood riddance to bad rubbish…
mogogo1 says: Jan 8, 2013 5:44 PM“…complaining that people took his “cornball brother” statement out of context.”
_____________________
Here’s a fun party game: Come up with a context where calling somebody that WON’T get you fired.
If Parker happened to be a caucasian, he’d have been escorted straight from the studio to the street after saying that.
cliffordc05 says: Jan 8, 2013 5:48 PMNot much to add…….over 150 comments and not a single one that supports Parker. The only real question is what was ESPN thinking when they hired this idiot.
qwerty007qwerty007 says: Jan 8, 2013 5:51 PMI would move Jemele Hill to the front of the line for ‘contract not renewed’.
She has got to go…
Ann Sheridan Fan Club says: Jan 8, 2013 6:04 PMGreat. Finally. Now if we could just get him off of Detroit TV doing sports on the weekends. What a train wreck.
kingdm8 says: Jan 8, 2013 6:11 PMI will only watch ESPN again if they put Troy Aikman on First Take so we can have a Jim Everett on Jim Rome style beatdown.
bengalskuta82 says: Jan 8, 2013 6:19 PMThanks ESPN..Finally you fired a guy that has a brain that is outdated..He talks like he really misses the 18th Century
toewsingkaner says: Jan 8, 2013 6:23 PMSome other network looking for a cheap ratings bump will probably hire this tool. These “commentators” don’t go away, they just get recycled to other networks.
goldrush4949 says: Jan 8, 2013 6:36 PMyippee!
brinkerj says: Jan 8, 2013 6:37 PMNow for Jamele Hill
tdk24 says: Jan 8, 2013 6:38 PMNow if they would be consistent and fire Ed Werder for his Andy Reid fat joke he made on live TV.
11thstreetmafia says: Jan 8, 2013 7:44 PMThis guy still doesn’t get it. Remember, his comments were taken out of context, after all.
raylewis52 says: Jan 8, 2013 7:51 PMAt least he can be down and fight for the cause as a volunteer now.
ytownjoe says: Jan 8, 2013 8:48 PMPut Cowherd out to pasture, please.
fdugrad says: Jan 8, 2013 9:27 PMI am not a Skip Bayless apologist, however it seems to me that Skip provokes and inflames passions, however he clearly does his homework and research and I surely would not call him a racist, whereas Parker stepped over THAT line with his remark. If people are saying Bayless can be obnoxious and aggravating, as well as exasperating, then I would say that is a fair observation, but racist, I don’t think so.
lennydpocketqb says: Jan 8, 2013 10:30 PMFox Sports ain’t all at either guys.
toddvenice says: Jan 8, 2013 10:43 PMGood riddance!
ptestonm says: Jan 8, 2013 10:48 PMI find if funny who was actually offended by his comments because we were not. And just so you know, we have conversations like this alot. What Parker should have done was “keep it in the barbershop”. Then a certain segment of society would not have been “insulted”. As Kanye would say……I’m insulted that your insulted. BTW Before I get called a reverse racist, which sound dumb as heck, I like white people. I married one.
robyesno says: Jan 9, 2013 1:26 AMYeah it is pretty hilarious that it seems white people are the most offended that one “brother” called another “brother” not black enough because of a white girlfriend. Before whites would have been offended that the “brother” dare date one. Crazy changing times.
kaman2013 says: Jan 9, 2013 1:45 AMBayless and Steven A are “bomb throwers”. They were hired to get a reaction. They more contradictory to public opinion the better. Parker went beyond even ESPN’s limits. Pretty ironic this is posted by a network who’s sister network hires only “bomb throwers” for it’s political shows.
vtopa says: Jan 9, 2013 2:52 AMDoes BET need a sportscaster?
mnvikes7897 says: Jan 9, 2013 4:39 AMGood. He was a corn ball bratha anyway. Don’t know if I’d hang out with him. Heard he hates white people and he a republican too! You know!? Pfft. Corn ball sucka!
ruddg16 says: Jan 9, 2013 9:29 AMPlease……Please…… let Merril Hodge be next!!!!!
smash44 says: Jan 9, 2013 10:17 AMExcellent. It’s about time the black racist PIGS in this country quit getting a free pass to spew their hatred and venom on the public airwaves. It’s about time they are held accountable for their bigoted actions. Let this be a precedent. Hope he never finds another job except for sweeping floors. That’s about all this race baiter is qualified for.
