Harold Reynolds Update: Outback Steakhouse, an Inappropriate Hug, and a Termination
ESPN, Media Gossip/Musings July 25th. 2006, 9:45pm
So after a few hours of digging, and kicking over a few rocks, here�s what we�re hearing about the termination of ESPN baseball analyst Harold Reynolds, who worked at the Worldwide Leader for 11 years until Monday: All the stories you�re reading over at Deadspin are accurate: Reynolds was a skirt-chasing cad, and last weekend, says a source, he reached an unfortunate tipping point.
Over the weekend, Reynolds allegedly took a PA for a meal at Outback Steakhouse.[Months later, official documents cleared this up - it happened at a Boston Market.] Afterward, [Months later, official documents said the hug took place before the Boston Market visit.] he hugged her in a way that may have been deemed inappropriate. Apparently, the PA felt weirded out, and decided to file a complaint.
When the complaint was lodged, it became evident to ESPN brass that Reynolds had a massive file full of complaints of this nature. Supposedly, he was terminated sometime Monday morning.
While we�re hearing plenty of swell stories about the former Mariners second baseman, the sexual harassment claims are quite serious, and extremely unfortunate, because as we said earlier, we enjoyed his work on Baseball Tonight.
EARLIER: Breaking: ESPN Fires Harold Reynolds
53 Responses to “Harold Reynolds Update: Outback Steakhouse, an Inappropriate Hug, and a Termination”
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July 26th, 2006 at 1:11 am
Good work on finding out some info. I was all over ESPN today.
July 26th, 2006 at 5:17 am
The sexual harrasment allegation is bogus. There is no way that ESPN would have allowed Harold Reynolds to engage in sexual harrasment for eleven years, while employeed by the sports station. It is clear to me that Harold pissed off the big wigs. My hat is off to Harold because he stood up and voiced his opinion, like a real man, and not like a punk.
July 26th, 2006 at 12:41 pm
And we’re supposed to believe sites like this? LOL!!
July 26th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
I heard that Harold Reynolds once masturbated in the bathroom of a Wal-Mart to the picture of actor Tim Matheson. If that is true, then he is not only disturbed, he is insane.
July 26th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
I was hoping I was hearing wrong last night when I heard the firing of one of the best baseball analysts out there.I guess it is true that people will sue just to get rich right away.This chick is gonna probably gonna sue for millions.I would rather see Reynolds back there than Jeff Brantley.So come on ESPN,hire back Reynolds BEFORE baseball tonight loses its fans.
July 26th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
Yes Tim - it was reported in the NY post also.
July 26th, 2006 at 2:06 pm
Reynolds was as good as they come in doing his job at ESPN!…Considering all the total *** clown’s they employ (Joe Theisman and his whole hokey bumbling idiot plauged team are the WORST!) , Mr Reynolds was brilliant! …actually, he may be (outside Joe Morgan) one of the best pure baseball guys in the biz! His coverage at the College World Series is a MUST!…the game will suffer w/o him there.
Unfortunately, in this lawyer dominated world we live in, ESPN HAS to take this approach or risk litigation. I’m sure NO ONE at ESPN is happy about having Mr Reynolds leave. His talents will be missed and not easily replaced. Hopefully this issue will pass, and we’ll see him again on another network.
July 26th, 2006 at 2:08 pm
You’re a moron Cortez. Wake up to reality. HR has admitted to hugging someone who misinterpreted it. This article is accurate. HR thought he was a pimp and he just got bitch-slapped.
July 26th, 2006 at 2:42 pm
it is definitely unfortunate what happened to the guy, but for those of you that think he was some sort of “great analyst,” get a clue. good guy to watch, fun guy to watch, but as far as breaking down the game, he was a players’ guy who supplied nothing more than cosmetic-level comments. and if you think joe morgan is good, then you are really off your rocker. joe morgan might be one of the worst analysts in the history of television sports, be it baseball or anything else.
July 26th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
If Mr. Reynolds was second only to Joe Morgan as far as analysts were concerned, no WONDER he was fired…
http://firejoemorgan.blogspot.com
July 26th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
wait robert j.,
Baseball tonight has fans??
July 26th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
An open letter to ESPN:
Why your network keeps around tired acts like Woody Paige, Skip Bayless, Steve Phillips and Jay Mariotti, but gets rid of quality personalities like Harold Reynolds is beyond me. Harold did a great job on Baseball Tonight and every show he was on. So what that he allegedly tugged violently on his scrotum while he spoke with Jeff Brantley. Is that a crime? So what that he allegedly wore specially made tight, leather underwear that would squeeze his genitals when he crossed his legs, causing Harold incredible pain and pleasure. Does that make him less of an announcer? I say no. Fox will hire this guy in a second–and they should.
