I'm a man. No, really. I checked.
Armed with that knowledge, I must confess that there is no way I can be as sensitive to this subject as much as...umm...well, a woman would be.
However, I will "chance that tide" as Garth Brooks once warbled...
I'm not naïve...I don't think. I know that women on average don't make dollar for dollar what men make yet for the exact same job and responsibilities...which is utterly stupid. We're not paying a gender, for God's sake, we're paying a performance.
So it is clear there is still gender bias in the workplace. I get it. It's there.
Still, my jaw dropped when I read at Yardbarker.com about the exchange between ESPN play-by-play announcer Ron Franklin and sideline reporter Jeanine Edwards:
Scheduled to work on the ESPN-TV broadcast of the Chick-fil-A Bowl Friday, Franklin and Edwards were part of a production meeting before the game that was also attended by ESPN announcers Ed Cunningham and Rod Gilmore. During the meeting, the subject of Gilmore's wife Marie being elected Alameda, California mayor came up.
As Gilmore, Cunningham and Franklin discussed the subject, Edwards tried to join the conversation.
When she did, Franklin said to her, "Why don't you leave this to the boys, sweetcakes."
Edwards responded to Franklin by saying, "Don't call me sweetcakes. I don't like being talked to like that."
Franklin then said, "Okay then, (expletive)."
After the meeting, Edwards reported Franklin's comments to ESPN management.
Really? Are you kidding me? Are there people that still talk this way?! The article continued...
This isn't the first time Franklin has said something inappropriate to a female ESPN-TV sideline reporter.
In 2005, ESPN's George Solomon wrote of an incident involving Franklin and Holly Rowe:
On Oct. 1, according to the Chicago Tribune, sideline reporter Holly Rowe lauded Purdue defensive coordinator Brock Spack for using all three timeouts on defense despite trailing by four touchdowns late in the game.
"If the coaches are giving up," Rowe added, "what does that say to the players?"
Play-by-play commentator Ron Franklin responded: "Holly, it's not giving up. It's 49-21, sweetheart."
Two weeks ago Franklin was lifted from ESPN's coverage of the Fiesta Bowl, and then last week was fired outright by ESPN.
Fine with me.
If you're in business and you still use that condescending, arrogant, full of yourself, vain, smug, stupid, slighting, belittling, conceited, derisive, dismissive, degrading, humiliating language toward women...or anyone for that matter...please go away.
And leave real business to the grown-ups.