Badgerbyte says: Jan 9, 2013 10:56 AMWowsa my Brotha, that $30 grand a month is going to be missed but guess what? You’re now in the “Cornball Brotha” unemployment line as well you should ya friggin racist.
originalsteelcurtain says: Jan 9, 2013 12:04 PMTime to lose the suit and grow out the cornrows my misguided brother!
bigben54962 says: Jan 9, 2013 12:45 PMA brotha fired for comments about another brotha.. In this day and age thats something. Can;t say much concerning his companion.
bojosatchmo says: Jan 9, 2013 12:59 PMHey Rob: Congratulations for embodying the actual essence of racism by insisting someone believe and act in a stereotypical way simply based on the color of their skin. You are an Ass no matter what your skin color. Good luck in your job search, maybe the Black Panthers are hiring voting booth intimidators.
dnvigerjr says: Jan 9, 2013 1:27 PM“Race” should never be an issue in sports news or commentary unless it refers to horse racing, vehicle racing, or track!
lawmancpa says: Jan 9, 2013 1:43 PMHe should be fired. ESPN fired Rush Limbaugh for similar stupidity.
bmacwillconn says: Jan 9, 2013 1:56 PMESPN has been a subtle but significant contributor to the demise of our culture. Particilarily how they push their edgy “street” crap on impressionable young kids who tune in to watch sport highlights but are exposed to all sorts of overt racial insinuations on the telecasts. Good riddance Robert Parker. Too bad many of your ex co-workers and aren’t following you out the exit door.
iodiner says: Jan 9, 2013 2:41 PMI stopped watching ESPN some time ago – when I finally realized it was run by pissed off minorities, and liberal loonies with an agenda. Screw them.
woodsaddition says: Jan 9, 2013 4:25 PMI rarely watch espn. College games sometimes. If they fired that snob of an nfl “expert” who called Tebow a fraud…completely unfounded…I might watch.
theotherhanddude says: Jan 9, 2013 9:49 PMI didn’t understand it when ESPN had only suspended Parker. I’m glad they corrected their error.
boltfaninfalconcountry says: Jan 9, 2013 9:49 PMHappy happy joy joy! And I would be considered a “corn ball” brother by this now unemployed brother.
tatum064 says: Jan 10, 2013 11:03 PMbojosatchmo says:
Jan 9, 2013 12:59 PM
Hey Rob: Congratulations for embodying the actual essence of racism by insisting someone believe and act in a stereotypical way simply based on the color of their skin. You are an Ass no matter what your skin color. Good luck in your job search, maybe the Black Panthers are hiring voting booth intimidators.
===========
The Black Panthers started school breakfast programs, and developed self defense and real political self-determination amid racism, and police brutality – the current version are frauds, and nowhere near the cultural importance and historic icon of the black experience in America.
He raised a valid point, but one that shouldnt be aired in an mixed company. Personally, I think he was scapegoated and the producers that re-aired that nonsense needed to get fired, too.
Dont worry, Stephen A. Smith is still there to light up people with provocative commentary, no matter how sensitive and in denial people are about race matters in this country.
skins1970 says: Jan 12, 2013 8:41 AMGood Rob Parker was an idiot he should have been fired the day after he made those comments he wasn’t even entertaining to watch. As for Skip Bayless and Steven A Smith I don’t have a problem with them they are entertaining to watch.
mazblast says: Jan 12, 2013 1:24 PMIMO Parker doesn’t qualify for unemployment. He had a contract, it expired. End of employment.
It’s no different from a ballplayer’s contract expiring. Does Michael Bourn qualify for unemployment benefits right now, just because he hasn’t signed anywhere yet? No.
Lugal-Cain says: Jan 14, 2013 9:00 AMHe was being provocative. Parker was also the least racist black commentator on ESPN period.
You sheep. You’ll never get it. For you, image IS everything.
trollingthisbridge says: Jan 14, 2013 11:01 AMNow, back to some obscure, third rate sports station in Detroit for the racist. Maybe he’ll have some luck finding some brothers who are down with the cause.
