Kornheiser's Hannah Storm Fashion Slam Just One Reason for Suspension

By Sam Brand Posted Feb 24th 2010 01:43PM

It's not what Tony Kornheiser said that got him suspended from ESPN's 'Pardon the Interruption,' it's who he said it about. "Respect for colleagues is paramount!" an ESPN rep tells USA Today.

On Tuesday, Kornheiser was banned from the air for two weeks. The lesson? Don't talk trash about fellow anchors. No snide remarks about Hannah Storm's fashion sense, and by all means, no fat jabs at the Nutrisystem Swami, Chris Berman.

Kornheiser, a longtime co-host of weekday TV program 'Pardon the Interruption,' dissed the ESPN stalwarts on his D.C.-based radio show last week.

Storm was "in a horrifying, horrifying outfit today," Kornheiser said of the getup seen here. "She's got on red go-go boots and a Catholic school plaid skirt ... way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now. She's got on her typically very, very tight shirt."

"She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body."

A woman's fashion sense is still a sacred cow of sorts, immune from criticism by the talking heads of media's most established news outlets (especially if the criticism comes from a man). And while the Hannah Storm slam is getting all the attention, Deadspin reports that it was actually a fat joke aimed at ESPN vet Chris Berman, told just moments later, that really got network execs riled up.

"I know I'm not supposed to be critical of ESPN people," Kornheiser said on the radio show. "Like if I point out that people say that they lost 50 or 60 pounds have actually gained all the weight back..."

"And then some," Kornheiser's co-host interrupted. "Gained the weight back, back, back, back."

On Tuesday, ESPN announced the suspension: two weeks and forfeited pay. But the announcement mentioned only Kornheiser's "entirely inappropriate" jab at Storm. No mention of the swipe at the Swami.

Deadspin's A.J. Daulerio cites an unnamed ESPN insider: "You're forced to apologize if you make fun of Hannah Storm. You get suspended if you make fun of Chris Berman."

Maybe Kornheiser should stick to sports.

Tags: chris berman, espn, hannah storm, nutrisystem, pardon the interruption, tony kornheiser

Comments

(21)

Wednesday 24 February

By 2espnHeebs

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He said absolutely nothing wrong whatsoever... give me an F'ing break !

Thursday 25 February

By Wish Belkin

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Go to school on this one kids.
You'll never get in trouble for what you don't say.

By al smith

What a crock. ESPN is the biggest BS network and is yellow and spineless.

By Mike

Okay, here we go again folks. Another day of missing e-mail confirmations from AOL and Popeater, the Toyota's of the web.

By spikecogan

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Sarah Palin is retarded and apparently so are the suits at espn.

By Tom

I think shes got a cute nose, and that hecouldve worded it a little less harsh, but its not that bad really, what dies she say ? any body know ?

Hey any one remember when some guy in the locker room flashd a female sports caster the end of that lol!!!!) "step up to the mike " i think he said

By Randi

Why don't you proofread your email before you send it? You have so many mistakes you sound like a real idiot. What are you trying to say?????

By Mark

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Kornheiser is funny, and anyone who watches/listens to him regularly knows that his intent isn't malevolent, he's just poking fun - he spends more time in self-deprecation than he does at making light of anyone else. Hannah is a lovely woman who wears things you don't generally expect from a woman her age, and Tony was just having fun with that. Don't know about the Chris Berman part...all the backlast I heard was about Storm.

By Bluesman

Kornheiser could only wish that he looked as good as Hannah, she's still hot.

By Fd

Storm is a joke

By Blues Daddy

Hanna is hot; ugly ole white dude is not.

By havoc

He got the sausage casing right, only he forgot to say she looks like Olive Oli's little sister as well. Where is the sexy?? She doesn't have any!

Oh and one other thing, that chick can lick some cake!

By jim

he is probably right

By grabmygozey

why are these broads even on sports television?

they barely know the names of the athletes

David S.......there's a big difference between a host looking like he just rolled out of bed and a female host who looks like she's looking for one.

By mel

What a bunch of sexist rednecks. Bet all you idiots are divorced or single or married to a bunch of fat stupid women who can't say no to food.

By Pete21

Please, Tony is one of the ugliest mofo's on TV today! He's just pissy cause thousands flap their pecker to Hannah daily, and like one gay dude does to him. Hannah is hot as f*ck!! ;o)

By thewtoispoop

Tony actually makes fun of what male heads on ESPN are wearing all of the time. Including a few weeks ago saying that Avery Johnson won't be able to find another coaching job until someone informs him that it's not ok to wear a white suit in the middle of winter. Oh, and his radio show isn't a sports show, it's an entertainment show and it was quite entertaining.

Friday 26 February

By mike

I love Tony, and watch PTI, only when he is host, but what he said was out of line. Personally, I thought what Hannah was wearing wasn't that bad, plus when is a bald guy who doesn't wear socks, all of a sudden a fashion expert?

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