Tony Kornheiser Suspended from PTI Due to His Comments About Hannah Storm’s Wardrobe [UPDATE]
ESPN, Media Gossip/Musings February 23rd. 2010, 10:39amTony Kornheiser has been suspended from Pardon the Interruption for “some time” (read: a few days) due to his comments about Hannah Storm’s wardrobe last week. Kornheiser – who apologized to Storm the day after the kerfuffle – was missing from PTI yesterday (Dan LeBatard filled in) and he opened his radio show today by quickly addressing the matter. An ESPN spokesman confirmed the suspension, which is anticipated to be “a few days.” [UPDATE: ESPN Executive VP John Skipper released a statement at 6 pm today saying Kornheiser is suspended for two weeks.]
While we did a couple of posts on the story last week, we never offered up any thoughts on the matter. We’ll be brief: Silly suspension. Storm’s Sportscenter wardrobe for nearly two years has been embarrassing. Male anchors are dressed in suits; Storm frequently wears outfits that you might see on a cougar at a bar. Is she going dancing or talking about the Kentucky Wildcats? Erin Andrews has cleaned up her sartorial act on the sidelines. Is it too much to ask Storm to do the same?
Nobody expects Storm to be covered in burka, but she could definitely learn a bit from the likes of Chris McKendry or Sage Steele. [Ed. A reader passes along this Steele outfit. Guess we missed that day.] Norby should go home and ask his neighbor’s wife what she thinks of Storm’s short skirts, tall boots, and plunging necklines. He might be surprised.
Furthermore, ESPN must loosen up. (We thought this problem had been solved over the last year – the network had come a long way from the early 00’s – but apparently not.) Why can’t it have its top talent – Bill Simmons, Tony Kornheiser, etc – making commentary about the media? Colin Cowherd opened his show today talking about Mike Wilbon’s silly take on Tiger. Is he going to be suspended next? The more restrictions you place on your talent, the easier it is to lose them when it’s time to re-sign them.
And unlike earlier this decade, the ESPN talent – writers, radio hosts, and TV stars alike – has plenty of options.
99 Responses to “Tony Kornheiser Suspended from PTI Due to His Comments About Hannah Storm’s Wardrobe [UPDATE]”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.

February 23rd, 2010 at 10:45 AM
This was the reason Simmons gave for not allowing comments on his articles, which makes absolutely no sense. I can’t believe you didn’t do a post about that, TBL.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:45 AM
Erin Andrews has cleaned up her sartorial act on the sidelines
Erin Andrews changed her wardrobe less because of complaints and more because of a need for a lower profile after video of her naked in a hotel room was put on the internet.
Slightly different sitaution.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:46 AM
Well said TBL. It’s getting ridiculous.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:46 AM
Keornheiser’s popularity stems from his crotchety-ness (word?) and his joy in calling out things he finds dumb. ESPN is suspending a guy for the behavior they pay him for.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:48 AM
Norby should go home and ask his neighbor’s wife what she thinks of Storm’s short skirts, tall boots, and plunging necklines. He might be surprised.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:52 AM
stupid. PTI is one of the reasons i watch ESPN. I dont watch that network for highlights that’s for sure.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:56 AM
I’m surprised they did this to Kornheiser, although in the corporate “Politically Correct 101″ handbook, this is what HR probably said they needed to do.
PTI just doesn’t do it for me like it used to. I used to watch 4-5 times week, now, maybe once/week.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:57 AM
Isn’t she married to a higher up at ESPN or Disney? If so, you’d be correct.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Did anyone else attempt to listen to Simmons latest podcast? He had the Rockets GM on, and it was the most boring podcast he’s ever done. The dude had a complete monotone and couldn’t have been more lame. Does he really think that people want to hear the Rockets GM for 60 minutes? Granted, I could only make it through 4 minutes, I can only imagine what the rest was like. Cmon Simmons, you can do better, so much better.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Hannah Storm dresses like a fucking whore. I’m glad Kornheiser criticized her.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:05 AM
I’m sure that was it, not the fact the Deadspin brigade was taking shots at his wife.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:05 AM
PTI just doesn’t do it for me like it used to. I used to watch 4-5 times week, now, maybe once/week.