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January 16, 2013 Home Blogs About Forum Contact Donate Search RSS Hot Topics Gore Sells to Al Jazeera Chuck Hagel Taxes Gun Control Home » Blogs » Matthew Sheffield's blog Hyperbolic ABC Fumes Over 'Vicious,' 'Harsh,' 'Personal' NRA Ad Against Obama Morning Joe's Melodramatic Reaction To NRA Ad On Elite Hypocrisy Over Armed School Guards Journalists Refuse Yard Signs That Say 'This Home Is Proudly Gun Free' Bozell Column: The Media's Favorite Fake Republicans Left-wing Radio Host Who Fantasized About Beheaded Tea Party Members Offended by 'Gun Appreciation Day' Stenographers: ABC Touts Obama's 'Ultimatum,' President Won't 'Negotiate' CNN Slashes Piers Morgan-Ben Shapiro Segments While Posting Host's Entire Clash With Angry Advocate of Gun Rights Arianna Huffington & Scarborough Claim: W.F. Buckley, Jr. Would Have Supported Hagel ESPN Drops Racial Loudmouth Rob ParkerBy Matthew Sheffield | January 09, 2013 | 09:45
A AESPN has parted ways with Rob Parker, a commentator for the sports network who caused a national controversy by saying that Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is “not one of us” and only “kind of black” because he is engaged to a white woman and is rumored to be a Republican.
Parker made those comments on December 13 and was suspended by ESPN for 30 days. Parker apologized for his remarks but has since defended them by saying he was taken “out of context.”
ESPN’s vice president for PR, Mike Soltys, announced the decision to part ways with Parker last night on Twitter. He explicitly stated that the Griffin controversy was a factor in Parker’s termination.
“Rob Parker’s contract expired at year end. Evaluating our needs and his work, including his recent RGIII comments, we decided not to renew.”
While it has been speculated that Parker’s recent defense of his racist tirade was what prompted ESPN to terminate its relationship with the loudmouth analyst, sports industry writer John Ourand reported yesterday citing a “source” that ESPN had already decided not to renew Parker’s contract before he had defended himself to a Detroit television station.
If true, this means that ESPN took the the safe legal route in its dealings with Parker. Because ESPN suspended him for the duration of his contract and then declined to re-up, Parker will not be able to sue the network for wrongful termination since he actually was not fired. The potential for a lawsuit seemed likely since Parker has stated that the producers for “First Take,” the show on which he formerly appeared, “for the most part” knew he was going to criticize Griffin in the manner that he did.
By simply declining to renew Parker’s contract, ESPN has managed to sidestep the argument that he was encouraged to say outrageous things by his co-workers.
For a full transcript of Parker’s rant against Griffin click here, you can also watch the video of it below:
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Rob Parker Is Out At ESPN Deadspin Top Stories continue to story This story will display in ... espn Media Meltdowns rob parker first take media news Jan 8, 2013 3:07 PM Share Facebook Twitter StumbleUpon Tumblr Instapaper Email this post Tweet Rob Parker Is Out At ESPN John Koblin View Profile Email Twitter AIM RSS
After Rob Parker appeared on a Detroit-based community-affairs show on Sunday and revealed that First Take producers knew exactly what he was going to say when he made his "cornball brother" comments, some speculation ran around Bristol on Monday that his suspension would be permanent.
And today ESPN confirms that. The statement from ESPN PR:
Rob Parker's contract expired at year end. Evaluating our needs and his work, including his recent RGIII comments, we decided not to renew.
Parker probably knew full well that he wasn't returning to ESPN by time he went on the Detroit show. When ESPN suspends talent, they usually go very, very quiet. Parker obviously didn't do that.
Parker recently had been named host of the Saturday edition of First Take. He wound up getting to host that show only once.
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In case you somehow missed Parker's original comments on Dec. 13, here's a refresher:
"I've talked to some people in Washington, D.C. Some people in [Griffin's] press conferences. Some people I've known for a long time. My question, which is just a straight, honest question, is ... is he a 'brother,' or is he a cornball 'brother?' He's not really ... he's black, but he's not really down with the cause. He's not one of us. He's kind of black, but he's not really like the guy you'd want to hang out with. I just want to find out about him. I don't know, because I keep hearing these things. He has a white fiancé, people talking about that he's a Republican ... there's no information at all. I'm just trying to dig deeper into why he has an issue. Tiger Woods was like, 'I have black skin, but don't call me black.' People wondered about Tiger Woods early on – about him."
Parker's dismissal from ESPN comes days after his first interview following his 30-day suspension, when on WDIV's "Flashpoint" in Detroit he tossed the ESPN producers under the bus.
