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Showing posts with label Harold Reynolds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harold Reynolds. Show all posts
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sports Media Watch Ranks Patron Saint #3 Biggest Sports Scandal of Decade
From SMW's "Decade in Review: 5 biggest sports media scandals":
You can see the complete list HERE.
#3: Harold Reynolds fired from ESPN (2006)
In July 2006, prominent Baseball Tonight analyst Harold Reynolds was abruptly fired from ESPN.
Reynolds, who had been with ESPN for 11 years, was accused of sexual harassment. "To be honest with you," Reynolds told the New York Post in the immediate aftermath, "I gave a woman a hug and I felt like it was misinterpreted" (ESPN.com, 7/26/06). During an ensuing lawsuit, ESPN told a Hartford courtroom that "five young women had lodged 'concerns' about Reynolds’s sexual behavior" (New York Times, 4/16/08).
The divorce between Reynolds and ESPN grew ugly, with Reynolds filing a wrongful termination lawsuit against the network. At one point, Reynolds accused ESPN of racial bias, bringing up several incidences of sexual misconduct by white employees who were not punished as severely (New York Times, 9/8/07).
Reynolds joined TBS as a baseball analyst in 2008, before eventually landing with MLB Network in 2009.
You can see the complete list HERE.
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Sunday, August 2, 2009
"Henderson here..."
From Dan Patrick in this week's SI, Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson offers the patron saint some humbling recognition:
Broadcaster Harold Reynolds told me a good Rickey story last week. In 1987, when Henderson missed a chunk of the season with an injury, Reynolds led the AL with 60 stolen bases for the Mariners. After the season Reynolds got a call from Henderson: "The phone rings. 'Henderson here.' I say, 'Hey, what's going on, Rickey?' I think he's calling to congratulate me, but he goes, 'Sixty stolen bases? You ought to be ashamed. Rickey would have 60 at the break.' And then click, he hung up."
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Thursday, June 18, 2009
Buzz Bissinger Irresponsibly Speculates While Denouncing Irresponsibility in Spreading Speculation
On today's Deadcast, It’s Family Hour With A Kinder, Gentler Buzz Bissinger, Buzz addressed the Ibanez blowup, which was obviously reminicent of his Leitch showdown.
However, as Dan Levy points out to Drew, his message might be somewhat lost as it appears Buzz hasn't brushed up on his homework on the situation, and inexplicitly calls out MLB Network's All-Star personality (and this site's namesake), Harold Reynolds.
Buzz: "Harold Reynolds picks it up, and puts it up on his website. And then before you know it its all over the place. I think Reynolds was really wrong. I think it was, um you know, really sloppy on his part."
Clip via Awful Announcing:
From John Gonzalez's column in question:
However, as Dan Levy points out to Drew, his message might be somewhat lost as it appears Buzz hasn't brushed up on his homework on the situation, and inexplicitly calls out MLB Network's All-Star personality (and this site's namesake), Harold Reynolds.
Buzz: "Harold Reynolds picks it up, and puts it up on his website. And then before you know it its all over the place. I think Reynolds was really wrong. I think it was, um you know, really sloppy on his part."
Clip via Awful Announcing:
From John Gonzalez's column in question:
There was a time when a small, regional site like MSF could write something like that and no one would notice. Not anymore. Not long after the Ibanez post went up, Hugging Harold Reynolds - a popular national blog - linked to it on its Twitter feed. And just like that, we were off. Less than an hour later, I had several e-mails in my inbox asking if I read the MSF story and whether I believe Ibanez is chemically enhanced.
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Letters To Harold
Every now and then...hell, very often, we get two types of letters: 1) Those that accuse us of mocking the Patron Saint (we don't) and 2) Those who assume we are the Patron Saint (we're not).
I figure it'd be fun to share some of the latter. Should the Patron Saint ever contact us, we'd be happy to forward along.
"Hey Harold, watch MLB Network everyday. God bless!".
--
"If you ain't the guy who led the A.L. in steals, made the All Star Team, made me go to the Dome, loved how you rolled your sleves, don't add me. H.R., if you for real, add me up. I'm die hard M's. Been to every home opener in history. U real H. R. baby?"
--
"hey harold my name is [redacted] i am 15 years old and i live in the same town as u west hartford. I sold things from my baseball and football fun razor to ur wife kelley and when i sold the second won i noticed u were bout to be having ur second kid. but i was just wondering after the playoffs are all over with if u would like to have a catch with me some time cause ur my biggest idol u no please give me an email some day or call me at [redacted]"
--
"Hey Harold..... whats Donnie your brother doing these days? I worked for Texas Rangers with him/....."
--
"Is this Harold? Hi - this sure looks like Harold! Just got an email from MLB.com and wondered if you were out there - if someone is monitoring this for Harold, please pass on a message for me - tell him that mom asks about you all the time and if I ever hear anything!!! Im still @ pork. Would love to hear from you! Hope all is well!"