Same here, though it pretty much applies to every show with me. By the time I get home and do all the shit I need to do, I have time to watch 1-2 games and then I’m off to bed. I rarely watch any shows or highlights on TV anymore.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:06 AM
KC: She’s married to Dan Hicks, the NBC golf announcer
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:07 AM
Somebody just got name dropped on The Dan Patrick show….
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:07 AM
i fuckin’ love sage steele.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:07 AM
So, let me get this right…
There are only two things seemingly worth watching these days on ESPN: (1) Hannah on early morning SportsCenter to see if she decided to wear the hooker boots (which are awesome), and (2) TonyK on PTI. And because of one completely lame comment that no one really cared about anyway, I don’t get to see *either* now for a couple of days?
Way to fuck things up as usual ESPN.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:08 AM
So, NDub=not a fan of Hannah Storm. Is it because her first name is a palindrome?
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:08 AM
dan hicks? more like loves dicks.
/i hate dan hicks
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:09 AM
I think people who care about what she wears are fucking ridiculous (including you NDub, sorry, you still my nigga tho). She talks about sports. Not healthcare, not crime, not war, fucking sports. Who cares what she wears. I am way more interested to keep the channel on ESPN if I see she is wearing something sexy. Believe me. If that makes me slightly sexist, well fuck it then.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:09 AM
Stewart Scott needs to find a new tailor. Whoever is picking out his shirt and tie combination is either blind or fucking with him.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Never noticed that, +1.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Yikes.
bsanders/cap rooney/ostrich #1 fan = Dan Hicks?
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:11 AM
Are you laying this one up for someone else? Because I can take it if need be.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:12 AM
Hannah Storm ruined Dwight Howard’s Sportscenter commercial. fire her
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:13 AM
bout time. what he say about Miz?
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:14 AM
Jersey, i’ll refer you to Lou Pinella’s comments on Erin Andrews from last year
Are you doing a baseball game today or a modeling assignment?
http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2008/07/31/columnist-erin-andrews-flitted-around-cubs-clubhouse-while-players-ask-hot-or-just-attractive/
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Anyone who rips ESPN for this is confirming their bias again tWWL.
Look, at what office is it productive to start talking shit about another person? Especially to the media, though I understand this analogy is weird since ESPN is a medium.
I think ESPN is wack with their policies at time, too, but it’s not the people’s republic of sports. It’s a company and a storied history of sexual harassment.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:15 AM
just sayin… i’d bang the hell out of hannah storm
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Nah, I don’t watch golf, that just seemed like a PFT-level comment.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:15 AM
KC: She’s married to Dan Hicks, the NBC golf announcer
Thanks, JPQ.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:17 AM
/fixed
And I want to add: If you have any issue with someone at work, it’s almost always best to go anonymously through HR. Confrontation in the workplace makes things toxic for both parties. There’s a reason you have an HR department and they get paid and trained.
I’ve never reported anyone for anything at work, but I understand what’s behind it. Maybe I’m wrong. Idk.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:17 AM
Death Row Records?
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:17 AM
Orange sucks
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:17 AM
Fuckin’ love Johnny Depp.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:17 AM
I find it funny that a bunch of testosterone-driven guys are bitching about an attractive older woman’s wardrobe choice. very catty.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:17 AM
I’d fuck the shit out of Sage Steele
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:19 AM
Look, at what office is it productive to start talking shit about another person?
Happens all the time in my office. But then my department is filled mostly with catty women.
/hate my job.