"[The show's producers] knew which way we were going and it was not off the cuff," Parker admitted on Flashpoint. "I don't know if [ESPN] enjoyed it. I think they were really hurt by the backlash that came from it. It wasn't meant in that vain at all. The people and the producers and everybody on the show, we just didn't think of it that way. We weren't trying to slam the kid; we were trying to tackle these issues."
Part of the reason for the intense backlash surrounding Parker's comments was these weren't exactly the issues on the minds of black people in relation to Griffin.
His relationship with his white fiancée, Rebecca Liddicoat, came to light during his junior season at Baylor in 2011. But after learning that she had been with Griffin through the good times (winning the Heisman Trophy) and the bad (tearing his ACL in 2009), it's hard to paint her as a gold-digger looking to cash in on her future husband's NFL payday.
(If marrying a white woman makes you less of a black male, I would love to see Parker let Ice-T know that and report back to me.)
Yeah, you can find people who still poke fun at Griffin's fashion sense (those socks in particular) or his out-of-date box braids hairstyle, but those qualities don't make RG3 "not one of us" or "kind of black."
Does it make him a cornball? It sure does. And you know what, that's quite OK.
We all know corny people in this world. We all have corny friends. I'll even be the first to admit that I'm a cornball brother. The word corny shouldn't be labeled as a code word for anything other than what it really is.
It's the narrow-minded, ignorant philosophy that one person can somehow be blacker than the next based on how they speak or if their pants are sagging or not that has ultimately divided the black community.
The beauty about sports is winning will make people look past any racial boundaries. Parker mentioned Tiger Woods in relation to black people having questions early on about him. You know what got people to quickly forget that Woods was checking "Cablinasian" in the race box?
Winning.
And in his rookie season, Griffin proved to be a winner, transforming what's been an irrelevant franchise since the bandwagon year in 1991 into must-see TV every Sunday.
Discussing race in such a public forum like ESPN opens up the Pandora's Box of double standards. If this were Skip Bayless questioning RG3's blackness, would Parker be ready to have a discussion on the issue or would he be standing alongside Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson in the protest line outside the Bristol campus?
At the end of the day, your average ESPN viewer doesn't care if RG3 has a white girlfriend or if he's a Republican. They care about if he's truly better than fellow rookie QBs Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson. They care about his ability to bounce back à la Adrian Peterson from an ACL injury in time for the start of the 2013 season. Those are the hard-hitting issues ESPN should stick to tackling instead of diving into race relations in this so-called post-racial world we're living in today.
Nobody is saying Parker and others can't have the discussion on whether Griffin and other black athletes are "sell outs." Like anything, there's a time and place to have such discussions. If Parker wanted to make the case that Griffin is somehow a "sell out," then by all means have that conversation at the barbershop. But spewing one's own misguided and uninformed agenda on the biggest sports network in the world? Wrong place, wrong time.
Those discussions have been happening for years and will continue on long after Griffin's NFL career. But there's a reason why a network hasn't decided to host a sports talk show from a barbershop. Not everything that's debated needs to happen in front of a camera for the world to see.
Fortunately for Parker, he has nothing but free time now to lead those hard-hitting race discussions at the local barbershop.
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ESPN fires commentator Parker
The SportsXchangeESPN announced Tuesday that it fired commentator Rob Parker, who was on suspension for comments he …
Russell Wilson and Robert Griffin III
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All Comments 126 comments Popular Now Newest Oldest Most Replied v1/comments/context/e027821b-9db7-31c2-8483-f595dc3eff27/comment/1357772158519-41dc800c-d020-4d81-8b3e-f3c892adaea0 D D • 6 days ago As I always say...imagine if a white person made comments about a white person dating a black person. Fired...on the spot...just minutes before Al Sharpton and Jesse Jack*** made it into town v1/comments/context/e027821b-9db7-31c2-8483-f595dc3eff27/comment/1357772158519-41dc800c-d020-4d81-8b3e-f3c892adaea0/reply/00012b000000000000000000000000-1894e423-2342-4999-aa49-e49a0f8f03d4 BillRob Parker, ESPN Part Ways: Contract Not Renewed After RG3 'Cornball Brother' Comments
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Rob Parker, ESPN Part Ways: Contract Not Renewed After RG3 'Cornball Brother' Comments
Posted: 01/09/2013 8:54 am EST | Updated: 01/09/2013 3:12 pm EST
