Rob Parker's RGIII Comments Cost Him His ESPN Deal
If Robert Griffin III's knee was the first casualty of the Redskins offseason, consider this the second: ESPN's show First Take will be looking for a new commentator and perhaps a new columnist — someone who won't call black athletes "cornball brothers." Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch has the scoop:
ESPN just notice to a group of reporters: Rob Parker's contract will not be renewed.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) January 8, 2013
And John Ourand, the media reporter for Sports Business Journal, has more specifics:
ESPN: "Rob Parker’s contract expired at year’s end. Evaluating our needs and his work...we decided not to renew his deal."
— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) January 8, 2013
Technically, they didn't fire him for his comments. But Parker will now likely never work for the worldwide leader again, after ESPN suspended him for his December 13 comments. Last year, ESPN had no qualms about cutting editor Anthony Federico after he published that now infamous Jeremy Lin "Chink in the Armor" headline. But someone paid for their opinions is different than a website producer. Now if only RGIII's ACL could get away easy.