//glad I’m employed because it pays my tuition.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:20 AM
joe boy, you want to fuck sage steele but millers girl isn’t good enough, shiiiiiiiiit.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:20 AM
I’m sure it was something solid. me and Dan go way back.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:21 AM
ha! criticizing on air talent for being or saying stupid things is one thing, but the way she dresses? seems very middle schoolish to me.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:23 AM
It’s all relative. I, a broke 21 year old college student would fuck Sage Steele. If I were Ryan Miller, a rich hockey player/olympian, I wouldn’t be dating the chick he’s dating. I mean I’d fuck her sure, but her face is not pretty to me.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:24 AM
Hmmmm, wanna write me a reference TBL?
http://footballjobs.teamworkonline.com/teamwork/jobs/jobs.cfm/Finance?supcat=314#27658
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:24 AM
If it was SportsCenter Europe, Storm would be twice as hot and topless, and no one would say shit.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:25 AM
I think there’s a generation gap with this. Older guys generally get thrown off by women looking attractive in the workplace. I think younger guys are generally more accepting of a woman looking like a woman in a professional context. Sons of liberated women.
Kornheiser criticizes TV anchors all the time. I think it was the sexual undertone to the comments. Wasn’t just saying she looked unprofessional. Basically, he said she looked like a whore. Difference.
As far as Simmons not having comments on his columns, there’s no obligation for ESPN to provide a forum for people bent on harassing him personally.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:26 AM
I find it funny that a bunch of testosterone-driven guys are bitching about an attractive older woman’s wardrobe choice. very catty.
ha! criticizing on air talent for being or saying stupid things is one thing, but the way she dresses? seems very middle schoolish to me.
That’s because Oedipus is in da house!
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:27 AM
You need to stop this trend of saying shit I agree with. I haven’t disagreed with you in 5 months and it is so frustrating.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:29 AM
i like ill’s idea.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:29 AM
PTI is only good when Wilbon and Kornheiser are on. Any other host and I ignore it. If one of those guys ever leave the show, ESPN should just take it off the air.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:30 AM
I think it was the sexual undertone to the comments. Wasn’t just saying she looked unprofessional. Basically, he said she looked like a whore. Difference.
i disagree with that Duff. he said something along the lines of she is wearing her typical tight tight shirt and how he commented on the red go go boots and plaid skirt.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:30 AM
PTI is the best thing about ESPN hands down. Hannah Storm looked like a go-go dancer from Austin Powers in those cheesy red boots. I have started noticing every time I watch ESPN lately a little piece of me dies inside, now this.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:32 AM
Dan LeBatard is a sloppy bitch. He should be called out for putting that fat sweaty mug in my livingroom.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:32 AM
http://media.photobucket.com/image/sage%20steele%20skirt/anchorbabes/Sep%202009/SageSteele1.jpg
LMAO….Herm is wanting some of that
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:33 AM
At least it’s Hannah Storn dressing up like that and not Linda Cohn or Dana Jacobson.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:33 AM
Yet they provide it for nearly all of their other writers.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:34 AM
She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body … I know she’s very good, and I’m not supposed to be critical of ESPN people, so I won’t … but Hannah Storm … come on now! Stop! What are you doing?
or was it this quote Duff that TK basically said she was a whore?
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:34 AM
I think there’s a generation gap with this. Older guys generally get thrown off by women looking attractive in the workplace.
Ever seen Mad Men?
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:34 AM
ESPN is so bad i dread when the Fighting Illini play on their. If Musberger, Lavin, or Schmuan call the game I’m ok with that. Bilas sometime too. Anyone else NO!.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:35 AM
Oh and how do Pam Ward and Doris Burk have jobs as announcers? They are awful, and they have man voices.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:35 AM
I think there’s a generation gap with this. Older guys generally get thrown off by women looking attractive in the workplace. I think younger guys are generally more accepting of a woman looking like a woman in a professional context. Sons of liberated women.
Ty (and Jersey): If you guys are so “liberated” about women, why do most all of you in your age group on here objectify them? As you have seen on here for the 4,000 or so 20-somethings that have been commented about and defiled in every imaginable way, I don’t see a lot of liberation there.
What I see is IDENTIFICATION. A 21-25 year old guy cannot mentally picture someone his Mom’s age as “hot”, so they are either turned off or threatened by it. You guys ooh’s and aahh’d for years over EA’s wardrobe, and not complain because she decided to “cover up”
Conversely, me wanting to defile some 18-20 year old is not something in my consciousness.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:36 AM
Ah, yes…the Sean Salisbury branding initiative.
