ESPN’s Ron Franklin Fired After Reportedly Calling Colleague ‘A–hole’

Veteran announcer has apologized for comments to Jeannine Edwards

ESPN has fired veteran announcer Ron Franklin for reportedly calling sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards an 'a–hole' during a meeting.

“Based on what occurred last Friday, we have ended our relationship with him," the network said in a statement.

Franklin was pulled from the network's Fiesta Bowl coverage following his remarks to Edwards at a meeting Friday. Edwards said in an email to USA Today that Franklin initially told her, "Listen to me sweet baby, let me tell you something . . ." in a condescending tone, and that when she objected, Franklin replied, "OK, then listen to me a–hole."

His "sweet" remark was initially reported as "sweetcakes," not "sweet baby."

Franklin apologized in a statement, saying, "I said some things I shouldn't have and am sorry. I deserved to be taken off the Fiesta Bowl."

In her email to USA Today, Edwards said Franklin made the remarks at a meeting before Friday's Chick Fil-A Bowl that was also attended by ESPN announcers Rod Gilmore and Ed Cunningham.

She said she was talking with Gilmore about his wife's election as mayor of Alameda, Calif., when Franklin interrupted and they had the exchange.

Afterwards, a colleague reported the incident to ESPN management, she said. Both she and Franklin covered the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. The site SportsbyBrooks, which broke the story, said ESPN wanted to pull Franklin from the game but couldn't find a replacement in time.

Franklin, 68, said in 2009 that he would like retire in April of last year, but then opted to stick around.

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