I read about Dana Jacobson’s punishment this morning and became very confused. Why would a network have their biggest personalities in an event as ribald and offensive as a roast if they were planning on punishing them when they were offensive? Why would the personalities want to participate in an event if they were going to be censored. ESPN’s Ombudsman Le Anne Schreiber has always been candid in her opinions about event concerning their on air talent. So I wrote to her. I basically asked why would someone be punished for their remarks during a roast and why has ESPN (maybe a conspiracy theory, probably not) buried all the tapes of the roast.
I got a boiler plate letter tonight not really answering my questions. It seems to be what they send out when anyone asks about Jacobson. Its contents:
Thank you for your message. Many people have written me to ask what I know and think about Dana Jacobson’s behavior at the roast for ESPN Radio personalities Mike and Mike. As of 1/24, here is what I know. On Jan. 12, The Press of Atlantic CIty ran a story that included a description of Jacobson’s drunken behavior the previous night, saying she had made a “fool of herself” on stage, “mumbling along and cursing like a sailor as Mike & Mike rested their heads in their hands in embarrassment.” In the wake of that report, ESPN issued a statement saying, “Her actions were totally inappropriate and we have dealt with it.” Dana Jacobson issued a personal apology. Then, on Jan 18, Deadspin.com posted a report by a “tipster” alleging that what the Press of Atlantic CIty had only called mumblings included a string of crude expletives directed at Notre Dame, its famous “Touchdown Jesus” mural, and Jesus. Other internet sites picked up that report and repeated the tipster’s account, but as far as I can determine, there has been no corroboration by anyone who attended the roast that she did more than crudely insult ESPN‘s Mike Golic, a former Notre Dame football player, by crudely insulting Notre Dame and its Touchdown Jesus mural. Scott Cronick, who attended the roast and wrote the article for Press of Atlantic City, told Thebiglead.com, “I never heard Dana Jacobson say F— Jesus. That’s why I never printed it. I also talked to people who were there who also said that they did not hear her say it either.”
The remarks she did make about Notre Dame and its mural of Jesus revealed sufficiently bad judgment and gross insensitivity to many people’s religious beliefs that ESPN suspended her for a week and Jacobson issued another apology, saying “I am very sorry. My remarks about Notre Dame were foolish and insensitive. I respect all religions and did not mean anything derogatory by my poorly chosen words. I also deeply regret the embarrassment I have caused ESPN and Mike and Mike. My actions at the roast were inappropriate and in no way represent who I really am. I have personally apologized to many of the people involved. I won’t make excuses for my behavior but do hope that I can be forgiven for such a poor lack of judgment.”
That forgiveness was extended by Notre Dame, which issued a statement saying, “While we in no way condone Ms. Jacobson’s comments, we’re aware of the circumstances in which they occurred, and in the interest of forgiveness, trust that she and ESPN will address the matter in an appropriate way.”
Today, Catholic League president Bill Donahue issued a statement saying, “To be sure, Jacobson’s remarks were patently offensive; no one involved in this incident, including her, is maintaining otherwise. But it is also true that there is no evidence that what we are dealing with is a bigot—lots of people who have made bigoted comments are not inveterate bigots. No, what we are dealing with is a person who went off the rails while drunk at a raucous event. The ESPN officials whom I spoke to answered the questions I had to my satisfaction. Therefore, as far as the Catholic League is concerned, this matter is over.”
Tomorrow, ESPN executives are scheduled to meet with officials from the Christian Defense Coalition after they hold a protest at ESPN‘s headquarters in Bristol, CT.
My own thoughts: I share the opinions expressed above by the spokesmen for Notre Dame and The Catholic League. I also think ESPN personalities should not attend roasts, which are notorious for tasteless, offensive and crude insults, often delivered and received under the influence of excessive alcohol. I think we all need to be more cautious about information that comes from single anonymous sources, whether we get the information from ESPN, other outlets of the mainstream media or internet blogs.
Le Anne Schreiber
What is Jacobson apologizing for? What did she say? There would be no need to attack sources if they were willing to disclose what she said on stage. Schreiber, normally respectable, gives a really vanilla Disney answer about agreeing with the Catholic league that the censored bit was offensive. So basically, she is apologizing for something no one heard her say.
Man, I’ve got to see that video.