--
"Hi Harold, i'm a huge fan from Rutherford, NJ. It would be awesome to hear from you man!"
--
"Hi harold,i am [redacted] and [redacted]'s friend who ran the summer team that [redacted]'s son played on two summers ago. hope all is well with the new gig on mlb."
--
"Harold, you forgot me again. It's [redacted], the cop from Seattle, way back in the Mariner days."
I figure it'd be fun to share some of the latter. Should the Patron Saint ever contact us, we'd be happy to forward along.
"Hey Harold, watch MLB Network everyday. God bless!".
--
"If you ain't the guy who led the A.L. in steals, made the All Star Team, made me go to the Dome, loved how you rolled your sleves, don't add me. H.R., if you for real, add me up. I'm die hard M's. Been to every home opener in history. U real H. R. baby?"
--
"hey harold my name is [redacted] i am 15 years old and i live in the same town as u west hartford. I sold things from my baseball and football fun razor to ur wife kelley and when i sold the second won i noticed u were bout to be having ur second kid. but i was just wondering after the playoffs are all over with if u would like to have a catch with me some time cause ur my biggest idol u no please give me an email some day or call me at [redacted]"
--
"Hey Harold..... whats Donnie your brother doing these days? I worked for Texas Rangers with him/....."
--
"Is this Harold? Hi - this sure looks like Harold! Just got an email from MLB.com and wondered if you were out there - if someone is monitoring this for Harold, please pass on a message for me - tell him that mom asks about you all the time and if I ever hear anything!!! Im still @ pork. Would love to hear from you! Hope all is well!"
--
"Hi Harold, i'm a huge fan from Rutherford, NJ. It would be awesome to hear from you man!"
--
"Hi harold,i am [redacted] and [redacted]'s friend who ran the summer team that [redacted]'s son played on two summers ago. hope all is well with the new gig on mlb."
--
"Harold, you forgot me again. It's [redacted], the cop from Seattle, way back in the Mariner days."
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Patron Saint, F*ck Face Get Balls Broken
Leave it up to the New York Post's Page Six to not leave well enough alone.
"Baseball the Ripken Way"
OFF-FIELD MEMORIES
MAJOR League Baseball hates scandal, yet two on- air personalities on its new MLB Network were once caught up in controversy. Three years ago, former Seattle Mariner Harold Reynolds was canned from ESPN after alleged sexual harassment. Reynolds called the charge "a total misunderstanding . . . I gave a woman a hug, and I felt like it was misinterpreted," and he won a seven-figure, wrongful termination suit. Still, veteran radio sports producer Tom Somach told Page Six he was surprised by the hiring, asking, "What kind of message does that send?" And working as a guest analyst is Baltimore Oriole Billy Rip ken, whose 1989 baseball card showed him holding a bat with "[bleep] face" written on the knob. The card was yanked and re vised. MLB flack Matt Bourne called Reynolds "an exemplary employee in every way" and said Ripkin's card flap was "a very minor incident and what I would term as seemingly a prank."
"Baseball the Ripken Way"Follow us on Twitter @HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.
Monday, February 9, 2009
WFAN's Craig Carton Interviews Patron Saint on A-Rod Scandal
Does he allude to Bo Jackson's super human feats being a precursor to MLB steroid use?
Audio Here.
Audio Here.
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Monday, January 19, 2009
Batting Stance Guy on MLB TV with the Patron Saint
Youtube sensation Batting Stance Guy joined the MLB TV crew to perform a new series of 80s & 90s-inspired batters box pantomimes, and go over the finer points of HR's inability to straighten his right elbow in his stance and swing.
H/T JP - Pyle of List
H/T JP - Pyle of List
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Friday, October 3, 2008
The Stars Were Aligned
Last night, I took in my first MLB postseason game. Needless to say, it was among the most exciting games of my life - for many reasons other than just the outcome.
As a lifelong Phillies fan, I haven't always had much to cheer about. Last night Citizens Bank Park was electric.
Allow me to share some sights, sounds and impressions of the game...
I knew I was in for something special when I was greeted pre-game by this man:
Some questioned the decision to have Mitch Williams throw out the first pitch in Game 1. No such doubt last night as Harry Kalas did the honors for Game 2.
Not all is positive in Philsville, however. Mrs. Werth seems to have lost a step since we last saw her.
Jessica Biel made her pitch for fans to "Stand Up To Cancer."
The drunk businessmen around me (pounding Jack & Cokes) were torn and complexed by her.
As Jessica encourgaed everyone to "Stand up":
(While firmly planted in his seat): "I'm already up, baby."
(When Biel asked for them to take out their cell phones): "Gimme the digits, honey."
