ESPN Fires Announcer for 'Sweet Baby' Crack

Ron Franklin's 23-year career at ESPN is over because of sexist remarks he made to a colleague. "Listen to me, sweet baby, let me tell you something," Franklin said to sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards ahead of last week's Chick Fil-A-Bowl in the middle of an interview. When she told him not to address her like that, the sportscaster responded: "OK, then listen to me a-hole," reports the Washington Post.

Franklin was pulled from the Fiesta Bowl broadcast over the incident and ESPN yesterday confirmed that he has been canned. "Based on what occurred, we have ended our relationship with him," an ESPN spokesman said. Franklin apologized for his remarks in a statement earlier this week, but sources say he was fired anyway because he refused to apologize to Edwards personally. The incident is the latest in a long string of similar episodes at the Disney-owned network. (More Ron Franklin stories.)