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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Harold Reynolds, ESPN settle ‘wrongful termination’ lawsuit

Harold Reynolds and ESPN have settled Reynolds’ “wrongful termination” lawsuit, which he filed after being fired by ESPN in 2006 after 11 years as an on-air analyst.

ESPN, which fired Reynolds in July 2006 as their baseball analyst on Baseball Tonight, was scheduled to go to trial with Reynolds in February 2009.

Reynolds claimed he was wrongly fired after a female intern complained about what he called a “brief and innocuous” hug.

Details will remain private. But Reynolds, in a statement, says that “my wife and I are very happy to have achieved an amicable settlement with ESPN. I feel my goals were satisfied, and I look forward now to concentrating on the game I love.”

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Repoz Posted: April 16, 2008 at 12:23 AM | 24 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: announcers, television

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   1. Rich Rifkin I Posted: April 16, 2008 at 12:52 AM (#2745451)
"Reynolds claimed he was wrongly fired after a female intern complained about what he called a “brief and innocuous” hug."

Brad Pitt hugs her: "Wow, you're so cute!"

Harold Reynolds hugs her: "Ick. Sexual harrassment."

Chris Berman hugs her: "Rape!"

John Kruk hugs her: "You do have one nut."

Eric Young hugs her: "I'm sorry. I can't understand anything you say."
   2. AJM Posted: April 16, 2008 at 01:08 AM (#2745499)
Brad Pitt hugs her: "Wow, you're so cute!"

Harold Reynolds hugs her: "Ick. Sexual harrassment."


Reminds me of a Chris Rock joke, "what's sexual harrassment, when an ugly guy wants some?"
   3. oscar gamble's afro pick Posted: April 16, 2008 at 01:51 AM (#2745653)
that Chris Rock's a funny guy--and he sure understands chicks!
   4. Phil Coorey. Posted: April 16, 2008 at 02:18 AM (#2745758)
Good for Harold.
   5. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: April 16, 2008 at 02:47 AM (#2745832)
Reminds me of a Chris Rock joke, "what's sexual harrassment, when an ugly guy wants some?"


That's a very nice ha-ha-only-serious. Way too much truth there for general comfort.
   6. tfbg9 Posted: April 16, 2008 at 03:13 AM (#2745857)
I think the actual line goes "Sexual haraassment is when an ugly guy asks you out at work."
   7. Robert S. Posted: April 16, 2008 at 03:16 AM (#2745858)
I hope H.R. gets a lifetime supply of double-breasted pinstriped suits.
   8. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: April 16, 2008 at 04:16 AM (#2745884)
Reminds me of a Chris Rock joke, "what's sexual harrassment, when an ugly guy wants some?"

SNL: Tom Brady vs Fred Armisen

It can be done. You can have sex with women at work without losing your job, by following a few simple rules: [ the rules are displayed on-screen with accompanying check marks ]

Be Handsome..
Be Attractive..
and Don't Be Unattractive.
   9. BeanoCook Posted: April 16, 2008 at 04:48 AM (#2745892)
Good for Harold.


Really? I know a little about H.R. From what I understand, this charge of sexual harassment allegedly fits a pattern that is not limited to ESPN.
   10. Eraser-X is emphatically dominating teh site!!! Posted: April 16, 2008 at 05:20 AM (#2745900)
Yeah, let's be real. Who DOESN'T know that one creepy guy at work. Does he always know that he is that creepy guy?
   11. John S Posted: April 16, 2008 at 05:35 AM (#2745907)
Yes, I am aware. But what am I gonna do? It's my go to move.
   12. Walt Davis Posted: April 16, 2008 at 05:56 AM (#2745912)
When will Cot's have the numbers up?
   13. CFiJ Posted: April 16, 2008 at 06:20 AM (#2745917)
Really? I know a little about H.R. From what I understand, this charge of sexual harassment allegedly fits a pattern that is not limited to ESPN.


I've heard some things, too, but it doesn't matter if he's a womanizer, and it doesn't if he's sexually harassed people outside ESPN, and it doesn't matter if (as I think was likely) he really did give this intern a hug with the intent of it developing into hot, hot, sloppy office sex. The way ESPN treats this a) has to follow certain procedures, and b) has to be congruent with how it treats other employees, neither of which occurred here, to my understanding. If HR hugs an intern and it makes her feel uncomfortable, then that has to be relayed to Reynolds (either directly or through the proper office channels) and he gets a warning and/or reprimand. If he continues this behavior despite numerous warnings and reprimands (or does something especially egrerious, like Option J), then ESPN can and should fire him. But if you've been suggestively hugging interns for your whole career at a place, and no one's said anything to you, or given any kind of disciplinary action, your employer doesn't get to fire you and claim "pattern of behavior".
   14. SouthSideRyan Posted: April 16, 2008 at 06:43 AM (#2745921)
If he continues this behavior despite numerous warnings and reprimands (or does something especially egrerious, like Option J), then ESPN can and should fire him.


Salisbury chose option J and got suspended for a week.
   15. Fargo Posted: April 16, 2008 at 11:07 AM (#2745941)
my wife and I are very happy to have achieved an amicable settlement
Translation: "ESPN isn't hiring me back. I can take a nice vacation and watch a few ball games. My wife can now sue me for divorce."
   16. pharoah Posted: April 17, 2008 at 01:48 PM (#2747820)
This is pretty simple. ESPN would lose the case. They used in-house counsel on salary with ESPN to drag it out and put pressure on Harold who had to hire his own attorneys. They pushed it trying to find more stuff on Harold, because their employee files were very very weak and nothing that would sink HR. The key witness on ESPN's behalf was not disposed - he works there. Pretty soon, the press would have been talking about the upcoming court date with HR's increased presence and following at MLB as the season gets into full swing. ESPN settled with HR to avoid bigger losses both in PR and dollars. HR stood his ground. They stared each other down. ESPN made a smart move. HR, does not go home to a divorce, he goes home to a solid family life.
   17. Craig Calcaterra Posted: April 17, 2008 at 02:03 PM (#2747829)
HR, does not go home to a divorce, he goes home to a solid family life.


How does anyone not named Harold or Mrs. Reynolds know this?
   18. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: April 17, 2008 at 02:21 PM (#2747845)
Hasn't Reynolds hooked up with another network? I saw him doing baseball the other night but I can't remember which channel he was on.
I thought he was working with MLB.com nowadays.
   19. Styles P. Deadball Posted: April 17, 2008 at 02:36 PM (#2747855)
One of the specialists I work with is really cute and I keep having to running interference for her because a guy in the office is smitten and making unwanted advances.


This could be how the Soviets viewed their relationship with Poland for a lot of years.
   20. Cris E Posted: April 17, 2008 at 02:46 PM (#2747872)
This is pretty simple. ESPN would lose the case... They pushed it trying to find more stuff on Harold, because their employee files were very very weak and nothing that would sink HR.

Well maybe, but there's hardly any public evidence that this is any more true than the rumors that he was catting it up at work and bothering the help outside of ESPN. He could have a Personnel file three inches thick, chock full of annoyed interns and offended associate producers, but until he or ESPN chooses to make this info public it's supposed to stay closed. And we don't know what's in ESPN's back pocket any more than we know if HR is divorcing or heading home to Rob and Laura Petry bliss. We don't know, and that makes this even less newsworthy than it would be on its face.

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