reddit stumble Contribute to this Story: Send us a tip Send us a photo or video Suggest a correction FOLLOW SPORTS Like 27k Get Alerts From our partners PHOTOS: Sexiest NFL Cheerleader Outfits Ever - Bleacher Report 100 Worst Things In Sports - Bleacher Report The Most Epic Hair In Sports History - Bleacher Report View All Favorites Recency | Popularity Page: 1 2 3 4 5 Next › Last » (17 total) Olin T Flowers 16 Fans 14 hours ago ( 8:19 PM) One less crab in the barrel. Good ridden. Olin_T_Flowers: One less crab in the barrel. Good ridden. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Olin_T_Flowers/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_221860006.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… knishinnyc 43 Fans 10:43 PM on 01/13/2013 Surprised he didn't just call him an "oreo" outright. knishinnyc: Surprised he didn't just call him an "oreo" outright. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/knishinnyc/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_221625910.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… discgolfur Your micro bio was not approved 528 Fans 07:08 PM on 01/13/2013 I don't really care about him, but wasn't Rob Parkers' JOB to make controversial comments and then defend the indefensible? If that causes a person to be let go, how does Bayless have a job? On the other hand, Mussberger's job is not to ogle girls less than 1/3 his age. I have a real problem with ESPN... again. discgolfur: I don't really care about him, but wasn't Rob Parkers' http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/discgolfur/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_221592818.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… FredFrederson 25 Fans 07:05 PM on 01/13/2013 He really make a great point. Too many black men these days are only concerned with working hard, taking care of their families and contributing to their community. Too few of them are concerned with whatever "our cause" is. FredFrederson: He really make a great point. Too many black men http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/FredFrederson/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_221592389.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR Jewish Guy Wherever Israel stands, I stand! 113 Fans 06:16 PM on 01/13/2013 I don't understand how this guy ever made it to TV anyway. I hope his career is over! Jewish_Guy: I don't understand how this guy ever made it to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Jewish_Guy/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_221583008.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… gregbowman 0 Fans 05:24 PM on 01/11/2013 I'm white Middle Aged Republican and about as far end of the spectrum as Rob Parker can be but I'm all for is right to say it. Republicans had a fit and called out ESPN when they fired Rush and this is just as bad. ESPN is a joke gregbowman: I'm white Middle Aged Republican and about as far end http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gregbowman/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_221082313.html History | Permalink | Share it HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR Jewish Guy Wherever Israel stands, I stand! 113 Fans 06:18 PM on 01/13/2013 Rush was actually correct, that the media gave black QB's a break in their coverage, especially McNabb. But Parker's remarks were plain ole racist! Jewish_Guy: Rush was actually correct, that the media gave black QB's http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Jewish_Guy/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_221583314.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… HUFFPOST SUPER USER Sistagirl Young 709 Fans 04:06 PM on 01/11/2013 look, ain't no body more judgemental about people of color," than "people of color." I know. I am a woman of color. So what can another person of color tell me?!? It's a black thang...and 'we" know it. So don't pretend otherwise. "We" got Alex Wek and we also got Beyonce. Who is on the cover of "every' publication? Come on now. Pigmentation and hair texture. Who wins hands down?!? How many young Sista's want to be Sista Alek? If Sista B get's any lighter, she won't even be black and I know she is. But we like to "perpetuate"what we like to "perpetuate." That's it and that's that. So sue me. Good luck with that. In the immortal words of Billy Preston: "Nothin' From Nothin', Leaves...what?!? There it is. Life. Sistagirl_Young: look, ain't no body more judgemental about people of color," http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Sistagirl_Young/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_221059462.html History | Permalink | Share it Brick81 4 Fans 01:56 AM on 01/13/2013 Thank you! Maybe its a generational thing? Brick81: Thank you! Maybe its a generational thing? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Brick81/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_221434909.html History | Permalink | Share it HUFFPOST SUPER USER Sistagirl Young 709 Fans 04:56 AM on 01/13/2013 Hello Brick81; I truly am in awe of us as a race of people. Through all we've been through from slavey onward we've maintained because our spirit would not be broken. We had to have an indomitable will to survive...and we did snd still have. I think our younger generation needs to "know" more about "our" history. I am proud to be a "woman of color. The only one who can tell us what we cannot do is us. It's been proven in the past. It's up to our future generations to recognize this. A few have been side tracked by the search for fame and fortune. not all will achieve such. But pride in one's heritage should never be obliterated. If one believes in themself, that's a wonderful start. Life. Sistagirl_Young: Hello Brick81; I truly am in awe of us as http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Sistagirl_Young/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_221447692.