[MidnightC]

I found out about this via U.S.S. Mariner of all places, as I watched the EI feed of this game. During ESPN's June 11th broadcast of the Cubs/Braves game, Rick Sutcliffe and Dave O'Brien (!!) went off on a bizarre and very inappropriate tangeant about Erin Andrews' wardrobe. You can see the video of it at this link.

I know some people are probably going to watch that and think I'm overreacting because Erin Andrews is such a popular lust object to much of the male sports-watching crowd. You know what? That doesn't matter in the least. Erin Andrews being an attractive woman certainly doesn't exempt her from deserving respect from her co-workers. These people are so-called professionals and they should act like it. Those are completely unacceptable on-air comments made by both Sutcliffe and O'Brien, and they and ESPN should be ashamed.

Between this and being drunk on the air a few years ago, is there any good reason why Rick Sutcliffe is still employed as a broadcaster?

This post has been edited by MidnightC: 14 June 2008 - 01:48 AM

[SoxScout]

O'Brien is clearly uncomfortable and rolls his eyes at the camera. I don't know what you want him to do in that situation except pray he drops it.

What did you have a problem with OB saying, that her dress was brightly colored (not a big deal at all) or trying to get Sutcliffe to move on? Sutcliffe was the one lusting over its shortness and praying for a gust of wind.

This post has been edited by SoxScout: 14 June 2008 - 02:17 AM

[brs3]

I actually was curious whether or not Sutcliffe could've been hitting the bottle while this was going on. His mannerisms with O'Brien and his language seemed to be a bit off. I haven't heard Sutcliffe before, so I'm not sure..but he sure seemed like he could've been loosened up with a few quick ones.

[MidnightC]

SoxScout, on Jun 14 2008, 03:13 AM, said:

O'Brien is clearly uncomfortable and rolls his eyes at the camera. I don't know what you want him to do in that situation except pray he drops it.

What did you have a problem with OB saying, that her dress was brightly colored (not a big deal at all) or trying to get Sutcliffe to move on? Sutcliffe was the one lusting over its shortness and praying for a gust of wind.

It's his last comment, when he basically agrees with Sutcliffe about Erin Andrews being a distraction during batting practice. It's a much (much) lesser offense compared to what Sutcliffe said, but it still needs to be pointed out. The whole color thing at the beginning doesn't bother me in the least--I saw that as a perfectly innocent comment that Sutcliffe used to derail the conversation. ("I have a new favorite color now.")

My main issue is with Sutcliffe's comments, obviously. But I'm not going to let O'Brien off the hook for going along with him at all, however brief it was.

[berezina]

This was Sutcliffe's last broadcast before leaving for cancer treatment. His remarks came immediately after O'Brien mentioned this and seemed like an attempt to make light of the topic, inspired by O'Brien's previous mention of the dress. Let's have a little compassion, please. He should apologize, and that should be it. It's difficult to speak extemporaneously for hours, especially when under personal stress and with the mandate to be entertaining and funny. I despise the inclination to harp endlessly on gaffes. It creates politicians like John Kerry, who is so afraid to say the wrong thing that he's lost the ability to convey any emotion at all.

A few further points:

1) Almost no man understands exactly how demeaning it feels for a woman to have sexual remarks made about her in a professional context -- as though, after all her work, and her desire for acceptance as a colleague, she'll never be more than an object to them. We should learn.

2) Why was Andrews wearing a short yellow dress instead of a suit? The 800 lb. gorilla of sexism is the hiring of sideline reporters as eye candy. I reserve most of my sympathy for the less-attractive reporters who lose gigs to her. I'm a dour feminist, not a do-me feminist. Most of the blame goes to the executives who hire her -- or, really, the audience. Perhaps SoSH could start an email campaign to hire a qualified analyst next time there's an opening for a sideline reporter.

3) As a factual matter, she probably was a distraction. Guys are like that. It's instinctive, not willed, and it's not going to change. Any reasonable critique needs to focus on tact, empathy, respect, and self-editing, not the classification of lust as a thought-crime. Your heterosexual male coworkers think about copulating with you every time they see you. Give props to the ones who can avoid ever-ever-ever mentioning it.