(When Biel asked them to text to give a $5 donation to "Stand Up To Cancer"): "$5? Yeah that ain't happening."
Clearly, it would have cost him a half a plastic cup of diluted hard liquor.
A man near us had the Spirit of '80 on his mind (and his back).
Name: Michael Jack Smith
Jacket: 1980
Haircut: 1980
Mustache: 1980
Favorite Ballpark Food: The Schmitter
---
Finally, let's get to brass tax. Phillie fans are constantly dogged about their negativity toward the team and its players.
Fittingly, Brett Myers, posterboy for player inconsistency, was the starter last night. With his near-blowup in the top of the first, you could hear fans hanging on to every pitch he made. Collective groans echoed throughout the stadium. There was an undercurrent of "here-we-go-again" resonating.
Myers got out of the inning, and from there went with a one-hitter through the 7th, but it was his ensuing at bats in Game 2 that he will be remembered for down the road.
But the real magic was as much created by the fans as by Myers. In what other city, with 2 outs, the pitcher batting against CC Sabathia in the 2nd inning, would 50K+ strong hang onto every pitch in an at-bat? What other fan base, besides maybe Boston or New York (AL), would understand the nuances of working a count early on a guy pitching on 3-days rest for the 4th start in a row? Again - with 2 outs, and the pitcher pitcher batting, who an inning before was one hit away from being run out of town, would 50k+ scream at the top of their lungs and wave towels in the 2nd inning? In what other city would said pitcher receive a standing ovation as he changed bats after breaking one on a foul ball? (I commented "Wonderboy").
There was as much excitement in 3 Brett Myers at bats as there was after the Victorino grand slam that the first set up.
THAT, readers, and not stories of Santa, Michael Irvin and battery hurling at JD Drew defines the passion of Philadelphia sports fans.
Go to MLB.com and watch the pitch sequences. Better yet, listen to the pitch sequences as pitch-by-pitch the crowd grows more and more excited.
MLB.com: 10/03/2008 Myers' game at the plate
Here's some crappy video I shot with Lights Out Lidge on the mound.
Just so you know that despite my praise for the Phillies fans, that doesn't mean we've gone soft. Despite the game we just witnessed, fans still expect the best out of the players. At the very end of this short one, note the quote, "Don't start this...THROW HIM A STRIKE!"
As a lifelong Phillies fan, I haven't always had much to cheer about. Last night Citizens Bank Park was electric.
Allow me to share some sights, sounds and impressions of the game...
I knew I was in for something special when I was greeted pre-game by this man:
Some questioned the decision to have Mitch Williams throw out the first pitch in Game 1. No such doubt last night as Harry Kalas did the honors for Game 2.
Not all is positive in Philsville, however. Mrs. Werth seems to have lost a step since we last saw her.
Jessica Biel made her pitch for fans to "Stand Up To Cancer."The drunk businessmen around me (pounding Jack & Cokes) were torn and complexed by her.
As Jessica encourgaed everyone to "Stand up":
(While firmly planted in his seat): "I'm already up, baby."
(When Biel asked for them to take out their cell phones): "Gimme the digits, honey."
(When Biel asked them to text to give a $5 donation to "Stand Up To Cancer"): "$5? Yeah that ain't happening."
Clearly, it would have cost him a half a plastic cup of diluted hard liquor.
A man near us had the Spirit of '80 on his mind (and his back).
Name: Michael Jack Smith
Jacket: 1980
Haircut: 1980
Mustache: 1980
Favorite Ballpark Food: The Schmitter
---
Finally, let's get to brass tax. Phillie fans are constantly dogged about their negativity toward the team and its players.
Fittingly, Brett Myers, posterboy for player inconsistency, was the starter last night. With his near-blowup in the top of the first, you could hear fans hanging on to every pitch he made. Collective groans echoed throughout the stadium. There was an undercurrent of "here-we-go-again" resonating.
Myers got out of the inning, and from there went with a one-hitter through the 7th, but it was his ensuing at bats in Game 2 that he will be remembered for down the road.
But the real magic was as much created by the fans as by Myers. In what other city, with 2 outs, the pitcher batting against CC Sabathia in the 2nd inning, would 50K+ strong hang onto every pitch in an at-bat? What other fan base, besides maybe Boston or New York (AL), would understand the nuances of working a count early on a guy pitching on 3-days rest for the 4th start in a row? Again - with 2 outs, and the pitcher pitcher batting, who an inning before was one hit away from being run out of town, would 50k+ scream at the top of their lungs and wave towels in the 2nd inning? In what other city would said pitcher receive a standing ovation as he changed bats after breaking one on a foul ball? (I commented "Wonderboy").
There was as much excitement in 3 Brett Myers at bats as there was after the Victorino grand slam that the first set up.
THAT, readers, and not stories of Santa, Michael Irvin and battery hurling at JD Drew defines the passion of Philadelphia sports fans.
