Harold Reynolds FIRED

[Go Bravos!!!#1]

See the link.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/espn_fires_reynolds_sports_andrew_marchand.htm

[jpenrod]

See the link.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/espn_fires_reynolds_sports_andrew_marchand.htm

Thats wierd

[Tylersarticles]

That is really weird. I like Harold Reynolds a lot and think he is a great asset to Baseball Tonight. He is certainly a lot better than Steve Phillips who is even worse on ESPN than he was the General Manager for the Mets.

[Gamingboy]

The Little League World Series won't be the same without him.

[Erik Bedard]

The Little League World Series won't be the same without him.

That's all I remember him for.

When I first read this title, my initial reaction was "Who?" and my secondary reaction was "Oh yeah, the guy who did the LLWS."

[redlegsfan21]

I hope either Fox or TBS signs him seeing how they will have more baseball work in the future. Also, I like Harold a lot.

[Seattle1]

Harold Reynolds was a two-time All-Star second baseman for the Seattle Mariners. He is the franchise career leader in triples (soon to be surpassed by Ichiro), and 2nd in stolen bases (again, soon to be surpassed by Ichiro).

Too bad about him getting fired. I wonder what happened to precipitate that? As the article said, he just signed a new long-term contract.

[geezer]

Still I cant find a reason Harold was fired, he was a strong contributor in that program, and he's a nice guy.

[circusmaximus]

Harold's got to at least be the #1 candidate to join the TBS crew next year. It would be great if he were reunited with Bob Costas if they convince him to do their play-by-play, I liked that duo when they did the Triple Play 2002 game.

[Go Bravos!!!#1]

Harold Reynolds was always enjoyable. Too bad he's been fired.... He should catch on somewhere soon however.

[SamtheBravesFan]

That is really weird. I like Harold Reynolds a lot and think he is a great asset to Baseball Tonight. He is certainly a lot better than Steve Phillips who is even worse on ESPN than he was the General Manager for the Mets.

Harold Reynolds was one of the more sensible people on BT. Usually, he didn't say anything that was utterly mind-numbing or stupid. I don't want to be proved wrong with that statement, I was trying to say something nice about him. :laugh But I do hope he finds another job. He should.

[KCGHOST]

Well, this is a stunner. Reynolds was no world-beater at analysis but he is light years better than Phillips, Martinez (god, is he awful or what), Brantley, and Kruk.

Something happened behind the scenes that we don't know about yet.

[Food]

I dug Reynolds as a player, and it was cool to see him having so much fun at ESPN. Some of those promo ads, you could tell he was having a blast. I hope someone else picks him up.

[markfnc]

First post, just found this site. I liked Reynolds. Must have been some off hours stuff. But, ESPN is not known for firing anyone due to off hours stuff, such as Gary Miller and the urination issue, and hiring Phillips that matter with his sexual harrasment issues.

[hogwashed]

I like Reynolds. Hate to see him go. They should of fired Kruk, can't stand the ape.

[bluezebra]

The Little League World Series won't be the same without him.

Yes. For the better. His knowledge(?) of rules is matched only by Tim McCarver and Joe Morgan. Yet he never let that stand in the way of messing up rule interpretations.

Now, if Tim and Joe will be dumped, it will a much better world.

Bob

[Baseball Guru]

This sucks!!

I really liked Reynolds... He was mad cool when I met him while doing a BBTN show from the ESPN studio here a few years ago... Really nice guy....

I like when him and Kruk (who I dont really care for) argue:)

I dont really mind the rest of them either.. I like Karl, I like Steve Phillips... Not really a Brantley fan.. I agree with Willie, he comes off as arrogant....

[iPod]

Well, this is a stunner. Reynolds was no world-beater at analysis but he is light years better than Phillips, Martinez (god, is he awful or what), Brantley, and Kruk.

Something happened behind the scenes that we don't know about yet.

Kruk is a guy who I, totally serious when I write this, could walk on the set of Baseball Tonight right now and do a better job than him. He's so pitiful as a baseball commentator that it really makes me wonder what the hell he said to the ESPN guys during his interview. It just seems to me that even in an interview situation it must have been painfully obvious this guy suffers from the deadly combination of having nothing interesting to say and an uncontrollable desire to say things.

