Posted on 07/25/2006 12:26:49 PM PDT by raccoonradio
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
They are invoking the rarely used ... "only one former first round draft pick that was an outfielder from the 1980's by the Mariner's rule" and making way for Tino Martinez (88). Reynolds was the Mariners first round draft choice in 80.
Tino of course will only hold the spot until Ken Griffey Jr (87) retires and ESPN has to invoke the rule again.
Harold is smooth - perhaps too much for his own good.
No way - not in the middle of the season. There has to be something behind the scenes here that they cannot disclose for legal reasons. They didn't fire Michael Irvin last year when he was busted for drug possession (for theumpteenth time!).
His suit and tie combos are impeccable. Definitely Italian designer stuff.
It's a shame. He was the best guy on BBTN. Probably some unsubstantiated allegation about sexual harrassment. It also could be a PC infringement, but HR has some PC antibiotics given that he's black.
Is everyone on this site nuts? Harold Reynolds was awful and half the time his points made no sense. And on top of it he had the delivery of OJ Simpson; he couldn't talk well!
Sorry, he sucked.
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