Andrew Hagen

According to Roger L. Simon (*) ESPN has fired Gregg Easterbrook, a columnist who wrote “Tuesday Morning Quarterback” (TMQ) for ESPN’s web site, espn.com. Easterbrook had published a web log to the web site of the New Republic in his capacity as columnist and blogger for that magazine (†) that had been criticized by, among others, Roger L. Simon for anti-Semitic content. (‡) Easterbrook apologized and took back his remarks. (§) Simon has called ESPN’s firing of Easterbrook an overreaction. (**) Previously, Easterbrook took TMQ from Slate to ESPN’s web site, and perhaps could take TMQ somewhere else again. That is, however, not the point.

Easterbrook did step over the line. In the web log—a movie review—he charged that certain Hollywood executives were producing movies that portrayed too much violence for the sake of money, and in light of their Jewish ethnicity, considering the violence of the Holocaust, they should be especially ashamed. Obviously, that is a deeply idiotic statement and is troubling from the standpoint of anti-Semitism. As Easterbrook stated in his apology, the Jewishness of certain Hollywood executives has nothing to do with the charge that certain movies portray too much violence.

I would have liked to see a more introspective, self-questioning statement, but he did apologize. There is nothing of which I am aware that would lead me to think he has some recurring problem in this area. Now that Easterbrook has apologized, that should be the end of the controversy.

ESPN has, however, a large investment in being the “World’s Leader in Sports” and it cannot afford to be subjected to sustained criticism for racism or anti-Semitism. In light of the resignation of Rush Limbaugh (††) after Limbaugh commented on air about the race of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, ESPN may perceive that it has no margin remaining. That would be unfortunate, as Easterbrook is an excellent columnist for ESPN’s web site, and he apologized and took back for his troubling statement.

In my opinion, Limbaugh may have purposefully made his controversial remarks on ESPN so that he could leave ESPN’s employment prior to being checked into the 30–day treatment program for his painkiller addiction. (‡‡) Easterbrook shouldn’t pay for Limbaugh’s drug problem. It is not particularly relevant to Easterbrook whether Limbaugh should have been fired or not. Another, separate difference between Limbaugh and Easterbrook is that Limbaugh did not apologize, and Easterbrook did.

Is our culture really so fragile that we must never forgive anyone for this sort of mistake? If Easterbrook cannot be forgiven his off-the-cuff remarks made on a blog, it will only tend to stifle debate and discussion that must be engaged in one way or another. It is better to let these things play out in light of day, where exposure to truth will separate the truly nasty and despicable statements, like those of Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia (§§), from the ones that are honest mistakes, duly apologized for, like Easterbrook’s.

It may be safe for ESPN to fire Easterbrook, but his firing would be far more damaging to our society than the anti-Semitic content of his remarks. ESPN should not fire Easterbrook, and Easterbrook should take a long, hard look inside himself.

TMQ was part of ESPN’s “Page 2″ feature. Feedback can be directed to ESPN. (***)

Update: 30 October 2003: Charles Krauthammer opines on the subject. (†††)

Update: 13 November 2003: TMQ has a new home. (‡‡‡)

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 18th, 2003 at 20:11 and is filed under Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.