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… Ohmy 22 3 Fans 01:01 AM on 01/14/2013 I agree, check out the AT&T commercial with Venus and Serena Williams, they made them look almost White. Both of them are dark skin blacks, especially Serena. Ohmy_22: I agree, check out the AT&T commercial with Venus and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Ohmy_22/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_221642254.html History | Permalink | Share it HUFFPOST SUPER USER Sistagirl Young 709 Fans 24 hours ago (10:33 AM) Hello Ohmy22; I suppose AT&T thought it a good idea to use people of color if they didn't have "too" much color. But then from what you've said, I guess they thought people of color wouldn't notice. All people of color don't fall under the Beyonce and Halle pigmentation. And that is "our" beauty. We run the gamut in hues. Some melanin-challenged folk "still" have a problem with this. Shucks, "some" of us, "still" have a problem with it. Thank you for sharing. Life. Sistagirl_Young: Hello Ohmy22; I suppose AT&T thought it a good idea http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Sistagirl_Young/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_221692325.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… HUFFPOST SUPER USER dre31 144 Fans 11:15 AM on 01/11/2013 I guess you see now whose the corn ball Rob, YOU!!!!!!!!!!! dre31: I guess you see now whose the corn ball Rob, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/dre31/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_220963673.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… HUFFPOST SUPER USER Darryl London Wide awake in America. 108 Fans 07:55 AM on 01/11/2013 Rob Parker, the most recent "corn-ball brother" looking for a J-O-B! Darryl_London: Rob Parker, the most recent "corn-ball brother" looking for a http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Darryl_London/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_220913589.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… butchcliff The future is unwritten 195 Fans 04:54 AM on 01/11/2013 Telling words...he's black but he's not really down with the cause. Pretty divisive rhetoric butchcliff: Telling words...he's black but he's not really down with the http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/butchcliff/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_220897027.html History | Permalink | Share it HUFFPOST SUPER USER Anger Managed "I don't like me when I'm angry" 67 Fans 12:29 AM on 01/12/2013 But is it true?#ThatIsThe64,000DollarQuestion
Anger_Managed: But is it true? #ThatIsThe64,000DollarQuestion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Anger_Managed/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_221179451.html
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butchcliff
The future is unwritten
195 Fans
05:25 AM on 01/13/2013
That's what the article says he said
butchcliff: That's what the article says he said
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/butchcliff/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_221449114.html
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
lsp19645
27 Fans
03:49 AM on 01/11/2013
How many brothers do you know name Rob ?
lsp19645: How many brothers do you know name Rob ?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/lsp19645/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_220892763.html
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lsp19645
27 Fans
03:43 AM on 01/11/2013
How many brothers do you know name Rob ? To me was a uncle tom. What has this
become when black people cant talk about other blacks. The whiteman love us.
lsp19645: How many brothers do you know name Rob ? To
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/lsp19645/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_220892262.html
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ApprxAm
Oh, dam_…the dam is broke!
438 Fans
09:47 PM on 01/10/2013
Bye, Rob.
ApprxAm: Bye, Rob.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/ApprxAm/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_220834890.html
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Ray Mehan
115 Fans
09:27 PM on 01/10/2013
I thought blacks couldn't be racist?
He's just a typical ......
Ray_Mehan: I thought blacks couldn't be racist? He's just a typical
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Ray_Mehan/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_220829863.html
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Beatlearl
Strawberry Fields Forever
87 Fans
09:07 PM on 01/10/2013
From the looks of it the PC police from the right felt uncomfortable with this.
Beatlearl: From the looks of it the PC police from the
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Beatlearl/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446_220824643.html
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See All Highlights +Highlight this! HUFFPOST'S BIG NEWS PAGES HuffPost Tastemakers: Ottolenghi's Insights On Walmart Tastemakers Joe Scarborough: Republicans Can Pass Gun Control Or Lose House In Two Years (VIDEO) Morning Joe Mark Willis, Reince Priebus Challenger, Jumps Into RNC Race, Declares War On 'Pricey Consultants' Eat The Press South Korea Thinks North Korea Is Behind Cyberattack On Seoul Newspaper Last Year Newspapers Retirement Age Should Be Pushed To 70, Some CEOs Say Retirement Amber Rose Married To Wiz Khalifa? Celebrity Weddings 'Star Wars' Fan Site Responds To Obama Rejection Of Death Star Star Wars Big Brains, Small Films: From Pac-Man to PCs (VIDEO) Games Pep Guardiola To Bayern Munich: Former Barcelona Manager To Replace Jupp Heynckes Soccer more big news pages » Advertise | Make HuffPost your Home Page | RSS | Careers | FAQ User Agreement | Privacy | Comment Policy | About Us | About Our Ads | Contact Us Copyright © 2013 TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. | "The Huffington Post" is a registered trademark of TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. All rights reserved. Part of Sporting News on AOL HuffPost LightboxRob Parker (sports journalist) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rob Parker (sports journalist)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Rob Parker
Born
(1964-01-10) January 10, 1964 (age 49)
Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S.
