ESPN gives the host of “PTI” an unpaid vacation
Let me preface this story with an acknowledgment that American society has gone too far in the direction of political correctness. This won’t cover my take on Tony Kornheiser though. He may have sports knowledge, but I find him deeply annoying and cannot watch “Pardon the Interruption” (“PTI” for short) for this reason. Less pain would be involved in no fax loans. Since I actually subscribed to the MLB network, ESPN is less relevant to me. If I want to know about other sports, I go online and listen to the radio.
Is this Tony Kornheiser’s effort to make ESPN more interesting?
The host of PTI made remarks about the wardrobe of Hannah Storm, a fellow sportscaster, that were offensive and certainly ill though out. I find them to be ill-conceived and unnecessary. Heterosexual males will objectify women in some way, at some time – it’s the nature of the beast. Defending or attacking this kind of objectification isn’t my point here. Blabbing about it in an inappropriate setting – whether the talk is positive or negative – is where men get themselves in trouble.
What Tony Kornheiser was saying
According to The Sporting News, Kornheiser claimed during a recent telecast that Hannah Storm was wearing “a horrifying, horrifying outfit” and a “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 Caufield fantasy at this point.”
From rude to adolescent fantasy
It may not be the most obvious way to sexually harass a woman in the workplace – I find it more along the lines of being generally rude and disagreeable, frankly – but Tony Kornheiser should have known that such comments over the air won’t fly in this day and age. If he needs sensitivity training but doesn’t have the bread, he should get no fax loans to cover.
Later there was the inevitable Tony Kornheiser apology
He apologized to Hannah Storm and called himself a “sarcastic troll” who had no business criticizing anyone for the way they were dressed. Self-effacement may be enough for some – including me – but the call for ESPN to make an example of someone over this pseudo battle of the sexes was apparently too strong to resist. Just like a cold sore, he’ll probably come back. According to The Sporting News‘ sources, Tony Kornheiser may only miss a few shows, so he probably won’t need a loan.
