Sports cable channel ESPN has fired commentator Hugh Douglas for his alleged behavior at a convention for journalists where he showed up drunk at two public events and insulted a black colleague in gross racial terms.
According to several published reports, Douglas became angry at Michael Smith, his former co-host, insulting him as a “house n-----” and an “Uncle Tom.”
“I am very disappointed to be leaving ESPN and will have more to say about this situation and my future at the appropriate time,” Douglas said.
The former Philadelphia Eagles defensive end did not confirm that he had been in an altercation with Smith. ESPN, however, has confirmed something took place but has not discussed the particulars at all.
Douglas had joined “Numbers Never Lie,” the network’s sports statistics show in 2011.
He is actually the second black ESPN commentator to be dismissed for racial remarks. In December of last year, commentator Rob Parker provoked national outrage after he claimed that Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin was a “cornball brother” who was only “kind of black” because he is married to a white woman and is rumored to be a Republican. He was let go by the left-leaning sports channel shortly after his comments were made.
Hat tip: Matthew Balan.