Occupation
Sports columnist, TV sports anchor
Years active
1986(?)-present
This article may need to be rewritten entirely to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. You can help. The discussion page may contain suggestions. (December 2012)
Rob Parker (born January 10, 1964) is an American sports columnist with ClickOnDetroit.com and a regular commentator on WDIV-TV Local 4 Sports Final Edition.[1]
Contents 1 Career 1.1 Print 1.2 Radio 1.3 Television 2 Controversies 2.1 Michigan State Fight (October 2008) 2.2 Rod Marinelli Question (December 2008) 2.3 Comments on Robert Griffin III (December 2012) 3 References 4 External links [edit] CareerParker received a B.S. in journalism from Southern Connecticut State University and a Master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.[2]
[edit] PrintHe was the first black sports columnist at the Detroit Free Press in 1993[2] and the first black general sports columnist at Newsday in New York in 1995.[3] Parker has also written for The Detroit News ,The Times Leader in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the Daily News in New York and The Cincinnati Enquirer.[2]
[edit] RadioParker was the first-ever host on the WDFN sports radio station in Detroit in 1994.[citation needed] He subsequently hosted the sports-talk radio show, “Parker and The Man’’ with Mark Wilson for a decade on various stations. Parker also had a show[when?] on ESPN radio in New York.
[edit] TelevisionHe has worked at WDIV-TV in Detroit since 1993.[citation needed] Parker was hired on at ESPN in 2003. He was a regular on ESPN's First Take, where he debated controversial sports topics with Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith. He also appeared on ESPN's Numbers Never Lie with Michael Smith. Parker also hosted a TV show called "Sports Rap" on WADL in Detroit with Detroit Lions safety Ron Rice.
[edit] ControversiesParker once penned a much-maligned column where he called Hank Aaron a "coward" for declining to attend when Barry Bonds would break the career home run record.[4][dead link] [5]
[edit] Michigan State Fight (October 2008)In October 2008, Parker erroneously reported that Kirk Cousins, a quarterback for the Michigan State Spartans, was involved in a fight with members of the Michigan State hockey team. After being publicly reproved by head coach Mark Dantonio at his weekly news conference, Parker was suspended by The Detroit News for two weeks.[6]
[edit] Rod Marinelli Question (December 2008)On December 21, 2008, at a press conference following the Lions' 42–7 loss to the New Orleans Saints, during the Detroit Lions historic 0-16 season, Rob Parker caused controversy when he addressed a question at Lions head coach Rod Marinelli about Lions defensive coordinator Joe Barry, Marinelli's son-in-law, inquiring whether Marinelli wished that his daughter had "married a better defensive coordinator."[7] The question was criticized as unprofessional and inappropriate. The next day, Parker wrote that the comment was "an attempt at humor" and not a malicious attack.[8] On January 6, 2009, The Detroit News announced that Parker had resigned from the newspaper the previous week.[9]
[edit] Comments on Robert Griffin III (December 2012)On December 13, 2012, on First Take, Parker made controversial remarks relating to Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III during a segment discussing Griffin's comment at an earlier press conference that although he was an African-American, he did not want to be defined by that alone.[10] Parker stated that these words were a "red flag" for him and asked "Is he a brother, or is he a cornball brother?” When asked to explain what he meant by this, he stated: "He's not real. OK, he's black, he kind of does the thing, but he's not really down with the cause. He's not one of us. He's kind of black but he's not really, like, the guy you want to hang out with because he's off to something else." Parker then cited Griffin having a white fiancee and "talk about how he's a Republican" (though he acknowledged having no information to support this)[11]
Later that day, ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys said that Parker's comments "were inappropriate and we are evaluating our next steps."[12] ESPN announced on December 20, 2012 that Parker would be suspended for 30 days.[13][14] Parker expressed surprise at the reaction to his comments, stating "Looking back on some of the comments, I can see where people could take it out of context and run with it. But the response and what happened over the past 30 days is just shocking." [15] ESPN announced on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, that they will not renew Parker's contract after it expired at the end of 2012.[16]