[Outta Here]

If this is true, I'm gutted :(

I really like Reynolds, he's the best 1 on the show :clapping

It's gonna be borin now, I don't like many of the other presenters, especially Brantley, who scares me as he has no lips! :eek: :ughh

[Skin & Bones]

http://www.deadspin.com/sports/top/was-this-why-harold-got-the-axe-189733.php

[Elvis]

See the link.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/espn_fires_reynolds_sports_andrew_marchand.htm

What?! Reynolds was the best thing about that show and for me the only reason I still watched it! :grouchy ESPN blows donkey muffuns! :radio

[Blackout]

word has it he was fired for sexual harassment. multiple cases.

www.deadspin.com

We can't say for sure why Harold Reynolds was fired from ESPN yesterday, because ESPN hasn't put out a statement or anything (and they don't have to), but we can tell you what the chatter in Bristol is: Everyone is hearing sexual harassment. Every single email we've received from the inside about this today has used those very two words.
Again, nothing concrete on this. But that is definitely what they're whispering in Bristol. Some highlights:
• Thirdhand info, but I'm told it's sexual harassment. There were allegations of inappropriate actions between him and female PAs on a couple different occasions, so I'm not entirely shocked.
• It's apparently sexual harassment, but no one knows who the victim was. It went down over the course of the weekend.
• I have on good authority that HR was fired for all things, hitting on girls. Allegedly, this has been going on for a while. The last straw was when a new PA was having none of what Harold had to offer and turned him in.
• Harold Reynolds was fired more or less for copious amounts of sexual harassment. Apparently, he brazenly hits on female employees constantly, despite the fact that his wife just had a kid six months ago. He was warned by the big-wigs on numerous occasions to cool it with the ladies, but someone finally lodged a complaint, and he was canned immediately.
• It's very difficult to get fired from ESPN. It takes multiple offenses ... they're usually so worried about getting sued for unlawful termination that people are suspended multiple times for the same repeated behavior before it finally comes to getting fired. Within the walls of the campus, there are only a few on-air talent guys that had an honest reputation as being overly friendly with the ladies, and HR was one of them.
So anyway, that's what they're saying on the Bristol campus. But since ESPN doesn't have to say anything -- in-house or otherwise -- and neither does Reynolds, we might never know for sure. (No announcement, we're told, has been made to the staff.) That's what they're saying, though; we didn't receive a single email suggesting anything but that.
But that's not what we're saying, because we don't know. To be clear.
Say Goodnight, Harold [Deadspin]
(UPDATE: Another reader, with "contacts on the inside," refutes the sexual harassment whispers: "Anyone who is saying sexual harassment either has been given bad third-hand info or is lying. Harold has had a couple of rather heated arguments with the producers at "Baseball Tonight," and some of the suits at ESPN over the program's coverage of Alex Rodriguez. At the last production meeting, when it was made clear they were going to really play up the A-Rod angle during coverage of the Yankees-Texas series, Harold had a colossal meltdown, which led to his dismissal. The sexual harassment allegations are even more laughable when you consider that he is being replaced by Steve Phillips -- a man who has never met a skirt he wouldn't chase and who was caught in one of the more embarrassing front office sexual harassment scandals in MLB history."
True? Not true? This, like the rest of it, just reinforces our point: We don't know. And the longer ESPN pretends like nothing happened, like they're a corner shop with three employees, believing this stuff can possibly remain private, the more talk there will be. Still, this is the lone "it's not sexual harassment email" we've received.)
__________________

[Mattingly]

Here's a few pix from his playing days:

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/harold_reynolds_autograph.jpg

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2001/12/04/sayitaintso_mariners_reax/reynolds.jpg
Harold Reynolds was a fan
favorite in Seattle long before
Ken Griffey Jr.Otto Greule/Allsport

