From the "Hello, darkness, my old friend ... I've come to talk with you again" files:
ESPN has drop-kicked one of its college football broadcasters from the Virginia vs. William & Mary game, on Sept. 2, for no reason other than his name is "Robert Lee." This is no joke. ESPN really is that sensitive and that PC. That childish, too, for that matter.
The 21st century Robert Lee was born of Asian descent. But that name is just too confederate, just too racist-sounding. Someone surely might be offended by hearing the Lee name in the state of Virginia.
Lee is being kicked downstairs to the lower-profile game between Youngstown State and Pittsburgh. Hopefully none of the overly sensitive snowflakes watching that contest will hear the name Lee and melt down.
Robert Lee's loss is Dave Weekley's gain. Weekly will call the Bill & Mary-Virginia game. And if he's smart he'll frequently remind potentially frightened viewers that his name is not Robert Lee, that he does not approve of the confederacy, that he is not now and never has been a racist. Repeat: he is not a racist.
Outkick the Coverage's Clay Travis bemoans this ESPN idiocy and writes "God save us all." He also posted photos of the Asian Robert Lee and the confederate general and informed readers that they are not the same person, just in case there was any confusion.
Victor Morton, of The Washington Times, reported, "ESPN blasted for political correctness after pulling announcer Robert Lee from UVA football game." He also wrote, "There are other opportunities for protest at the Cavaliers' football game though. The William and Mary team is the Tribe."
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union wrote that Lee's nickname is "The General," but is of course unrelated to the late commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee broadcasts home games for Siena College for Spectrum Sports (formerly Time Warner). The UVA-William & Mary game broadcast is part of the ACC Network Extra package and ESPN3's broadcast.
The game will take place in Charlottesville, where leftists and white supremacists engaged in a violent clash earlier this month.
