A local sports talk radio host was suspended for calling a female ESPN analyst (first female baseball analyst in ESPN history)--"Tits McGhee" --because he didn't think she was qualified (ie, had never played baseball, only softball) to cover a baseball game and he thinks only professionals or former professionals of a sport should be used as commentators.
(Screenshots of the actual tweets don't show in the c&p)
Radio host Mike Bell suspended three days after sexist ‘Anchorman’ insult on Twitter
October 7, 2015 | Filed in: Television.
COMMENTS 182
Mike Bell got into a Twitter war during and after the Yankees/Astros playoff game. CREDIT: Twitter
By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Wednesday, October 7, 2015
On Twitter Tuesday night, 92.9/The Game afternoon host Mike Bell used a sexist “Anchorman” insult against a female baseball analyst on ESPN during a playoff game, resulting in a bit of Twitter war. He eventually deleted the original Tweet and apologized after more than two hours of arguing with offended folks on Twitter about it. On Wednesday afternoon, he was suspended until Monday, October 12.
UPDATE: 2:07 p.m. October 7: Bell read a pre-taped statement on the air on 92.9/The Game apologizing for his actions. He apologized to his colleagues, advertisers, the sports teams that work with the Game and his co-host Carl Dukes. “I didn’t get it,” he said. “I get it now. There is no place for that kind of stuff on my show. I will be more mindful. I hope I can be a better talk show host and better person. This has been an eye-opening experience.” Dukes then added that he didn’t agree with Bell’s opinion but they are still “best friends” and Bell will return. Bell has been suspended for the rest of the week. John Michaels is covering for him. Program director Terry Foxx said Bell will be back on Monday, October 12.
He was annoyed with Jessica Mendoza, the first female baseball analyst in ESPN history, who was providing her thoughts during the New York Yankees/Houston Astros playoff game Tuesday night. She is a two-time gold medal winner in softball.
Bell’s beef is he thinks color commentators should be professionals or former professionals from that particular sport, as in Major League Baseball. He doesn’t see softball as the same as baseball.
But he made his complaint in a rather crass way, referencing a joke from the 2004 film “Anchorman” where Ron Burgundy changed the script so an announcer called his female co-anchor Veronica Cornerstone using a word for breast I really can’t use here myself (but will include in the Tweets) that rhymes with bits, with McGhee added on it. (How awkward was that?)
This following poll was posted before the suspension but feel free to take it anyway:
Should Bell be punished in any way?
No. He apologized. Move on.
Yes. A suspension might knock some sense into him.
Fire him! This is beyond the pale!
Vote
View ResultsPolldaddy.com
Though Bell deleted the original Tweet, someone sent me a copy they had saved. I blurred out part of the offensive word:
Mike Bell mcghee blurred more
Here’s a sampling of some of his defenses:
Mike Bell arse
Mike Bell tweets 1Mike Bell insults
After several hours of back and forth, he finally gave in and posted this (and he repeated the insult, where I again blurred out part of it):
Mike Bell apology blurrierKeri Potts, an ESPN publicist, .cced me on the situation last night on Twitter and other media outlets picked up on it as well, including Yahoo Sports and Huffington Post.
Bell is a veteran sports talk host in town, spending most of his years at the now defunct 790/The Zone. He joined 92.9/The Game in the summer of 2014 soon after the Zone dropped all its local hosts and is paired up with Carl Dukes.
He has always fashioned himself as a kid at heart. His Twitter descriptive is apt: “I’m a 12 year old with a driver’s license, just here to have fun. I dig horsepower, ribeyes & brown liquor.” His portrait photo? The Rat Pack.
Bell did not respond this morning to comment about the situation. I presume his statement on air today will be all until he returns.
He has also taken himself off Twitter. His @mikebell929 is no longer online for now. A former 92.9/The Game host and now NBA-TV host Kristen Ledlow posted the following:
Yup. He wasn't attacking her because she didn't know her stuff. He was attacking her because she was female, and as such used a sexual comment in his put down.
Somebody who didn't play the sport should never be a commentator?? The fuck? So people who made a career in broadcasting just don't...exist??