The TK suspension is absurd. To use a cliche, he is what he is, which is an [to a segment of us) endlessly entertaining, crotchety, self-deprecating old fart. The only positive to this is it gives him more “vacation” jokes.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:37 AM
* not complain = now complain
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:37 AM
Ever seen Mad Men?
Indeed.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:39 AM
until they saw Linda Cohn, Dana Jacobson and all th eother old ugly chicks.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:39 AM
Eh, I hate the move but I understand it. It’s basic shit. You’re talking about a media environment now where saying a joke with an Asian accent on air can get you fired, or calling someone’s hair “nappy” means you’re a racist even though you’ve never exhibited such characteristics before.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:41 AM
got your back, jpq.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:41 AM
love-hate with him. he says things that make me want to punt my tv with his arrogance, but sometimes he is spot-on with his assessment.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:43 AM
I was writing a very long answer to this and then realized it was way too long so I’ll keep it at this. Women are empowered when they know that people consider them good looking. I don’t care if shes 20 or 50, a good looking women is a good looking woman. If she wants to wear something that emphasizes her looks and can still do her job well, it doesn’t matter to me.
/still too long
//twss
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:43 AM
thx miz. glad someone does-lol
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:47 AM
this is not any “normal” office. Storm is a public figure who is on TV for 3 hours daily. she is a “sports news anchor.” she is profiled in magazines and in newspapers. it was “big news” when she was hired a couple years ago.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:47 AM
@JPQ
I think us younger guys have been inundated with sexuality a lot more since we were young. We’re more immune to it. It’s not that our attitude to women is necessarily more enlightened. But, we aren’t going to freak out about a woman wearing a short skirt in a professional context. I don’t know anyone under the age of 35 who complained about or thought Erin Andrews dressed inappropriately.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:50 AM
Agreed. Good point. But also I think older guys tend to notice it more because their interactions are many times just with their wives and women in the workplace. Many if not most of the younger guys are still hitting the bars, dating, or around enough women who dress a little bit less conservatively that it does not register as much.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:56 AM
This is absurd.
Do you only interact with old scholarly prudes, duffy? A small percentage of “old” men are going to freak out when they see a woman wearing something sexy in the workplace. It’s not like men in the Lucky Few or Baby Boomer generations skipped puberty or grew up during the Salem witch trials…
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Pam Ward is terrible, but Doris Burke is really good. There’s a reason she’s been more prominent on the network. She’s probably the 3rd best game analyst on ESPN behind Knight and Bilas. I have no problem with watching a game she’s announcing. Unlike Vitale.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:00 PM
ty: believe it or not, those ancient tablets we looked at in the caves had pornographic etchings on them, so I’m kinda familiar with sexuality. As Jersey said, many people, as they get older, get more comfortable and confident in themselves, in many facets of their lives.
A strong confident woman is something that many men are completely intimidated by “SWANS”- Strong Women Achievers, No Spouse.
But, we aren’t going to freak out about a woman wearing a short skirt in a professional context
then why are many saying that what Storm wore was inappropriate? Is it out of context? As I said before on this, check out Miami news/weather (or FoxNews) and see how the women are dressed
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:31 PM
This calls for another round of the Penguin Dance!
/to the left /to the side….
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:43 PM
TK is as annoying as berman and any other espn blowhard. Whatever made him so great in a lot of people’s eyes is gone. Wilbon as well.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:49 PM
Bullshit. Diane Lane is hot as fuck. I think Hannah is damn hot too, especially for someone who is 47!! years old.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:05 PM
Funny how Kornheiser got a much harsher punishment for this than Colin Cowherd received for a call to action for a denial of service attack on TBL on his ESPN Radio show.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:15 PM
Forget what they wear….every time I hear the names ‘Sage Steele’ and ‘Hannah Storm’ together, I wait for the porn music to start!!
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:16 PM
He does a good job on the Olympics
Whomever said this is a fucktard
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:17 PM
Whomever said this is a fucktard
fucktard
Personal attack!!
