ESPN is
taking one of its college football announcers off the
air for inappropriately using the word "gay." Color
commentator Brian Kinchen used the adjective to
describe the way receivers make catches during a
telecast Saturday, and his future at the channel is now in
question, the Associated Press reports.
The verbal snafu occurred during the Northern
Illinois-Iowa game when Kinchen, a pro football
player until 2000, said receivers' hands are "tender"
and "caress" the ball when catching it, adding,
"That's kind of gay, but hey..."
After an internal review, ESPN decided the
remark was inappropriate and pulled Kinchen from his
regularly scheduled game this Saturday. His future at
the channel is still under review, the AP reports.
In a statement, Kinchen apologized for what he
said. "[The remarks] were completely
inappropriate and not at all a reflection of who I am
or the way I perform my work," he said. "I have
learned from my mistake and look forward to continuing my
broadcasting career." (The Advocate)