Fan stories about 2Bman Harold Reynolds in Seattle (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.cnnsi.com/baseball/mlb/news/2001/12/04/sayitaintso_mariners_reax/reynolds.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.cnnsi.com/baseball/mlb/news/2001/12/04/sayitaintso_mariners_reax/&h=210&w=150&sz=12&hl=en&start=14&tbnid=9bd57J9TSH1YdM:&tbnh=106&tbnw=76&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dharold%2Breynolds%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3 Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG)

From baseball-almanac.com: Harold Reynolds Stats (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/harold_reynolds_autograph.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php%3Fp%3Dreynoha01&h=300&w=213&sz=13&hl=en&start=9&tbnid=BQwmOk42KyRFJM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=82&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dharold%2Breynolds%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3 Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG)

This is ESPN's official non-statement:

'Baseball Tonight' analyst Reynolds no longer at ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2529688)
BRISTOL, Conn. -- Harold Reynolds, a baseball analyst with ESPN since 1996, is no longer with the network, the company confirmed Tuesday afternoon.

ESPN offered no further comment.

Reynolds, a member of the "Baseball Tonight" team for 11 years, made his last appearance on the show Sunday night, ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said Tuesday.

Reynolds, who played 12 major league seasons with the Mariners, Orioles and Angels, joined ESPN in 1996. In addition to his work on "Baseball Tonight," the former Gold Glove-winning second baseman also covered the College World Series and the Little League World Series for the network.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[Baseball Guru]

Well he and Kruk did have a spirited arguement over Arod on the Sunday night show (his last show)

I'm sure eventually we'll find out whats up...

[Blackout]

We he and Kruk did have a spirited arguement over Arod on the Sunday night show (his last show)

I'm sure eventually we'll find out whats up...

or you could see my reply just 2 posts above yours

[Baseball Guru]

or you could see my reply just 2 posts above yours


Actually my response was in response to your post:D

Harold has had a couple of rather heated arguments with the producers at "Baseball Tonight," and some of the suits at ESPN over the program's coverage of Alex Rodriguez. At the last production meeting, when it was made clear they were going to really play up the A-Rod angle during coverage of the Yankees-Texas series, Harold had a colossal meltdown, which led to his dismissal.

Or are you referring to knowing why he got fired? I saw those emails sent it at that site from which you posted from... All hearsay...

[efin98]

I am on the fence on this move. I like that he won't be on during the post season any more but I am a bit saddened that he won't offset the heavy handed analysis that the others offer. A good show needs ballance, his ultra-friendly nature plays well with the micro analysts and the middle of the road hosts.


My only real beef with him is ESPN's use of him constantly during the post season. If you are going to put someone on beyond September you had better have someone who actually played in the post season doing the analysis. Reynolds never played in the post season, what he said didn't lend much credibility to what he was saying. The other guys on the staff, while annoying at times, have the resumes to back up their words.

Even if what he says is entirely correct, why should I believe it if he doesn't have the experience to back it up. Playing during the season is one thing, playing in October is another....

[Blackout]

i wish they would just hire a brand new baseball tonight cast

honestly, none of the guys offer anything

[Texas Rangers]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2529688

How do you fire the best guy on the Baseball Tonight crew and one of the most caring men in all of baseball?:evil :noidea :(

Rumors are that he got in a feud with ESPN about them being too hard on A-Rod when he felt that A-Rod was just fine.

[TonyK]

Another rumor is sexual harassment.

[baseball junkie]

He was never special as a second-baseman and he certainly wasn't a great or even good commentator. He won't be missed. Now if they'd only get rid of Jeff Brantley and John Kruk, I'd be in absolute heaven!

[Astro]

He was never special as a second-baseman and he certainly wasn't a great or even good commentator. He won't be missed. Now if they'd only get rid of Jeff Brantley and John Kruk, I'd be in absolute heaven!
That is your opinion... I liked him

[thebostonredsox]

Reynolds was great, I sure know that I'll miss him. I hope he finds a way back on TV. I wish ESPN would just tell us why they fired him. There better be a good reason, and if not, they made a huge mistake.

[Gamingboy]

IT'S A CONSPIRACY! A CONSPIRACY I TELL YOU! A CONSPIRACY!