July 26th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
Harold Reynolds once hugged me inappropriately. Then he buggered me appropriately.
July 26th, 2006 at 4:48 pm
a generally passive person, i feel my blood boil when i hear joe morgan open his mouth. as a sox fan, everyday i hear what a true former-player-baseball-analyst sounds like in Jerry Remy. Morgan and Reynolds are awful. AWFUL. infurioratingly so. and it baffles me that anyone professes their superiority! unbelieveable. let me reiterate a formerly posted blog space that i love as well - http://firejoemorgan.blogspot.com/. like The Onion, or The Daily Show, it’s funny because it’s true.
July 26th, 2006 at 6:33 pm
Way beyond necessary! Suspension may have been in order. Required counseling should have been imposed. But unless there is something really big under the radar screen….the reaction seems way over the top! There must be something none of us knows about. Too bad…he was one of the really intelligent, insightful, bright spots on Baseball Tonight.
July 26th, 2006 at 7:17 pm
Yep, I fully agree with Marc. I’ve always enjoyed listening to HR (and JM as well) and am dismayed that he no longer will be with ESPN. But given that ESPN is owned by Disney -a “family” orientated company- it’s understandable how they would react. Too bad.
I’ve no doubt he’ll be picked up by someone else, hopefully TBS and not that POS network owned by Murdock.
July 26th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
Looks like ESPN fudged this one.Instead of sweeping this under the rug and just suspending HR and sending him to counseling for being a perv,now they’re gonna have too explain why they looked the other way for so long while HR groped women while employed by ESPN
July 26th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
If this is true as it appears it is a tragedy, with Peter Gammons out with health problems, Baseball Tonight is in trouble. We can now look forward too Kruk as the most impressive figure on the show and that is a joke. I agree that HR’s problem should have been addressed earlier because he is a closse second to PG as the best baseball analyst in the game today.
July 26th, 2006 at 10:19 pm
I met HR at the movies in Southington, Ct a few years ago. A super guy in person. As for the allegations, who knows. The problem with harrasment is what is fine to me and you may offend someone else. The fact “me and you” aren’t bothered by it doesn’t make it right. The fact “someone” else doesn’t like it doesn’t make it wrong. What makes it wrong is ana ction AFTER the person has expressed they discomfort with whatever it is (a hug, a tyo of joke, ect). I find it hard to believe HR was fired after being at ESPN for 11 years. A quality guy, fun to watch and the reason I will not watch Baseball Tonight again. Fox has got to pick this guy up….
July 26th, 2006 at 10:43 pm
Does anyone wonder what the hell this PA was doing having a meal with Harold alone? Stupid chicks…they go to eat a meal with a jock (newsflash broads, jocks are pigs!) and then freak out when he hugs you? Absolutely ridiculous!
July 26th, 2006 at 11:31 pm
harold must have been thinking with his wrong head and let it get the best of him
.to many balls to the noggin
July 26th, 2006 at 11:52 pm
As much as i liked Harold you guys are crazy…CRAZY…if you think Joe Morgan actually knows baseball. Yes, hes’ played baseball, hall of fame..blah blah blah. He has NO FRICKIN CLUE on how to talk baseball. Actually listen to what he says and actually read his articles you will understand. He is stuck in his playing days and has no use for todays game. If oyu haven’t checked it out yet: http://firejoemorgan.blogspot.com/ is a must read!
July 27th, 2006 at 2:06 am
Joe Morgan’s a retard (love http://firejoemorgan.blogspot.com). The bigs at ESPN are idiots. And while HR’s analysis ranks up their with mine, he was fun to watch and listen to, and that’s what SportsCenter and BBTN are all about: entertainment. Apparently HR’s got a long, sordid history of sexual harrasment, but that’s all heresay. As such, ESPN’s reaction seems heavy-handed and exaggerated. How does Michael Irvin get off with just a suspension after he gets pulled over with a friggin’ CRACK PIPE in his car??? And what about Mike Tirico??? Didn’t he tug on one too many skirts too and get away with only a suspension??? I hope this whole mess gets clarified real soon.
July 27th, 2006 at 4:02 am
I have to agree with the earlier sentiment. If after “years of compiling evidence/allegations” against/about HR’s ‘pattern of sexual harrasment,’ ESPN suddenly decides to do something about it, its clearly not the harassment that is the issue, but Harold’s quality analysis and expertise, as compared to the blowhard self-promoting idiots he shared the desk at BBTN with.
