Jul 24, 2015
Cowherd taken off ESPN air after remarks
ESPN on Friday afternoon announced that Colin Cowherd will no longer appear on the network. The announcement comes in the wake of comments made on Cowherd's nationally syndicated radio show on Thursday in regards to baseball players from the Dominican Republic. “Colin Cowherd’s comments over the past two days do not reflect the values of ESPN or our employees," the network said in a statement released late on Friday afternoon. "Colin will no longer appear on ESPN.”
TSN.ca Staff
ESPN on Friday afternoon announced that Colin Cowherd will no longer appear on the network.
The announcement comes in the wake of comments made on Cowherd's nationally syndicated radio show on Thursday in regards to baseball players from the Dominican Republic.
“Colin Cowherd’s comments over the past two days do not reflect the values of ESPN or our employees," the network said in a statement released late on Friday afternoon. "Colin will no longer appear on ESPN.”
Earlier on Friday, ESPN released a statement distancing itself from Cowherd's remarks.
"Some of Colin's comments yesterday referencing the Dominican Republic were inappropriate and do not reflect ESPN's values of respect for all communities," ESPN said in the earlier statement. "Colin's on-air response today addressed the importance of making sure his opinions are fact-based and responsible for all people."
Major League Baseball also weighed in on the controversy.
“Major League Baseball condemns the remarks made by Colin Cowherd, which were inappropriate, offensive and completely inconsistent with the values of our game," added MLB in a release. "Mr. Cowherd owes our players of Dominican origin, and Dominican people generally, an apology.”
Cowherd made the comments in question on Thursday in reference to the decision by the Miami Marlins to name general manager Dan Jennings as manager earlier this season following the dismissal of Mike Redmond.
Cowherd asserted that baseball is not a difficult game to understand.
"It's too complex? I've never bought into that 'baseball is too complex," he said. "Really? A third of the sport is from the Dominican Republic," said Cowherd. "The Dominican Republic has not been known in my lifetime as having world-class academic abilities."
The remarks prompted Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista to answer back on Twitter:
Cowherd announced plans this week to leave ESPN at the end of his contract with speculation that he may end up at FOX Sports. His last broadcast had reportedly been scheduled for next Friday, July 31.