"Are you ready for some football?" is now gone ...

[Ixiah]

Hank Williams Jr's famous opening phrase is gone from Monday night football following a comment about Obama.

http://m.cbsnews.com/fullstory.rbml?feed_id=0&catid=20116656&videofeed=36

[Shockfan8]

So much for "free speach"

[The Mad Hatter]

So much for "free speach"

Do you even have the remotest idea what "free speech" means?

The only protection afforded by free speech is against action taken by the government on the basis of your speech. There is no speech protection for the action non-governmental actors take in response to your speech (other than what other activities are illegal - such as assaulting someone you disagree with).

There is nothing inherently illegal nor immoral about a company firing someone for behavior that reflects poorly upon the employer.

Free speech means that you can't be prosecuted for voicing your opinions, it doesn't mean that you get to avoid any and all consequences of voicing your opinions.

[WuDrWu]

I believe ESPN had and has every right to fire whomever they want, whenever they want.

And I as a consumer have every right to not support their advertisers if I disagree with that decision.

I think Jr. used an extremely poor analogy, regardless of what he intended.

[RoyalShock]

Totally agree, Hatter. And Doc.

What I find interesting is ESPN saying they and MNF are all about sports and entertainment, not politics. But didn't they make a political statement by firing someone for comments they made only in the political arena?

[BOBB]

Whenever you drop the "H-Bomb" in a comparison there are going to be consequences.

[pogo]

Totally agree, Hatter. And Doc.

What I find interesting is ESPN saying they and MNF are all about sports and entertainment, not politics. But didn't they make a political statement by firing someone for comments they made only in the political arena?

+1

[The Mad Hatter]

Totally agree, Hatter. And Doc.

What I find interesting is ESPN saying they and MNF are all about sports and entertainment, not politics. But didn't they make a political statement by firing someone for comments they made only in the political arena?

Perhaps to an extent, but the very problem for ESPN (and the reason for the firing) is that the comments pulled them into a situation in which they could not avoiding making a political statement. Once Williams made those public comments, ESPN was suddenly put in a position of either retaining his services, which would be seen as a political statement, or not retaining his services, which would be seen as a political statement.

By firing him, they could not avoid make a somewhat political statement (just as they couldn't had they kept him), but at least by firing him they avoid dealing with future statements by him that would put them in the same situation.

[martymoose]

So much for "free speach"

Just curious, if I walk up to my boss and tell him to "F off" and he fires me, did he violate my freedom of speech? People who post questionable stuff on Facebook and then get fired, is their free speech getting infringed upon? Of course not...

[shoxlax]

It was the babbling, almost contradictory nature of the message, in my opinion, that made Hank Jr either sound like a nutcase or a morning drunk, and that is what truly caused him to get the axe.

Had he delivered his position in an articulate manner I wonder if the result would have been different.

Case in point: Curt Schilling. He is an outspoken conservative yet also an analyst, correct?

[The Mad Hatter]

It was the babbling, almost contradictory nature of the message, in my opinion, that made Hank Jr either sound like a nutcase or a morning drunk, and that is what truly caused him to get the axe.

Had he delivered his position in an articulate manner I wonder if the result would have been different.

Case in point: Curt Schilling. He is an outspoken conservative yet also an analyst, correct?

+1

[kcshocker11]

Not sure he should have been fired but he did a fine job of looking like a complete moron all by himself.

[RoyalShock]

Totally agree, Hatter. And Doc.

What I find interesting is ESPN saying they and MNF are all about sports and entertainment, not politics. But didn't they make a political statement by firing someone for comments they made only in the political arena?

Perhaps to an extent, but the very problem for ESPN (and the reason for the firing) is that the comments pulled them into a situation in which they could not avoiding making a political statement. Once Williams made those public comments, ESPN was suddenly put in a position of either retaining his services, which would be seen as a political statement, or not retaining his services, which would be seen as a political statement.

By firing him, they could not avoid make a somewhat political statement (just as they couldn't had they kept him), but at least by firing him they avoid dealing with future statements by him that would put them in the same situation.

They could have come out and said that his comments had nothing to do with ESPN, NFL, MNF or sports and that it has no affect on their intro to MNF.

But I get your point. What is sad is that people get overly emotional about this stuff and force the hand of those like ESPN in this situation. This country needs to grow some thicker skin.

[DUShock]

So much for "free speach"

:lol: Spell check people!

[WSU Shocker]

But I get your point. What is sad is that people get overly emotional about this stuff and force the hand of those like ESPN in this situation. This country needs to grow some thicker skin.

:good:

Exactly!