ESPN sileneces Ditka
- Thread starter EERs 3:16
- Start date
No, just demoted him. If you want to be a loose cannon then accept the consequences.
Obviously he should restrict his public comments to sports or other non-political topics and avoid politics or other topics that might get him in trouble with his employer.
Who just happens to be POTUS. They aren't paying Ditka for his political commentary even if the comments weren't made on their network. A little different situation but ask the Dixie Chicks how that went for them. Deal with it.
Thanks so much for giving everyone your personal assessment of the ESPN's front page political bent......I'm certain it's appreciated by all who read it.
lol I don't work at ESPN either but I know what Ditka did to get moved off the show. Don't be so out of touch.
http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl-new...election-hillary-clinton-sunday-nfl-countdown
Completely different scenario. The Dixie Chicks made comments unpopular to their base of supporters, and their supporters stopped supporting them. Ditka is being discriminated against for a political position. Considering the political fervor in the country right now, if this blows up, Fox Sports could be the benefactors of this move. Not good for the struggling network. It would be hilarious, at least to me, if this further straps ESPN/Disney.
These nfl shows turn over personnel all the time. They are bringing Matt Hassleback in to take the spot versus a guy the younger generation have no clue who it is. Stop this political conspiracy crap. This type of stuff and fake outrage over other crap has allowed the public to think things that are not real and are open to idiots like Trump and Cruz be recognized as potential leaders. Grow up
What was out of line? His personal comments that he doesn't think Obama is a good leader? That he supports Trump? Did he make these comments on air, on ESPN? Or did he make these comments to a reporter asking a question.
If he was "demoted" because of what he said, if what he said is:
"Obama's the worst president we've ever had," Ditka said. "Barack Obama's a fine man. I mean, he's pleasant. He would be great to play golf with. He's not a leader. This country needs leadership. It needs direction. It needs somebody that steps up front. We need somebody like Ronald Reagan."
or
There's a lot of qualified people that are better than [Hillary Clinton]. That's what I'm trying to say. You know, you've got to pick your poison. Does Donald do everything right? No. The people that hate him, hate him, but people like him because he says things that resonate with what they think.... If I were to vote tomorrow, I'd probably vote for Trump.
If he was "demoted" for that.... then shame on ESPN and that is FAR from being out of line.
Yes, I said the situations were different but they are similar in that people criticizing the POTUS met with negative consequences due to their comments. To me it's pretty much a non-story but the OP seemed confused about how anyone could get in trouble with their boss(es) for spouting off. I'd be surprised if this "event" cost ESPN any viewers unlike other factors that are affecting their viewership.
Bru, based on comments you've made in the past, I assume you have managed personnel and had dealings with Human Resources and in-house council in your professional career as part of large publicly traded companies. ESPN has opened themselves up to litigation on this one if Ditka pursues it. First of all, he is in a protected class because of his age, and the very scenario you described is age discrimination. Secondly, if this IS connected to his comments, it can be seen as discriminatory on the grounds of political affiliation.
This could get sticky.
If you had a sales person working for you, and you heard him on the phone one day with a customer spewing his political beliefs, you'd fire him. Ditka was an ambassador for ESPN, and with that comes a code of conduct to not piss off your viewers.
Actually no. I would counsel him on professional conduct unless it was helping build a stronger bond with said customer in which case I would still counsel him in a non-disciplinary fashion on the dangers associated with the behavior.
That's fine. But for a network with an NFL audience of tens of millions, I can easily see why they did this.
I can as well, but the left created this victimization culture and now the right is going to take advantage of it as well. I don't like it in either scenario, but don't get pissed when the opposition uses your own tactics against you.
Thanks.....Oh.... and thanks for all your ramblings assessments that you have given us. How would you describe ESPN's political stories bent? Better yet tell us how you feel about FOX NEWS political stories bent. Something tells me I know what both answers will be.
When one are representative of an organization, one needs to be careful with public comments that can be offensive to the customer or face consequences. I like Ditka but he is paying a price for not being respectful as an employee of an organization in a highly visible position. Not the first time and won't be the last time this happens. People need to learn it is not always best to blurt out controversial opinions without thinking. Unless you are Trump
How about the latest fad that we see with several of the ESPN talking heads on a daily basis......the one of wearing clothing with political and social messages printed on the clothing? I guess it's whom you are PISSING OFF.
I'm not pissed and I could care less about his political leanings. This is a black and white business move, plain and simple. His comments were clearly divisive and will offend.
Tell me again how his comments were divisive. Ditka said: "Barack Obama's a fine man", that looks like a compliment to me. You need to grow a pair.
One thing I've notice over time about staunch anti-obama wingnuts is that they think their beliefs are shared by everyone and they have no hesitation about spouting off to anyone who will listen. I have several friends and family who do this on social media. It's as though they can't help themselves. Ditka is a dumbass for injecting himself this. No sympathy at all. As to the Dixie Chicks, it wasn't just their fans who came down on them. There was an orchestrated effort by radio stations and the country music industry to shun them. They were stupid to inject themselves into politics as well given that their target audience is a bunch of redneck, evangelical, uneducated, southerners....you know...the republican base.
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Since Bernie has such a hard time getting votes in any southern state I thought you were going to close with...the Hillary base.
Ditka has a right to his opinions outside of work. He was not on ESPN and said NOTHING inflammatory. He's not the first that has been on that Network and has said things about sitting Presidents, nor will he be the last. Ditka's comments, if what was reported is accurate, in ZERO way reflect poorly on ESPN.
Shame on ESPN for wanting to censor someone who holds an opinion that differs from the political culture of their company and shame on the left, champions of civil rights, for endorsing that censorship.
Again.... how is that divisive? It was just his opinion. Talking heads say things like that every day.
What makes this more absurd, his "demotion" creates way more news than his comments themselves.
And ESPN has the right to put faces in front of the camera that draw the biggest audience. The minute a celebrity says disparaging things that might harm the public's opinion of that person, the network has every right to minimize the damage. ESPN doesn't owe Ditka a thing.
It's the Golden Rule, the one with the gold (ESPN) makes the rules. Obviously ESPN disagrees with you. They cover a lot of bases in the memo. Some might consider calling BO the worst prez ever "inflammatory" to pick out one comment made by Ditka.