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:41 PM
Remember, this is also TK’s second or third “vacation” from PTI over the years because of stuff he said on PTI or his radio show.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:57 PM
sorry about being late to the party.
fox news sexes up its female anchors and makes sure to use low-angle camera shots to get the legs in the frame.
look at their ratings.
you do the math.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:59 PM
love the concept and love kornheiser, but you are right.
the subjects are predictable. even wilbon grouses about the same subjects — especially during baseball season.
kornheiser’s radio show is so freaking superior to other sports radio schlock i don’t know where to start.
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:02 PM
Editorial comment of politcal correctness. These days it’s normally spelled burqa intstead of burka to reflect arabic phonetics.
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:05 PM
reflect this.
/grabs crotch
//ey yo whatsamattawidyou?
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:06 PM
fox news sexes up its female anchors and makes sure to use low-angle camera shots to get the legs in the frame.
look at their ratings.
you do the math
Not that you’re wrong, but their reporting does trend towards the right which appeals to a large segment of Americans who feel that the other news outlets have trended to the left for years and this is the basis for their good ratings.
But the low angle camera shots don’t hurt.
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:12 PM
Duffy, were you maybe referring to TK’s reference to her as a “Holden Caufield fantasy”? I think that’s where you could point to potential sexual undertones.
Otherwise, the rest just sounded like he was saying she looked ridiculous, which she did, which is fine by me.
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:28 PM
her outfit was f’ing terrible. good for u tony
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:55 PM
Agreed, but there are many more workers at ESPN behind the scenes who have cubicles and offices. The anchors do, too. To publicly talk shit about someone you work with reverberates through those walls in Bristol and nothing good comes out of it. The producers obviously had no problem with her outfits, so you think because Tony spoke they’ll acquiesce? If anything they’ll say, Keep it going, Hannah! At the end of the day, you know have a suspended employee and an embarrassed employee. Not good for your company, even if it is ‘media.’
And Tony K is a public figure, too. He wouldn’t have a bone to pick with the heads of ESPN if some podcast from the ESPN podcenter ripped Tony apart? Shouldn’t you keep it in the family as every reporter knows from years of rote coach press conference responses?
February 23rd, 2010 at 3:18 PM
how exactly do TK and this hannah storm work together? one works in washington, the other in some nondescript corner of new england.
kornheiser even said on his show he’s never met her?
saying these two work together is like saying some clown in an IRS office in topeka works with obama.
February 23rd, 2010 at 3:20 PM
gotta confess: i’ve never seen this storm on bspn. i remember when she worked for cnnsi and i believe i remember her working on cbs this morning for whatever that weekday morning show is called.
the last time she was relevant was when joey belle cussed her out.
February 23rd, 2010 at 3:20 PM
They should go ahead and ban him for life, per his annoying and sucky nature.
February 23rd, 2010 at 4:03 PM
Before Steele left for Bristol, she was a guest on Tony’s radio show and they got into it pretty good.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:14 AM
Why does location matter? A guy at P&G NYC director mocks a P&G Cincy director in Business Week, and since they’re separated by 1000 miles, no one in either office is affected?
Tony K isn’t a Wash Post guy anymore. He’s a full-time ESPN guy, I believe. Who do you think pays a portion of his health benefits?
I know Storm does the mid morning live one, but SC follows PTI. You gotta protect the product. Skewering one of your own just makes no sense to me. What good comes of it?
Whether it’s over appearance or performance, it’s not good business. What if Golic ripped Tony during his MNF run on Mike and Mike? What if Rece Davis went on SVP’s radio show and started doing more than just good-natured ribbing of Dicky V?
Should the senior level management just let it continue, or try and squash it?
February 24th, 2010 at 12:16 AM
Cmon, the connection is a closer.
Storm and Tony are two premier on-air talents.
An IRS worker is one of a million federal employees.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:41 AM
Oh well, for sure, nobody saw that one coming. Detailed Opinions.
February 26th, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Kornheiser and top talent go together like oil and water. When did someone that knows nothing about sports become a top talent for a sports show?
February 26th, 2010 at 12:55 PM
By the way, Does anyone actually read some of this crap? A few of you need to get a life with the sex comments. There are other places to go for the porn discussions!