If Steve Phillips is such a genius GM, why is he doing analysis on TV? Steve may think he’s a genius, but one only has to look at the track record of money spent on has been, retreads who end up worthless (remember Robby Alomar and Mo Vaughn?).
Kruk has always been a dumb-XXX over-rated redneck.
I hope that HR is able to overcome these allegations, and find gainful employment somewhere his talent as an analyst can be appreciated. Without HR and Peter Gammons (pray for his recovery!), ESPN’s baseball coverage is worthless.
July 27th, 2006 at 4:44 am
yes Pete,Baseball Tonight has its fans.Ialso agree with you all that say Joe Morgan sucks as a baseball analyst.I hate when he talks.All he talks about is himself in his playing days.I did this,I did that,it doesnn’t matter what you did.Just call the game!!
July 27th, 2006 at 5:23 am
I love the Outback.
July 27th, 2006 at 6:13 am
Maybe they ordered the bloomin’ onion, and HR misinterpreted her sharing the dish with him?
July 27th, 2006 at 6:14 am
What about Gary Miller doing bong hits and pissing out of that window on the street below?
Espn is full of douchebags. Greenfag has his radio show, Stewart Scott thinks he’s God, Dan Patrick another radio beeyitch drinking his own Kool-Aid, Salisbury Steak doing NFL work, and then there is the BIG FAT Chris Berman (who needs to be told, he is not the event). Save your breath people, Larry Biel had run at this network, “Aloha means goodbye!”. And don’t forget about Linda Cohn, “for the love of elevation”. But in the end, all you can do is watch. Because they are the only sports network on TV. My only relief is that the NFL network is getting some games this year. So, I don’t have to hear “boo-yow” or “football playing jessie” all season long.
July 27th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
Thanks everyone for the Joe Morgan blog! Wish I’d thought of this myself. My worst nightmare is when the Sox play on ESPN and I am forced to sit through Joe’s insipid commentary. Try counting how many times in a game he says, “See, I knew he was going to do that. That’s what I would have done…blah, blah, blah.
If there’s a worse baseball analyst, I’ve never seen him or her!
July 27th, 2006 at 6:59 pm
I really enjoy HR and have learned a great deal from him. In fact, I think I focused on HR’s comments and have not paid too much attention to Joe Morgan. After all of the comments, I am not looking forward to a night of baseball!
July 28th, 2006 at 12:47 am
Harold Reynolds is a good analyst, better than most. Its unfortunate that his personal sh*t had to effect his professional career. You know what , who cares about this, when is ESPN going to wise up and hire Bob Uecker. The World Series play-by-play teams have never been the same since NBC lost them. It just sucks now. Hopefully Chris Berman will learn the names of the opposing players when the Red Sox are in the playoffs, douche. ESPN should hire some sports brains instead a bunch of hacks trying to get bits on the air.
July 28th, 2006 at 6:51 am
What exactly is a n inappropriate hug … ??
I am in no way condoning sexual harassment - but this “politically correct” world we live in is starting to really piss me off!
So when the office hottie desides to wear the latest fashion and I decide to look - tough shit if she feels violated - try not dressing like a whore …
July 28th, 2006 at 10:46 am
It looks like ESPN either has real solid proof or it was a witch hunt. If HR actually did this it is a crime and criminal charges should be pressed. If no charges are pressed then he didn’t deserve to get fired. This is USA, he is innocent ubtil proven guilty. ESPN didn’t stand by him, they should have suspended him, with pay until proven guilty, they did irvin and Brantley, why not Harold?
July 28th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
Some of the comments here are absolutely hilarious….others provide good assessment regardless of which side of the fence they are on…..
HR is/was a great Baseball Analyst. Great to listen to. Thoroughly enjoy listening to him especially during LL WS events. Will be missed next month. He is great with the kids. Knows the game etc.
ESPN has dug itself a huge hole with the way this was handled. If Harold had been violating for “11 Years”, and has a file stocked full harassment complaints…. c’mon….somebody in the HR department should be fired for not doing something about it a long time ago. Maybe he got a little too friendly with a co-worker or two, but if there were issues/complaints, and you allowed it to go on without doing something to stop it sooner, you just as guilty than Harold…..to me, it is extremely hard to believe what ESPN is saying…Harlod comes across as a very classy and respectful person on camera….I DON’T BUY IT….ESPN is using this as a reason for firing him….HAROLD SHOULD SUE THEM FOR WRONGFUL TERMINATION…..Oh and by the way, the worst analysts on TV are Joe Buck and Tim McCarver (sp)….they are so biased towards the Yankees I turn the sound off when I watch the games…can’t stand them….
