Offendable Suspension

Unless you’ve been under a rock for about a week, ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser has been suspended from “Pardon the Interruption” because he made a comment about the way ESPN anchor Hannah Storm dressed during an episode of SportsCenter on his radio show.  His exact words were – and I quote:

“Hannah Storm in a horrifying, horrifying outfit today. She’s got on red go-go boots and a Catholic-school plaid skirt. Way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now. She’s got on her typically very, very tight shirt. She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body. I know she’s very good, and I’m not supposed to be critical of ESPN people, So I won’t. But Hannah Storm, Come on now! Stop! What are you doing? She’s what I would call a Holden Caulfield fantasy at this point.”

The very next day, Tony said the following in an effort to calm the flames:

“I apologize, unequivocally … I’m a sarcastic, subversive guy … I’m a troll, look at me. I have no right to insult what anybody looks like or what anybody wears. That, I think, should go without saying.” Hannah was cordial, and said, “maybe you should take this …you have a following, maybe you should take this as food for thought.”

He also called and talked to her to apologize personally.  Now, one would assume that this would be enough for the Worldwide “Leader,” but I guess it wasn’t, because they decided to suspend the traditionally cantankerous host for what they deemed inappropriate comments.

Kornheiser himself addressed the situation on Tuesday, saying:

“As a result of this, I have been sent to sidelines from PTI for a while and when I’m allowed back on PTI, I will happily go back because I love the PTI show and love all the people on the PTI show…It seems to me that, without any question, I broke the rules and this is the punishment that’s come.”

Now, let me go on record as saying I don’t agree with the suspension under any circumstances.  And, if they did feel it right to suspend him, they did it from the wrong medium.  One would assume that if you’re going to suspend someone from saying something on radio, you suspend them…FROM RADIO!  Not from TV!  Also, I can’t help but agree with the comments he made in some fashion.  If you compare Hannah Storm’s attire to Sage Steele, it’s not a fair comparison.  I think I’ll let the picture speak for itself:

One is dressed for going to a professional workplace, and one is dressed to go to the club.  In my opinion, it’s just not a good look.  Of course, I’m not the best dresser in the world, but I do know to dress tactfully in the workplace.  Hopefully, this controversy will help Mrs. Storm follow suit.

It’ll only end up making things easier for everyone in the long run.