[LoweTek]

berezina, on Jun 14 2008, 06:07 AM, said:

This was Sutcliffe's last broadcast before leaving for cancer treatment. His remarks came immediately after O'Brien mentioned this and seemed like an attempt to make light of the topic, inspired by O'Brien's previous mention of the dress. Let's have a little compassion, please. He should apologize, and that should be it. It's difficult to speak extemporaneously for hours, especially when under personal stress and with the mandate to be entertaining and funny. I despise the inclination to harp endlessly on gaffes. It creates politicians like John Kerry, who is so afraid to say the wrong thing that he's lost the ability to convey any emotion at all.

A few further points:

1) Almost no man understands exactly how demeaning it feels for a woman to have sexual remarks made about her in a professional context -- as though, after all her work, and her desire for acceptance as a colleague, she'll never be more than an object to them. We should learn.

2) Why was Andrews wearing a short yellow dress instead of a suit? The 800 lb. gorilla of sexism is the hiring of sideline reporters as eye candy. I reserve most of my sympathy for the less-attractive reporters who lose gigs to her. I'm a dour feminist, not a do-me feminist. Most of the blame goes to the executives who hire her -- or, really, the audience. Perhaps SoSH could start an email campaign to hire a qualified analyst next time there's an opening for a sideline reporter.

3) As a factual matter, she probably was a distraction. Guys are like that. It's instinctive, not willed, and it's not going to change. Any reasonable critique needs to focus on tact, empathy, respect, and self-editing, not the classification of lust as a thought-crime. Your heterosexual male coworkers think about copulating with you every time they see you. Give props to the ones who can avoid ever-ever-ever mentioning it.

First I want to say that for a first post around here, this one ranks way up there. Well done. I'd like to hear you expound a bit however as I find the over-empathize references interesting (among others of your comments).

Within comments one and three, you seem to accept that it is a biological given men will always "...think about copulating," yet the boundary is any mention in "professional context." Are you suggesting there is a context in which mention is ok?

Could you explain what you mean by "dour feminist" and how that differs from "do-me?"

Where does Erin Andrews' culpability play in here?

Serious questions.

[AlNipper49]

berezina, on Jun 14 2008, 06:07 AM, said:

This was Sutcliffe's last broadcast before leaving for cancer treatment. His remarks came immediately after O'Brien mentioned this and seemed like an attempt to make light of the topic, inspired by O'Brien's previous mention of the dress. Let's have a little compassion, please. He should apologize, and that should be it. It's difficult to speak extemporaneously for hours, especially when under personal stress and with the mandate to be entertaining and funny. I despise the inclination to harp endlessly on gaffes. It creates politicians like John Kerry, who is so afraid to say the wrong thing that he's lost the ability to convey any emotion at all.

A few further points:

1) Almost no man understands exactly how demeaning it feels for a woman to have sexual remarks made about her in a professional context -- as though, after all her work, and her desire for acceptance as a colleague, she'll never be more than an object to them. We should learn.

2) Why was Andrews wearing a short yellow dress instead of a suit? The 800 lb. gorilla of sexism is the hiring of sideline reporters as eye candy. I reserve most of my sympathy for the less-attractive reporters who lose gigs to her. I'm a dour feminist, not a do-me feminist. Most of the blame goes to the executives who hire her -- or, really, the audience. Perhaps SoSH could start an email campaign to hire a qualified analyst next time there's an opening for a sideline reporter.

3) As a factual matter, she probably was a distraction. Guys are like that. It's instinctive, not willed, and it's not going to change. Any reasonable critique needs to focus on tact, empathy, respect, and self-editing, not the classification of lust as a thought-crime. Your heterosexual male coworkers think about copulating with you every time they see you. Give props to the ones who can avoid ever-ever-ever mentioning it.

yeah that's going to happen , really.

Man, Erin Andrews really is an epic babe.

Let's hope she tramples a few more snaggletooths on her way to the top.

[DJnVa]

berezina, on Jun 14 2008, 06:07 AM, said:

2) Why was Andrews wearing a short yellow dress instead of a suit? The 800 lb. gorilla of sexism is the hiring of sideline reporters as eye candy.

Because she knows her audience?

Using your looks is using God's gift just as much as using your brain.

Quote

Perhaps SoSH could start an email campaign to hire a qualified analyst next time there's an opening for a sideline reporter.