[edit] References ^ "Rob Parker: CONFIDENTIAL". http://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/parkersconfidential. Retrieved January 9, 2013. ^ a b c "Rob Parker (Biography)". Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association. http://dsba1.org/staff/joe-pendergrass/. Retrieved January 9, 2013. ^ Wolper, Allan (May 20, 1995). "Racial Strife At Newsday?". Editor & Publisher. http://www.editorandpublisher.com/TopStories/Article/Racial-Strife-At-Newsday-p-14. Retrieved January 9, 2013. ^ Parker, Rob (2007-04-20). "Shame on Aaron for not being supportive of Bonds". Detroit News. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070420/SPORTS08/704200362/1343. ^ Raissman, Bob (2012-12-16). "THE FALL GUY: If ESPN cans Rob Parker for his absurd comments on Robert Griffin III, he shouldn't be the only one". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/raissman-parker-shouldn-fall-guy-espn-article-1.1220983. Retrieved 2013-01-14. ^ Chandler, Rick (2008-10-29). "A Detroit Columnist Caught Making Stuff Up? Surely Not". Deadspin. http://deadspin.com/5070391/a-detroit-columnist-caught-making-stuff-up-surely-not. Retrieved 2008-12-22. ^ "Parker Says Question to Marinelli Wasn't 'Personal Attack'". ESPN. 2008-12-23. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3787809. ^ Parker, Rob (2008-12-22). "There's more to Marinelli". The Detroit News. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081222/OPINION03/812220369/1386/OPINION0314. Retrieved 2008-12-22. ^ Detroit News Columnist Who Insulted Coach Quits SI.com, January 6, 2009 ^ Steinberg, Dan. "Rob Parker on RGIII’s blackness." The Washington Post 13 Dec. 2012. 13 Dec. 2012 [1] ^ ESPN's Rob Parker on RGIII: 'Is he a brother or is he a cornball brother?' ^ http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/redskins/2012/12/13/robert-griffin-iii-washington-redskins-rob-parker/1768501/ ^ ESPN suspends Rob Parker over Robert Griffin III comments - ESPN ^ Rob Parker suspended by ESPN for 30 days - ESPN ^ http://www.freep.com/article/20130107/SPORTS18/130107052/rob-parker-robert-griffin-iii-rgiii-espn ^ http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/8825796/rob-parker-contract-not-renewed-espnBORN 1960-1961[which?]
[edit] External links Rob Parker bio at ClickOnDetroit Rob Parker at the Internet Movie Database Persondata Name Parker, Rob Alternative names Short description American journalist Date of birth January 18, 1964 Place of birth Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S. Date of death Place of death Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rob_Parker_(sports_journalist)&oldid=533082169" Categories: American journalistsAmerican sports radio personalitiesSportspeople from Detroit, MichiganSportspeople from QueensAfrican-American sports journalists1964 birthsLiving peopleHidden categories: Articles with hCardsWikipedia articles needing rewrite from December 2012All articles with unsourced statementsArticles with unsourced statements from January 2013Vague or ambiguous time from January 2013All articles with dead external linksArticles with dead external links from January 2013All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrasesArticles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from January 2013 Navigation menu Personal tools Create accountLog in Namespaces Article Talk Variants Views Read Edit View history Actions Search Navigation Main page Contents Featured content Current events Random article Donate to Wikipedia Interaction Help About Wikipedia Community portal Recent changes Contact Wikipedia Toolbox What links here Related changes Upload file Special pages Permanent link Page information Cite this page Print/export Create a bookDownload as PDFPrintable version This page was last modified on 14 January 2013 at 20:07.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
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Sources:
- https://twitter.com/RobParkerESPN
- http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/08/espn-fires-rob-parker/
- http://newsbusters.org/blogs/matthew-sheffield/2013/01/09/espn-drops-racial-loudmouth-rob-parker
- http://deadspin.com/5974231/rob-parker-is-out-at-espn
- http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/the-turnstile/rob-parker-done-espn-190023773.html
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/09/rob-parker-espn-contract-rg3_n_2438446.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Parker_(sports_journalist)