Or not, I just wanted to say that.

[DownUnderDodger]

I am disappointed as I also liked HR. He was open and forthright without trying to shove his opinions down your throat. With both he and Peter Gammons gone the show is slipping!! Lucky we only get it a couple of times a week, otherwise I may have been real upset!!

[markfnc]

Baseball tonight was one of the few relevant shows on ESPN. Baseball fans watched it. Sports Center is a joke now.

With Gammons and Reynolds gone, it will need to be careful to not turn into a joke also.

The above statement that you cannot comment on post season because he was never in the post season. STUPID COMMENT. Gammona never played pro baseball (I think), and he was an expert.

[Seattle1]

Reynolds was accused of sexual harassment

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5815012?FSO1&ATT=HMA

[Big_Mac]

wow, i dont watch BT often because im up north but when i did, i absoultey loved reynolds. very intellegent baseball man, hope he gets hired elsewhere.

[circusmaximus]

The Legends/Celebrity softball game just won't be the same anymore. It was boring enough this year with John Kruk instead of Kenny Mayne. Now that Harold is gone, its gonna be weird. Nevertheless, the ASG is coming to SF next year!!!

[DodgerBlue81]

Apparently, he brazenly hits on female employees constantly, despite the fact that his wife just had a kid six months ago. He was warned by the big-wigs on numerous occasions to cool it with the ladies, but someone finally lodged a complaint, and he was canned immediately.


that he is being replaced by Steve Phillips -- a man who has never met a skirt he wouldn't chase

funny stuff :laugh :laugh




although I bet Harold didn't need to get fired, some women think anything is sexual harassment.

[ichiro262]

I thought he was a pretty good baseball guy -- never too hard on players, fairly reasonable, not the brightest guy ever, but whatever. I had heard even before this that he had a rep for hitting on the ladies a lot. Wouldn't surprise me at all if the harassment claim is completely legit.
That being said, Baseball Tonight is a little worse now.
More Brantley = more nonsense....

[GiambiJuice]

All i can say is: it's about time!

[geezer]

I liked more the 1998 format of Baseball Tonight.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I liked more the 1998 format of Baseball Tonight.
I liked ESPN, in general, a lot more in 1998.

[ESPNFan]

HR was canned for Harrasment and according to the people I know there was a history of it with at least one PA. Those of you familiar with some of the behind the scenes dealings at the worldwide leader will know that Mike Torrico and Steve Phillips have also had this to be "rumored" in their past as well, not to mention other instances of behind the scenes "relationships". Its pretty clear that the latest incident was one in which ESPN chose to make an example of somebody and unfortunately HR had to go. By all accounts, Harold is a great person, incidents aside, and will probably find employment somehwere else, hopefully now having learned his lesson.

[Skin & Bones]

I had later read on DeadSpin that it was something about a problem with arod. Something about a heated arguement.


http://www.deadspin.com/sports/top/was-this-why-harold-got-the-axe-189733.php

[cbenson5]

I liked more the 1998 format of Baseball Tonight.

Me too. A few years ago I watched Baseball Tonight every night, but I almost never watch it anymore.

[geezer]

I liked the organ sound when every update was called in those days.

[AznInvasion]

Harold Reynolds aka HR is awesome on baseball tonight. I don't think he's capable of sexual harassment...he's just too nice of a guy. I hope someone hires him asap. ESPN's ratings will take a dramatic hit due to this. I will miss him personally! It's a little disturbing that they fired him so quickly. It makes me think that he may have done something really bad. You really can't replace a guy like HR.

[Elvis]

I liked ESPN, in general, a lot more in 1998.

I liked it a lot more in 1988. Actually I liked CNN Sports Tonight with Nick and Fred even better.

[ESPNFan]

I had later read on DeadSpin that it was something about a problem with arod. Something about a heated arguement.


http://www.deadspin.com/sports/top/was-this-why-harold-got-the-axe-189733.php

Reynolds himself has said it was a sexual harrasment "misunderstanding"

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/279015_reynolds27.html

[Dodger_Ric]

Harold Reynolds aka HR is awesome on baseball tonight. I don't think he's capable of sexual harassment..

