ESPN fires Franklin for remarks to colleague

ESPN Tuesday severed ties with Ron Franklin in the wake of an incident involving the longtime play-by-play man and sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards during a Dec. 31 production meeting.

"Based on what occurred last Friday, we have ended our relationship with him," a network spokesman said.

Franklin, 68, who had worked at ESPN since 1987, primarily on college football and basketball, was said to have called Edwards "sweet baby" as they prepared to cover the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

When Edwards protested his language and tone, he allegedly responded with an expletive; a colleague then reported the incident to ESPN executives, Edwards told USA Today.

The website SportsByBrooks first reported the incident.

Franklin called the Chick-fil-A Bowl that night but was removed from the radio call of the Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl and 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."

ESPN decided Tuesday to let him go anyway.

In 2005, Franklin referred on the air to sideline reporter Holly Rowe as "sweetheart," also in a tone many considered condescending, and later apologized.

ESPN has cracked down hard in recent years on sexist language and behavior in the workplace, suspending or firing several high-profile personalities.