I just wiki'd color commentators and just start clicking on the list of names and the second damn one I clicked on never played. And yet nobody is calling THIS DUDE tits.
UPDATE: 2:07 p.m. October 7: Bell read a pre-taped statement on the air on 92.9/The Game apologizing for his actions. He apologized to his colleagues, advertisers, the sports teams that work with the Game and his co-host Carl Dukes. “I didn’t get it,” he said. “I get it now. There is no place for that kind of stuff on my show. I will be more mindful. I hope I can be a better talk show host and better person. This has been an eye-opening experience.”
Wait a minute. Did he apologize to Jessica Mendoza?
Post by tacosforlife on Oct 8, 2015 9:19:37 GMT -5
Absolutely he should have been suspended. Plenty of baseball announcers have never played baseball, especially professionally. By focusing on her female anatomy, he's clearly showing that he has a problem with her sex, not with her qualifications or job performance.
"He was annoyed with Jessica Mendoza, the first female baseball analyst in ESPN history, who was providing her thoughts during the New York Yankees/Houston Astros playoff game Tuesday night. She is a two-time gold medal winner in softball.
Bell’s beef is he thinks color commentators should be professionals or former professionals from that particular sport, as in Major League Baseball. He doesn’t see softball as the same as baseball. "
And isn't sexism is the whole reason that softball was created separately from baseball in the first place, and a big part of the reason that people don't take it at seriously as baseball? Mendoza hasn't played professionally because sexism has prevented the development of a professional league for her sport. She's as much of a professional player as she's allowed to be within established social confines, and is thus just as qualified as any male baseball player to be a commentator. She's certainly more knowledgeable about the sport than the millions of Average Joe Baseball Fans who spend so much time listening to sports commentators.
UPDATE: 2:07 p.m. October 7: Bell read a pre-taped statement on the air on 92.9/The Game apologizing for his actions. He apologized to his colleagues, advertisers, the sports teams that work with the Game and his co-host Carl Dukes. “I didn’t get it,” he said. “I get it now. There is no place for that kind of stuff on my show. I will be more mindful. I hope I can be a better talk show host and better person. This has been an eye-opening experience.”
Wait a minute. Did he apologize to Jessica Mendoza?
Not sure if he apologized directly to her or just in general.
As some of you may have heard, I said something really stupid on Twitter last night directed at Jessica Mendoza, the analyst on last nights ESPN Wild Card broadcast. What I said was hurtful and I want to take this opportunity to say to Jessica that what I said was dumb and hurtful and I apologize for putting that garbage on Twitter. I have reached out to ESPN so I can have the opportunity to speak with her and hopefully apologize to her in person.
As someone who knows how hard it is to get a career in sports broadcasting started, I know what I said was totally insensitive and demeaning to Jessica and to all the women working in this industry, including the many women I work with here at CBS Radio Atlanta, who I also owe a big apology to.
The last thing I wanted to do was create drama for my coworkers who, unfortunately, get tainted because of my stupid remarks, and have to answer questions about what I said. I especially want to apologize to my partner Carl Dukes, who now has to deal with the fallout of my screw up.
I also want to express my apologies to our advertisers and sponsors, and to our sports team partners. They have all made a commitment to this radio station and I let them all down big-time.
Moving forward, I can honestly tell you that I fully understand how hurtful the things I say on-air and social media can be. There is no place for that kind of stuff on our show. I will be more mindful and respectful in how I express my opinions and hope I become a better talk show host, but more importantly a better person.
This has been a real eye-opening experience and I hope I can put the lesson learned from it to good use.
And I read somewhere yesterday that before the game on Tuesday night she told someone she was never going to search her name on Twitter again. And this was BEFORE this asshole said anything.
And what kills me is that she has been doing the ESPN Sunday Baseball broadcasts since they suspended Schilling for calling Muslims Nazis. So people who are all up in arms about a woman color commentator (who didn't play baseball) obviously do not watch all that much baseball if they did not realize she was a commentator until the other night.
