Ex-analyst Reynolds sues ESPN

**ZeoBandit** · 10.31.06, 02:02 PM

Wonder why this is posted at cnnsi.com and not espn.com?

Ex-analyst Reynolds sues ESPN
Posted: Tuesday October 31, 2006 3:34PM; Updated: Tuesday October 31, 2006 3:34PM

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) -- Former ESPN baseball analyst Harold Reynolds sued the sports network for at least $5 million on Tuesday, saying he was wrongly fired from his job after an intern accused him of sexual harassment.

Reynolds joined Bristol-based ESPN in 1996 after playing 12 seasons in baseball's major leagues. According to his lawsuit, filed in New Britain Superior Court, the network terminated his new six-year, $6 million contract in July without giving specific reasons.

The lawsuit said Reynolds could only be fired under the terms of his contract for "failure to perform," which required "intentional or continual activities" contrary to ESPN's instructions, or else required "willful or egregious action ... which would constitute an act of moral turpitude."

ESPN officials did not immediately return a message Tuesday.

The lawsuit said Reynolds gave a "brief and innocuous" hug to a female intern in July and the two had dinner later that night. Reynolds has never seen the intern since that day, and she made no complaints about his actions until three weeks later, the lawsuit says.

"By its action in terminating Mr. Reynolds' employment, ESPN has breached his employment contract, and further caused Mr. Reynolds to lose foreseeable opportunities for future contract renewals," the lawsuit says.

Reynolds is claiming that he has suffered damages including loss of compensation under the contract, lost past and future endorsements and lost chances for future contracts.

When told about the possibility of a lawsuit on Monday, ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said Reynolds' allegations are without merit and the network stands by its decision to terminate his contract.

**the_atomic_punks_rule** · 10.31.06, 06:10 PM

What's the real story???????????

**JMJ** · 10.31.06, 09:39 PM

he must feel like he has a shot at something

not everyday u take espn to court

**Pabs** · 11.01.06, 08:34 AM

Good riddance.

Harold Reynolds sucked. What a blowhard.

**Majestic** · 11.01.06, 05:56 PM

I thought Harold Reynolds was great.

**OLO** · 11.01.06, 07:17 PM

I liked Reynolds as well.

**ZeoBandit** · 11.01.06, 07:55 PM

Yeah, I thought he was pretty cool. He wasn't a complete jackass like Chris Berman.

**Red** · 11.02.06, 06:42 AM

If that's truly what happened, then Mike Tirico should've been gone ten years ago. He had two or three "incidents" with sexual harassment.

It would be interesting to see what really goes on in Bristol, in NFL lockerrooms, in certain recording studios, in ivory towers in general.

**LoveWalkinIn** · 11.02.06, 07:05 AM

I always enjoyed Reynolds myself and was sorry to see him go. If he truly committed sexual harrassment then he got what he deserved, otherwise he got screwed over. But I did read when this happened that this was not the first time he'd been accused of something like this. Either way, its no terrible loss. I still think Baseball Tonight rocks without him as Kruk, Steve Phillips, and especially my favorite, Peter Gammons, who finally came back last month, are all very good.

**SuckaInA3Piece** · 11.02.06, 08:09 AM

Also liked Reynolds, and felt he was a pretty nice guy. Some of the other guys on that network just plain suck ass. He was not one of them.

**BottomzUp** · 11.02.06, 08:27 AM

I liked Harold too but I don't think he has a prayer with this suit. IF the offense was minor at least word of that would get out there and other networks won't be scared to hire him. From what I heard he just hugged a chick but who REALLY knows?

**chefcraig** · 11.02.06, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by BottomzUp

I liked Harold too but I don't think he has a prayer with this suit. IF the offense was minor at least word of that would get out there and other networks won't be scared to hire him. From what I heard he just hugged a chick but who REALLY knows?

There was a British fellow who worked for CBS on their golf telecasts. While drunk in a bar one evening, he made some inappropriate comments regarding women golfers. He pointed out the elemental flaw with a woman's physique is their breasts, which get in the way of the swing. Somehow these lamebrained (and quite drunken) comments became published.

He lasted one more week at CBS, and has not been heard from since. The evolution of accepting unnacceptable behavior to instant dismissal has changed greatly over the years, starting with the Jimmy "The Greek" deal years ago.

These guys are in the public eye. It's not that they are held to a different standard. They should automatically hold themselves to one, and not allow themselves even the hint of impropriety.

And that should be the law of the land for rock stars, actors, anchors, sportsman and anyone else that makes a living publically.

**Double Down** · 11.02.06, 07:28 PM

I liked Reynolds, I thought he was the best they had.

Meanwhile, ESPN keeps crappy crack heads like Michael Irvin but fire great talent like Reynolds. I hate 90% of the personalities on that station. What a bunch of egomaniac blow hards they all are.

**empyre44** · 11.24.06, 10:55 PM

I liked Reynolds as well...thought he should be doing games and not the studio show since he was always so good doing the Little League World Series. I dont think he wins though, ESPN has a pretty good track record of getting rid of people when they screw something up...i cant think of anyone who has sued them and won. if an intern isnt comfortable, thats pretty tough to prove, no matter how nice a guy you seem to be.

The telltale sign to me, is no one picked him up when he was fired, even though there was no non-compete clause so he could have gone to Fox or another network

**VHPoundcake** · 12.02.06, 03:17 PM

It's amazing that ESPN fired Harold Reynolds and then they decided to put Tony Kornheiser on MNF. I think they maybe starting to run that place into the ground. If they fired that idiot Chris Berman then maybe they could get back on track.