July 28th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
Love the idea of Bob Uecker—”juussst a bit outside!”
July 29th, 2006 at 1:00 am
The most dead-on post here is by “Johnbgame.” In the case of minor touching (private parts NOT considered minor!), it is only when the person says “no” that it is criminal (whether after a minor act or in advance of it). e.g. If HR pinched her butt, and then she said, “Don’t ever touch me again,” and he still did, that’s a criminal act of assault. If she said “I don’t want to be physical with you,” and he then pinched her butt, that is assault, too. I’m not a lawyer, and I’m not trying to follow the “PC” version of the law, just a common sense version. To me, this is best said by Johnbgame as “The problem with [sexual] harrasment is what is fine to me and you may offend someone else.” In a minor touching sense, that is dead on. Women deserve just as much respect as men, and if either sex does something MINOR that the opposite sex disapproves of, there should be a reprive if the action is corrected (i.e. NOT repeated). This point of view is given with no knowledge of HR’s past history, just a case by case basis opinion.
July 29th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
I liked Harold Reynolds even tho he was a “PLAYERS” analyst. In my opinion he was one of a few positve talking heads that ESPN has. But the worst ESPN hacks are Skip Bayliss, Berman, and ofcourse Steve Phillips who should not be allowed to GM a Foot Locker. Especially after Phillips they should trade A-ROD comments. The only guy who couldn’t make it in New York City is Steve Phillips. Skip Bayliss is a dick he is the worst one they have. He makes some of the most ridiculous comments I’ve ever heard on that network. But he and Phillips stay and HR goes there is something wrong in this world. What I find most interesting is the hipocrisy of ESPN. They remain quiet and have no comment on they the Harold Reynolds scandal but if this was Terrell Owens, Barry Bonds or A-Rod in hot water with the ladies. Bob Ley would have an hour long Outside the Lines special on it. Pedro Gomez would be outside those guys homes with a microphone looking for a story. So what now this production assistant gets to become a millionaire I guess? Please can somebody start a fire Skip Bayliss blog, website, petition something. Maybe Charles Barkely can throw him threw a plate glass window.
August 1st, 2006 at 4:38 pm
I know HR personally..and believe me..he’s NOT what he presents to the public. The guy is a cad. He might be an better than average commentator, but he has no scruples, and being married makes no difference to the guy. Heck, he has a 6 month old child!
I figured in time he’d cook his “own goose’. Sure enough…it’s his own fault. I hope his wife dumps him. She’s a classy lady and deserves much better!
August 8th, 2006 at 8:22 am
I heard HR got caught banging some chick on his desk…..for the 3rd time in as many years; no lie!
August 14th, 2006 at 4:09 pm
Daddy Mack,
I’m sure that inappropriate hug HR gave you happened after he saw you standing outside his bathroom window roughing up the suspect as you watched the soap suds run down the crack of his a$$.
August 19th, 2006 at 12:48 am
HR is just another brother who cant lay off the white girls. No surprise here. Too bad, i liked his work. Guess the girl didnt.
August 21st, 2006 at 5:52 pm
i was sexual harrassed by myself in my own cube. i pressed the issue with my boss who said i should stop harrassing myself or I would be fired for sexual harrassment. I was suspended for 2 weeks. I had sex with my girlfriend and harrassed her.
August 21st, 2006 at 9:34 pm
I agree with JD, screw “politcally correct” a**holes!!! Women should not dress like they are going out on the town if they are only going to work. That is their own damn fault! 5 second rule, gents, 5 seconds then look away,ha ha
October 5th, 2006 at 7:42 pm
h3 was da greatest 0f @ll, Time
November 4th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
I think that michale irvin is still smoking crack, just check out how loud and hyped up he gets when he,s talking. And as for HR if he was out there with the young woman and not with his wife, well he was trying to get sum a$$ on the side, and now that little slut is going to get a few dollars
January 27th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
I am sorry to hear the news about Harold Reynolds as I truly believe he was a very knowledgable and good analyist. We again have lost a real goodie. I think though the big show (ESPN) should rethink some of those people still in their lineup who have nary a clue of what is going on or those who are knowledgeable that never shut the fuck up.
Any questions?