Go to MLB.com and watch the pitch sequences. Better yet, listen to the pitch sequences as pitch-by-pitch the crowd grows more and more excited.
MLB.com: 10/03/2008 Myers' game at the plate
Here's some crappy video I shot with Lights Out Lidge on the mound.
Just so you know that despite my praise for the Phillies fans, that doesn't mean we've gone soft. Despite the game we just witnessed, fans still expect the best out of the players. At the very end of this short one, note the quote, "Don't start this...THROW HIM A STRIKE!"
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Our patron saint has a job (a real one this time)
Reynolds to return as baseball analyst for TBSReynolds will debut Sunday as a studio analyst on a special where TBS will announce the All-Star Game rosters. Then he'll appear on TBS' regular-season covreage.
This is great news. Originally TBS planned to have Frank Caliendo do impressions of Reynolds, but HR finally signed on the dotted line.
(Thanks to the gang at Walk Off Walk for the heads up.)
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Harold has a job!
This is great news for New Yorkers and some Jersey folk who get SNY. What about the rest of the world? They need to hear from you? You need a forum. Possibly, a blog?
We want to talk to you!!
Thanks to Leahy at Going Five Hole for the info...
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Help Us Reach Reach Our Goal: HR at HHR
Assuming Harold Reynold's recent settlement is worth some serious duckets, and given the outpouring of support of our initial offer of "a cashier's check for $75.34," we have decided to set a goal of 1000 big ones to help entice our namesake to blog with us.
See Also:
See Also:Wednesday, April 16, 2008
More HR/HHR Blogging News: Mac G Ups the Ante
Fellow Carney Mac G just sweetened the pot, pledging to "skip buying [his] next 12 of High Life Bottles and pack of Pfunks, throwing a total of 13 bucks into the HR blogger kitty. The pay is now $88.54."
This has promise.
See Also:
- ESPN reaches agreement with our namesake
- Harold Reynolds' Job Search Is Over (The Sporting Blog)
Update: 75 Smackeroos
Last night upon hearing of our namesake's settlement, we offered our patron saint a crisp, genuine cashier's check for $75.34 to come on over and tell his side of the story with us.
Our offer may seem too good to be true, but never fret, it is legit.
We are glad to see others taking up our cause. The great Chris Mottram of Sporting Blog and Mr. Irrelevant acclaim has even gone so far as to design mock up a cover for the publicity campaign we intend to roll out on HR's behalf should he accept our offer.
The ball is in your court, friend. With this sort of backing (and the scratch you earned yourself), you'll forget all about the Four-Letter WWL in no time.
Besides, we have a much friendlier work environment than Bristol, which we base upon the writings of Shel Silverstein:
Our offer may seem too good to be true, but never fret, it is legit.
We are glad to see others taking up our cause. The great Chris Mottram of Sporting Blog and Mr. Irrelevant acclaim has even gone so far as to design mock up a cover for the publicity campaign we intend to roll out on HR's behalf should he accept our offer.
The ball is in your court, friend. With this sort of backing (and the scratch you earned yourself), you'll forget all about the Four-Letter WWL in no time.Besides, we have a much friendlier work environment than Bristol, which we base upon the writings of Shel Silverstein:
I will not play tug o' war.
I'd rather play hug o' war.
Where everyone hugs instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles and rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses, and everyone grins,
and everyone cuddles, and everyone wins
on principle!!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
ESPN reaches agreement with our namesake
Thanks to Awful Announcing for the tip...
BRISTOL, Conn. — ESPN says a settlement has been reached in the lawsuit filed by former baseball analyst Harold Reynolds over his firing. Reynolds sued the sports network for at least $5 million in October 2006, three months after he was fired. He claimed he was wrongly fired after a female intern complained about what he called a “brief and innocuous” hug. Reynolds played 12 seasons in the major leagues and worked at the network for 11 years. Terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. An ESPN spokesman says the suit was settled last week in Hartford Superior Court.
This is good news. Harold can finally get a real job and real exposure (Fox?). It means he probably was innocent after all. It also means he can discuss the whole incident.
So, I am putting it out there on behalf of everyone here at Hugging Harold Reynolds. I hold in my hand a cashier's check for $75.34. (Hey, we do this blog for free, we ain't got a broadcasting company.) It's already made out to Harold Reynolds (ignore the word Hugging crossed out--force of habit). All you have to do is come on HHR and discuss everything with us. We will hand you the entire check. You probably paid more for the bar tab that night at the restaurant (most of it Kruker sucking down wings and shots of drawn butter) when the alleged hugging went down.
So, mull it over. Take your time. We aren't going anywhere.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Potshot at the Patron Saint
We love the Onion as much as the next bunch, but how dare they make light of the bogus situation St. Harold had to endure!
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