Rob Parker, who unleashed a racially charged spew
vilifying Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III on ESPN's
First Take, has been dumped by network brass.
"Rob Parker's contract expired at year's end. Evaluating our needs and his work, including his recent RGIII comments, we decided not to renew his deal," an ESPN spokesperson said Tuesday."
The firing comes after network suits suspended Parker for 30 days last month. What changed?
Industry sources said ESPN execs were angered after Parker recently went on a Detroit TV station and attempted to rationalize his RGIII comments. During the TV interview, he said the producers of First Take knew, roughly, the direction he would take with his RGIII commentary before he went on the air.
Last month, disciplinary action was also taken against First Take staffers.
During the Detroit TV interview Parker, an African American, maintained he was not insisting Griffin isn't black enough to suit him, but merely raising an issue of black celebrities who distance themselves from their roots.
On First Take Parker asked: "Is he (RGIII) a brother or a cornball brother?"
"He's black, he kind of does the thing," Parker said on First Take.. "But he's not really down with the cause. He's not one of us. He's kinda black, but he's not really like the guy you really want to hang out with because he's off into something else."
Last month, Parker took to Twitter to apologize for his commentary. "I blew it and I'm sincerely sorry," Parker wrote. "I completely understand how the issue of race and sports is a sensitive one and needs to be handled with great care. Last Thursday I failed to do that."
Parker said he reached out to Griffin's agent with the hopes of making a direct apology to the quarterback.
Initially, Parker's Twitter account did not reflect any concern about his comments. He did not apologize immediately, but rather posted tweets either supporting his point of view or his right to say what he said. This rankled ESPN brass.
Parker, a former Daily News sportswriter who is a multi-media personality in Detroit, had just been elevated to the primary "debater" on the new Saturday edition of "First Take." His critics have said much of his commentary is designed to draw attention to himself. In this case he's succeeded.
"Rob Parker's contract expired at year's end. Evaluating our needs and his work, including his recent RGIII comments, we decided not to renew his deal," an ESPN spokesperson said Tuesday."
The firing comes after network suits suspended Parker for 30 days last month. What changed?
Industry sources said ESPN execs were angered after Parker recently went on a Detroit TV station and attempted to rationalize his RGIII comments. During the TV interview, he said the producers of First Take knew, roughly, the direction he would take with his RGIII commentary before he went on the air.
Last month, disciplinary action was also taken against First Take staffers.
During the Detroit TV interview Parker, an African American, maintained he was not insisting Griffin isn't black enough to suit him, but merely raising an issue of black celebrities who distance themselves from their roots.
On First Take Parker asked: "Is he (RGIII) a brother or a cornball brother?"
"He's black, he kind of does the thing," Parker said on First Take.. "But he's not really down with the cause. He's not one of us. He's kinda black, but he's not really like the guy you really want to hang out with because he's off into something else."
Last month, Parker took to Twitter to apologize for his commentary. "I blew it and I'm sincerely sorry," Parker wrote. "I completely understand how the issue of race and sports is a sensitive one and needs to be handled with great care. Last Thursday I failed to do that."
Parker said he reached out to Griffin's agent with the hopes of making a direct apology to the quarterback.
Initially, Parker's Twitter account did not reflect any concern about his comments. He did not apologize immediately, but rather posted tweets either supporting his point of view or his right to say what he said. This rankled ESPN brass.
Parker, a former Daily News sportswriter who is a multi-media personality in Detroit, had just been elevated to the primary "debater" on the new Saturday edition of "First Take." His critics have said much of his commentary is designed to draw attention to himself. In this case he's succeeded.
I watch first take all the time and the moment he made those comments I knew he would he in BIG trouble...you can't go on tv and have the same conversations that youhave in the barber shop...What he said black people around town have been saying....RGIII only dates white girls, he votes republican, and he said that he didn't want to be associated as being the best black quarterback...Rob didn't make those things up that's all the black folks in Washington quietly talk about them..only difference they didn't express it in front of a national audience...If u live in Washington the Rumors about RGIII not wanting to b associated with the black folks BEEN floating in the air...
ReplyDelete@Anonymous 7:27am, you are so correct. Parker spoke nothing but the truth but these folk ain't trying to hear the truth about their "pet". What was racist about what he said? This firing is for the other black to take heed. Don't talk about their likable pets. You can dog the pets they don't like as long as they dog them.
ReplyDeleteOld Abe said many years ago....."It's better to remain silent & thought a fool than spek out & remove all doubt".
ReplyDeletePlain & simply often it's just best to keep your damn mouth close.
He should have kept his mouth shut until they renewed his contract ( in my Florida Evans voice) "Damumm Damumm Damumm "
ReplyDeleteHe was just plain rude and his professionalism just went out the window. He should have known better. Whatever his reasons may be, his a professional and should remain like one.
ReplyDeleteHe was just plain rude and his professionalism just went out the window. He should have known better. Whatever his reasons may be, his a professional and should remain like one.
ReplyDelete