Written by Jamie Oakes at Virginia.24.7.Sports.com
ESPN has pulled an announcer from Virginia’s season opener against William & Mary because of his name as first reported by Outkick the Coverage’s Clay Travis.
The announcer’s name is Robert Lee.
ESPN released a statement on the change of announcers, via Outkick the Coverage.
“We collectively made the decision with Robert to switch games as the tragic events in Charlottesville were unfolding, simply because of the coincidence of his name. In that moment it felt right to all parties. It’s a shame that this is even a topic of conversation and we regret that who calls play by play for a football game has become an issue.”
Outkick was quick to weigh in on the decision.
“In a story that seems made for The Onion, but is actually true, according to multiple Outkick fans inside ESPN decided to pull an Asian college football announcer named Robert Lee off the William and Mary at University of Virginia college football game because they were concerned that having an ASIAN FOOTBALL ANNOUNCER NAMED ROBERT LEE would be offensive to some viewers.
“Did I mention that Robert Lee is Asian?”
Lee, the ESPN announcer, will now be doing play-by-play on the Pittsburgh – Youngstown State game.
To continue reading this article, click here.