Post by captainobvious on Oct 8, 2015 10:51:18 GMT -5
SHE WON A FUCKING GOLD MEDAL IN SOFTBALL WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME SPORT. What more does he want? I bet he has no issue with Joe Buck, despite his never having played.
Absolutely worthy of suspension. He made repeated comments that were based on nothing except her sex. There really is not much difference between softball and baseball. The strategy is basically the same. She certainly has the skill and knowledge to speak well about baseball.
Besides, Tim McCarver and Joe Morgan actually played, and they are two of the worst commentators ever.
And I read somewhere yesterday that before the game on Tuesday night she told someone she was never going to search her name on Twitter again. And this was BEFORE this asshole said anything.
And what kills me is that she has been doing the ESPN Sunday Baseball broadcasts since they suspended Schilling for calling Muslims Nazis. So people who are all up in arms about a woman color commentator (who didn't play baseball) obviously do not watch all that much baseball if they did not realize she was a commentator until the other night.
WHAT.
How did I miss THAT???
OMG, that is so disillusioning. We always liked Schilling. :-(
"He was annoyed with Jessica Mendoza, the first female baseball analyst in ESPN history, who was providing her thoughts during the New York Yankees/Houston Astros playoff game Tuesday night. She is a two-time gold medal winner in softball.
Bell’s beef is he thinks color commentators should be professionals or former professionals from that particular sport, as in Major League Baseball. He doesn’t see softball as the same as baseball. "
And isn't sexism is the whole reason that softball was created separately from baseball in the first place, and a big part of the reason that people don't take it at seriously as baseball? Mendoza hasn't played professionally because sexism has prevented the development of a professional league for her sport. She's as much of a professional player as she's allowed to be within established social confines, and is thus just as qualified as any male baseball player to be a commentator. She's certainly more knowledgeable about the sport than the millions of Average Joe Baseball Fans who spend so much time listening to sports commentators.
There is a women's professional softball league. It has been in existence in various forms since 1997. I used to work for a team. One reason is hasn't flourished is because it is boring! The players are talented but it is very different than professional baseball ( I worked in baseball as well).
"He was annoyed with Jessica Mendoza, the first female baseball analyst in ESPN history, who was providing her thoughts during the New York Yankees/Houston Astros playoff game Tuesday night. She is a two-time gold medal winner in softball.
Bell’s beef is he thinks color commentators should be professionals or former professionals from that particular sport, as in Major League Baseball. He doesn’t see softball as the same as baseball. "
And isn't sexism is the whole reason that softball was created separately from baseball in the first place, and a big part of the reason that people don't take it at seriously as baseball? Mendoza hasn't played professionally because sexism has prevented the development of a professional league for her sport. She's as much of a professional player as she's allowed to be within established social confines, and is thus just as qualified as any male baseball player to be a commentator. She's certainly more knowledgeable about the sport than the millions of Average Joe Baseball Fans who spend so much time listening to sports commentators.
There is a women's professional softball league. It has been in existence in various forms since 1997. I used to work for a team. One reason is hasn't flourished is because it is boring! The players are talented but it is very different than professional baseball ( I worked in baseball as well).
How is it more boring than baseball? I have sat through a number of amateur softball games of varying levels of skill (my mom played most of my childhood) and it always struck me as just about the exact same amount of boring as baseball. Ball is bigger. Dimensions of field are slightly different. They throw a different way. How does that substantially change the level of interest one can sustain in the game? Is there more I never noticed since I'm not a huge fan of either sport?
And I read somewhere yesterday that before the game on Tuesday night she told someone she was never going to search her name on Twitter again. And this was BEFORE this asshole said anything.
And what kills me is that she has been doing the ESPN Sunday Baseball broadcasts since they suspended Schilling for calling Muslims Nazis. So people who are all up in arms about a woman color commentator (who didn't play baseball) obviously do not watch all that much baseball if they did not realize she was a commentator until the other night.
Schilling what?? How did I miss this???
Granted, he's an ass and that whole game thing killed his rep and o had no idea how he got another job.
There are also several sock doubters (even if they appreciate the win, they are still suspicious)