Yeah the way he comes off on TV, he just seems like a really cool guy, stand up guy. But who knows.... some guys just can't keep their libido in check. Hope its not another Kobe...

Were any boats or Vikings involved in this matter? Or Duke LAX team, maybe?

I never knew everyone hated Kruk? :confused:

I like him, he makes me laugh. I think that's a big reason why he got hired for this. He was an original panel member of Best Damn Sports Show...don't know why he left that. Maybe he didn't like Tom Arnold?

No love for Orel Hershiser on BBTN? :D
Well at least you haven't started crackin on him yet. I think he adds tremendous insight. Too bad Sutcliffe (sp?) doesn't do BBTN, he'd be good. I enjoy the games he does for ESPN. Get well Gammons, we miss you. :(

[DownUnderDodger]

A few years ago I watched Baseball Tonight every night, but I almost never watch it anymore.
I watch it every opportunity I can because it (and Sports Center) are about the only TV links I have with baseball, apart from the 2 or 3 live games a week.

I guess we could ask what constitutes sexual harrassment these days. Without wanting to be detrimental to our womenfolk......who unfortunately do get genuinely harrassed by lots of sleaze balls.....in this day and age of political and gender correctness, a harmless hug, comment, or pat on the buns could be 'sexual harrassment' to some females (especially if they don't like the guy) and good clean fun to others. I have absolutely no idea what level of harrassment HR was judged to have committed, or how long it has been going on, so I can't comment on his individual circumstances. I do know that I am naturally a 'touchy, feely' guy and therefore have to be very careful who I touch and where I feel.

[redlegsfan21]

I've recently started watching FSN Final Score. Better than Sportcenter because FSN doesn't have expert NFL reporting in July. And FSN goes straight to the highlights.

[CuriousBoston]

1. Given:The powers that be in baseball are 90% male. The percentage of "Dinosaurs" is probably high. Very Probable: If he had a rep as a sleazeball, he was.

2. Given: He had just signed a new contract.

3. Given: He had a heated exchange with his boss.

4. Given: Either he can't be fired for that heat, or his boss would look like a fool, or his boss would have to cough up cash, benefits, etc.

My view>>>

5. His boss goes to the complaint file, or passes out complaint forms, encouring encouraging females who have put up with his expletive for X years.

6. A sleaze is fired. A person that disagrees with his boss is fired. The boss lost no cash.

7. Rumors, rumors, rumors. He was sleaze enough to be fired, no he wasn't, women are overly sensetive, he had a fight with his boss.

8. If he is an upstanding citizen, wouldn't he havee a lawyer to fight for his reputation. If I was married to him, with a six month old child, he would have a lawyer, or be out of the house. But maybe out of the house earlier, if I heard rumors, I would verify, and take the sleaze to court.

[KingJ]

It's a damn shame.

From Gammons/Reynolds/Kruk to Phillips/(Martinez-Brantley-Orel)/Kruk...what a horrible downgrade.

[Brian McKenna]

Harold Reynolds aka HR is awesome on baseball tonight. I don't think he's capable of sexual harassment...he's just too nice of a guy. I hope someone hires him asap. ESPN's ratings will take a dramatic hit due to this. I will miss him personally! It's a little disturbing that they fired him so quickly. It makes me think that he may have done something really bad. You really can't replace a guy like HR.

Human Resources' response to sexual harassment needs to be swift. Ant responsible company must deal with the matter asap.

It is hard to buy Reynolds' claim that he innocently hugged someone and it was taken wrong.

[bluezebra]

Yeah the way he comes off on TV, he just seems like a really cool guy, stand up guy. But who knows.... some guys just can't keep their libido in check. Hope its not another Kobe...

Were any boats or Vikings involved in this matter? Or Duke LAX team, maybe?

I never knew everyone hated Kruk? :confused:

I like him, he makes me laugh. I think that's a big reason why he got hired for this. He was an original panel member of Best Damn Sports Show...don't know why he left that. Maybe he didn't like Tom Arnold?

