ESPN has made it clear, that radio and TV personalities will not be allowed to have any intelligent or frank conversations about Ray Rice and Domestic Violence. If you dare try to have an independent thought that isn’t PC you are going to get suspended or punished.
You can’t talk bad about or troll LeBron (unless you are Skip Bayless) either without being suspended. Basically, if you work for ESPN you are being censored, it is the gift and the curse of working for the World Wide Leader.
Max Kellerman was the latest to find that out via NY Daily News.
The Daily News has learned ESPN has suspended Max Kellerman for an inappropriate conversation on ESPN-LA Radio surrounding Ray Rice and domestic abuse. Kellerman co-hosts a show on the station and is the co-anchor of ESPN TV’s “SportsNation.” He is also HBO Sports’ lead boxing analyst.
On the “Mason & Ireland “show, which leads into his afternoon-drive program, Kellerman admitted to hitting his girlfriend many years ago.
The conversation in question took place Monday afternoon, three days after Stephen A. Smith was suspended for saying women should be careful not to “provoke” any incident of abuse. On ESPN-LA Kellerman told a story going back years when he and his then girlfriend Erin, who now his wife, attended a college party.
Kellerman said they both had to drink much too. He said when he tried getting things under control his then girlfriend slapped him. Kellerman said he slapped her back. He was quick to tell listeners that the woman is now is his wife and they have been happily married for 20 years.
Industry sources said while the content of his story was disturbing, the suspension was all about Kellerman, who once worked for ESPN New York Radio, not adhering to ESPN brass’ warning concerning the Rice topic being a highly sensitive one. “My understanding is that it was part of a larger conversation ESPN had with all its on-air people,” a radio industry source said. “Kellerman obviously didn’t pay attention.”
First off, what exactly did he say wrong?
20 years ago he and his wife got into a fight, people aren’t perfect, it happens they got over it. In the context of Ray Rice, I understand exactly what Kellerman was trying to say. It wasn’t inflammatory, it gave some depth to a topic, that people are scared to talk about. It is ok if you don’t agree with it, but he should be allowed to speak on it.
The irony of course is Kellerman Co-Host Sports Nation with Michelle Beadle who publicly called out Stephen A. Smith. She is currently on vacation.