February 22nd, 2007 at 7:45 am
These comments are just ludicrous. Harry used to patronize my bar in Baltimore, and after our spot, and I saw no evidence that he was out of control with the women. As far as hugging somebody, I guess all of us guys are guilty of that. ESPN/analyst/announcers are just average jocks who have a better than average knowledge of the English language and can report some of these knowledge to you, the viewer. But these TV personalities are no more Angels and Saints. They are football, baseball, hockey, and soccer jocks who have made it in in the arena of announcing sports. So it is not nowhere near the goody two shoes 1950s. But like somebody else said, if you want to be treated with respect have to dress appropriate and not like somebody going out to a party.
April 10th, 2007 at 6:19 am
Joe Morgan and Joe Theismann both talk way too much! When my buddies and I are babbling we call each other joe— depending on the season. Joe T is gone …..lets hope the other yacker will follow him out the door!Rick Sutcliffe is very good!@!!
April 10th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Rick Sutcliffe is another moron that should be canned…the sooner, the better. I talked to him for about 10 minutes in the airport last year; we were en route to Baltimore where he was going to do the Orioles series. Guy had no friggin’ idea who was on Baltimore’s pitching staff, their ERAs…nothing. Couldn’t even talk about Leo Mazzone as their pitching coach. WTF??? Are you kidding me? And now…to listen to him on TV…take away cliches and you have effectively rendered him mute.
May 23rd, 2007 at 2:35 pm
I like how the articles linked reference each other as corroborating sources. Very right wing world. I’ve seen guys who whore around on their wives, but that doesn’t make them harassers. Kind of like the old thing about gays must molest little boys. Anybody knows that Catholic priests who do that.
June 12th, 2007 at 1:19 am
The problem with this case is that the irrelevent external stuff is getting in the way of the relevent stuff. To wit: In order for the conduct to be legally deemed as sexual harrassment the harrasser would have had to know that the “hug” made the PA uncomfortable as opposed to what other individuals may deem to be “good night”. In other words, unless their was blatant physical conduct that a jury would deem to be “unwelcome, unwanted or out of the norm” the PA would simply notify Reynolds that she was uncomfortable with the conduct. She could report it to the management, who would then pass the complaint, along with a cease warning along to Reynolds. If after such warning, Reynolds continued this practice, he would be subject to discipline, up to termination.
If, on the otherhand, the Management of ESPN is only reacting to this incident, they have difficulty. “Rituals” only become unwelcome and unwanted after the individuals is told that his “rituals” are making others uncomfortable. Management has only themselves to blame if, for example, they use this example…..and then go back to discover other incidents that were reported yet NEVER PASSED ALONG TO REYNOLDS IN ANY DOCUMENTED WAY!
For his part, Reynolds, a married man, should remain single if he is chasing women around town, as his reported reputation is. Who knows, if this was the rap on Reynolds, one of his defenses could be that if the PA knew this reputation, Reynolds could either argue a setup or that the PA going to dinner with him implied in his mind, that his conduct was not offensive.
June 16th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
C’mon, ESPN. Anybody remember your buddy, ol’ Slick Willie in the Oval Office?!? He got to keep HIS job! The only reason I watch(ed) the College World Series was because Harold Reynolds is/was THE BEST commentator in the sport. You could take any observation he made about every aspect of baseball straight to the bank. Barry Larkin?? - yawn. Help us all. Bring back Harold and stay out of his personal life. Better yet, stay out of NASCAR, too, while you’re at it. Your non-stop commercials are ludicrous at best.
July 8th, 2007 at 5:00 am
Reports of his former colleagues seem much worse:
-Rick Sutcliffe announcing while clearly intoxicated from alcohol. Though since it didn’t take place on The World Wide Leader, what happens in San Diego stays in San Diego.
-Sean Salisbury “allegedly” text messaging Suzy Kolber his crown jewels. Two pricks for the price of one, apparently.
-Steve Levy and Scott van Pelt walking through the Sports Center set while on-air speaking to John Andersen and Linda Cohn with clearly slurred speech.
-Hiring Michael Irvin, Keyshawn Johnson, and Steve Phillips who all have shady pasts.
-Eric Wynalda’s drunken rant that involved him wanting to get aroused by Jim Rome and when I mean aroused I don’t mean laughing about another Clone talking about J-Stew’s moles again.
-Dickie V. clearly spouting ethnocentric remarks about European players.
-Jim Gray’s head up Kobe Bryant’s ass
-Anything found in “ESPN: The Uncensored History”
-Berman’s supposedly in an “open” marriage. How else would their be a mass production of the “I’m With You Leather” t-shirts.
I feel for HR if what he said was true but I feel even more for the women who work at ESPN. The Uncensored History revealed to me that working as a woman on ESPN was like being Veronica Corningstone surrounded by Champ Kind times a thousand, for anybody who has seen Anchorman, to put it bluntly.