ESPN Really Needs to Work on Their Skills with the Ladies.

If this were a college party, ESPN would be alone in the corner talking about fantasy football. The dorks on "The Big Bang Theory" know how to talk to a lady compared to these guys. Every few years a huge gaffe or sex scandal- they just can't get it right when it comes to women.


That aside, ouch. That hurts ESPN. What have women commentators ever done to you, besides trying to succeed? Oh wait. That's it.


Either way, big mess up for the network.


So basically, until Tuesday ESPN had a place on their website where views could go to complain about their female commentators.


Megan Soisson, a University of Pennsylvania student, and Sports Editor for their paper The Daily Pennsylvanian discovered the option when she was looking into why a major basketball game against Harvard would not be shown. She was directed to this content page.


“I was really shocked about it and upset because I’m a female sportswriter, so it’s like one of my dreams to be a sideline reporter — and to see there was a specific area to comment against female reporters was upsetting,” Soisson told Mashable in an interview.



She took the above screen cap, and tweeted it to ESPN female commentators, including Hannah Storm and Sage Steele, asking if they knew about the option. 


Jezebel picked up the story, of course then ESPN heard lawsuit whispers and went right into PR/apology mode. I'm in a PR class right now, so of course, I know all about this trick. 

“We very much appreciate you raising this issue with us. We have corrected the problem and will have a statement for you shortly.”

It's not so easy being a female ESPN reporter- "Hot" "Babes" "Upskirt" "Filmed Naked'" Lovely. Just lovely. 

That was soon followed by a slightly longer statement directly to Soisson:

We apologize for the mistake on the viewer response form template. We’ve been an industry leader for more than 30 years and are extremely proud of the leadership role we continue to play in providing high-profile opportunities and assignments for female commentators — from SportsCenter anchors to play-by-play announcers, analysts, reporters and more. We appreciate that this matter was brought to our attention and it was addressed and deleted immediately.

Mmmk. I mean, female reporters don't have to deal with enough? Especially sports reporters? I mean, look at poor Erin Andrews. I am not a huge fan of her generally, but no one can deny she's overcome a lot of adversity, the peephole thing, the colleague masturbating in front of her thing.


Then there was the whole "sweet baby" comment of Ron Franklin's to sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards. Granted, ESPN let him go, but really, what choice did they have? I'm not trying to railroad them or anything, but they really need to get on the ball with their attitude towards women- a few more incidents like this and...well. 


What do you guys think?