No love for Orel Hershiser on BBTN? :D
Well at least you haven't started crackin on him yet. I think he adds tremendous insight. Too bad Sutcliffe (sp?) doesn't do BBTN, he'd be good. I enjoy the games he does for ESPN. Get well Gammons, we miss you. :(

"Maybe he didn't like Tom Arnold?"

Who does?

Bob

[bluezebra]

The Q: Can the Cubs hold a 6-5 lead with 2 outs and nobody on in the 9th?

They did today, July 28, 2006.

Bob

[efin98]

It's a damn shame.

From Gammons/Reynolds/Kruk to Phillips/(Martinez-Brantley-Orel)/Kruk...what a horrible downgrade.

You act like Gammons is gone too.

Gammons isn't gone, he's recovering. Just because he isn't there doesn't mean he is gone for good. I bet he's going to make a come back as soon as he is healthy enough to hold a microphone.

[efin98]

Human Resources' response to sexual harassment needs to be swift. Ant responsible company must deal with the matter asap.

It is hard to buy Reynolds' claim that he innocently hugged someone and it was taken wrong.

No means no. If someone tells you to stop you stop, even if it is as innocent as a hug.

[Williamsburg2599]

"Maybe he didn't like Tom Arnold?"

Who does?

Bob
A: Roseanne (see SNL chris farley skit)

Was it just me, or has BBT seen even more awkard lately with HR gone? Yesterday it was HORRIBLE.

[DownUnderDodger]

No means no. If someone tells you to stop you stop, even if it is as innocent as a hug.
Exactly, and perhaps HR failed to respect the 'no' word????

[efin98]

Exactly, and perhaps HR failed to respect the 'no' word????

Even if he abided by it, just making the person feel uncomfortable enough to affect his/her work(it is gender neutral!) could be enough to get him fired. It adds up and if it's a recurring problem with HR then HR had to go.



Regarding Steve Phillips- was his sexual harassment issues BEFORE or AFTER he signed up with ESPN???

If they were before as long as he abides by ESPN's guidelines they really shouldn't matter- it was the past, and he abides by the rules.

If they were after being hired then ESPN has some explaining to do as to why HR got the axe and Phillips didn't as well.

[Mr. Red]

The Q: Can the Cubs hold a 6-5 lead with 2 outs and nobody on in the 9th?

They did today, July 28, 2006.

Bob
I was at that game!!! Woot!!!

[ESPNFan]

Here is the confirmtion on my allusions to Mike Torico incidents.

http://deadspin.com/sports/top/here-are-those-tirico-stories-we-hinted-at-last-week-191242.php

The first Tirico story involves him hitting on a woman and stalking her after a house party in fall 1992. The woman was a production assistant and "considered an up-and-coming talent," and Tirico went up to her at the party and said "you're the most beautiful woman in here." She walked away, but he kept following her around the party until she finally snapped, "Why don't you **** off? Get away from me." As she and friends hopped in their car and pulled out of the party, Tirico stepped in front of the car and made the woman stop. "You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen and I think I'm in love with you," Tirico said. She tried to roll up her window and take off, but Tirico stuck his hand in and tried to wedge it between her thighs. She got away, and the next morning, when they saw each other in the ESPN parking lot, he walked up to her, and she expected him to apologize. Instead, he said, "all I did all day was think about you."

In another story, one female producer -- who had been to dinner with Tirico and his fiancee -- was startled to receive an email from him saying that he wanted to sleep with her. Later, when the staff went to a bar after a late night covering the NCAA tournament, Tirico approached her and said, "I wish I was single. If I were, I'd throw you on the table right here and
**** your brains out." After she tried to excuse him as drunk, he persisted: "I know you want to screw me. So let's leave." Later, he followed her on the highway and tried to get her to pull over, unsuccessfully.

Tirico was ultimately suspended for three months

IMO Toricco should have easily been canned. Based on these circumstances and the allegations of wrongdoing agisnt HR I'd say Harold probably could have made a case for just a suspension but who knows how long his track record is and probably leaving Bristol without a fuss will be better for him professionally in the long run.