I could definitely "get behind" this.

This post has been edited by DJnVa: 14 June 2008 - 07:42 AM

[Corsi Combover]

berezina, on Jun 14 2008, 06:07 AM, said:

2) Why was Andrews wearing a short yellow dress instead of a suit? The 800 lb. gorilla of sexism is the hiring of sideline reporters as eye candy. I reserve most of my sympathy for the less-attractive reporters who lose gigs to her. I'm a dour feminist, not a do-me feminist. Most of the blame goes to the executives who hire her -- or, really, the audience. Perhaps SoSH could start an email campaign to hire a qualified analyst next time there's an opening for a sideline reporter.

The thing is, Erin actually is pretty damn good at her job, looks notwithstanding.

[CapeCodsBabyBull]

No need to watch past 10 seconds but if you do, no one can blame you.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=KEM0VETMCSQ



(srry wish I knew how to embed darn youtubes)

This post has been edited by CapeCodsBabyBull: 14 June 2008 - 08:20 AM

[bsj]

Berezina...I hear you.

What Sutcliffe says was clearly over the line of good taste. Hell. It was offensive. He will be and should be reprimanded for it.

And Erin Andrews does a decent job, echoing Corsi...and I much prefer looking at her during the between inning breaks than Tom Carron (Sorry TC)...but...she didn't get the job for her journalistic ability.

Go back to the days of hiring the most qualified reporter for the job and his problem probably, to a large extent, disappears.

Or keep it the way it is, and accept the fact that sexuality is a factor in why Erin Andrews is on the field. Doesn't mean that Sutcliffe shouldn't hold his tongue out of respect for a colleague. He clearly has common sense issues that have exhibited themselves before.

Hiring someone for the way they look and then acting all hush hush about actually verbalizing this is where we lose our way.

This post has been edited by bsj: 14 June 2008 - 08:49 AM

[yecul]

If Sutcliffe had said she wore a skirt to air out her nasty stinky snatch, then I would agree that it was sexist. But he didn't so it's all good. Am I right?

[SaveBooFerriss]

When did stating the obvious become offensive? BTW, the guy's got cancer, can't we cut him a little slack.

[jtn46]

This isn't to say it's a non-issue, but she's an attractive woman working with some of the least sensitive people on the planet, athletes, I'm positive she hears much worse on a daily basis. Now, the idea that someone should need to develop a thick skin to work in that environment is obviously not fair, but I bet she has, and I doubt what Sutcliffe said even really registered. If that's what we heard him say, imagine what he says to her that we don't ever hear.

Remember when MLB.tv used to stay with the feeds during breaks? Know the major reason they stopped? PBP guys and analysts would say stupid shit like this and millions of people would hear things they weren't supposed to hear. (Like Remy's comment about Tina last year) I don't want to say "nothing to see here", but I'm not sure Sutcliffe is a major offender here based on just that.

[yecul]

This is like getting outraged when someone says Pedro Martinez got his job because he pitches well.

[Tudor Fever]

After reading the thread, I watched the video link. Is that all there is too it? That's nothing, I expected something 10 times worse. I think Sutcliffe is a tool in general, but he made one throwaway remark to lighten up a discussion about his impending cancer surgery, Anyone who gets bent out of shape over that remark is way too thin-skinned.

[Blacken]

Quote

(Like Remy's comment about Tina last year)

I don't remember this one. Link?

[InsideTheParker]

Skins24, on Jun 14 2008, 10:30 AM, said:

When did stating the obvious become offensive? BTW, the guy's got cancer, can't we cut him a little slack.

The guy has a drinking problem, well documented.
Was he drinking on this occasion, one wonders.

The incident with Joe Namath and the sideline reporter whose name I can't conjure up was fueled by booze also.
Booze is designed to relax folks and help them lose their inhibitions.
It's better if they're not "on air" when this happens.

[SouthernBoSox]

I don't get it.

Erin Andrews is really hot.
Erin Andrews wants us to know she is hot.
Erin Andrews wears certain things to show off her hotness.
Rick Sutcliffe points out that Erin Andrews is a good looking woman.

Has it really come to this? TO the point were a man can get in trouble for basically complementing a coworker.
Would people be happier if he had said she didn't look professional and was showing to much skin and being a bad influence on women?

Yea....