[EmpireWF]

Was This Why Harold Got The Axe?

ESPN has given no reason via the NYPost. However, online sources have hinted that the key words being associated with the firing are 'sexual harassment.' Again, ESPN has not come out with an official response about any of it.

A lot of people like Reynolds and thought he was the best guy on Baseball Tonight, so I wonder if the show will lose any viewers over this.

[rmjvol]

I'm betting they're gonna lose viewers. HUGE buzz on the net over this. The stories only a few hours old and take a look what these bloggers are saying:

http://aseese.com/archives/9
http://startingaces.blogspot.com/200...lions-ask.html
http://www.thebrewerpatriot.com/2006...t-happened-hr/
http://blog.buckeyepayroll.com/?p=22
http://hotfoot.metsblog.com/blog/_ar...5/2161831.html
http://www.filteringcraig.com/sideba...reynolds.shtml

Nobody's happy with ESPN on this one. But then again, nobody will be happy with Harold Reynolds if he's guilty.

[MVB]

Renolds was the only reason I watched Baseball Tonight... Phillips is Mr. Doom-and-Gloom and John Kruk usually doesn't add that much. This is really a shame!

[Lefty Noob]

Oh, wow. This is huge. Any idea who's going to wind up replacing him, or if ESPN will address this on Baseball Tonight at all? He was a good commentator, far better than Kruk in my view, but I guess that's all irrelevant if these stories are true.

[MJHMarc]

Like MVB stated earlier, Reynolds was one of the reasons millions of baseball fans tuned into Baseball Tonight.

Reynolds joined ESPN in '96, almost ten years ago. Since then, he has won many awards (including an Emmy in 2003) for his work on Baseball Tonight. How can ESPN show the boot to one of their top anchors who attracts baseball fans nation-wide?

I would love to know the rational behind this shocking move.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by MVB

Renolds was the only reason I watched Baseball Tonight... Phillips is Mr. Doom-and-Gloom and John Kruk usually doesn't add that much. This is really a shame!

Yep...ditto here...Reynolds made the show what it was...who could replace him in mid year and keep it going?

[MJHMarc]

Good point there, Gotham Dark Knight.

This was a very odd move considering it is midway through the show's season. If they needed to change the cast, they should at least do it during the off-season. Why leave baseball fans baffled over who to rely on for the rest of the season? We all have fantasy baseball teams to manage and we could use some commentary and advise from the wise, Harold Reynolds.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by MJHMarc

Good point there, Gotham Dark Knight.

This was a very odd move considering it is midway through the show's season. If they needed to change the cast, they should at least do it during the off-season. Why leave baseball fans baffled over who to rely on for the rest of the season? We all have fantasy baseball teams to manage and we could use some commentary and advise from the wise, Harold Reynolds.

He probably didn't give them a choice...I am sure it was not for an on camera issue...

(Welcome back Marc)

[ThePundit]

Sexual harrasment huh? Steve Phillips also was sued for sexual harrasment about 7 years ago and Wilpon had to settle the case out of court. You would think these guys would learn their lesson already.

[EmpireWF]

Now Deadspin posted an update...interesting...

(UPDATE: Another reader, with "contacts on the inside," refutes the sexual harassment whispers: "Anyone who is saying sexual harassment either has been given bad third-hand info or is lying. Harold has had a couple of rather heated arguments with the producers at "Baseball Tonight," and some of the suits at ESPN over the program's coverage of Alex Rodriguez. At the last production meeting, when it was made clear they were going to really play up the A-Rod angle during coverage of the Yankees-Texas series, Harold had a colossal meltdown, which led to his dismissal. The sexual harassment allegations are even more laughable when you consider that he is being replaced by Steve Phillips -- a man who has never met a skirt he wouldn't chase and who was caught in one of the more embarrassing front office sexual harassment scandals in MLB history."

True? Not true? This, like the rest of it, just reinforces our point: We don't know. And the longer ESPN pretends like nothing happened, like they're a corner shop with three employees, believing this stuff can possibly remain private, the more talk there will be. Still, this is the lone "it's not sexual harassment email" we've received.)

[MVB]

This seems more likely... especially, after watching him on Baseball Tonight, discussing Alex Rodriguez...

[ThePundit]

Nope. It's sexual harassment. In today's Newsday:
Reynolds gets axed by ESPN - Newsday.com.

[EmpireWF]

Here's an updated sexual harassmen story from the NY Post.

Accused of Sexual Harassment

[MJHMarc]

I think both the heated arguments and the sexual harrasment lead to Reynold's dismissal from one of ESPN's top shows.

Personally, I think that Harold Reynolds had the right to share his opinion about Alex Rodriguez. As long as he didn't take up the whole show discussing one player, it seems fine to me.

This decision will haunt ESPN at least for the rest of the season.

[ThePundit]

I don't think the arguments had anything to do with it because that kind of controversy draws viewers.