On Wednesday word broke that ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips had an affair with 22-year-old production assistant Brooke Hundley. ESPN addressed the allegations later that day, and Phillips took "an extended leave of absence." And Sunday night Phillips is out at the World Wide Leader. Via ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz's Twitter feed:
More Coverage: ESPN Addresses Phillips Affair
Whitley: Fatal Attraction II | ESPN/Deadspin Legal Issues
Whitley: Fatal Attraction II | ESPN/Deadspin Legal Issues
"Steve Phillips is no longer working for ESPN. His ability to be an effective rep of ESPN has been significantly & irreparably damaged."
That didn't take long. Perhaps ESPN truly felt that Phillips' ability to represent the network had been "significantly & irreparably damaged." Or maybe they're making an example of Phillips and sending a clear message to everybody else that such behavior will be addressed swiftly and severely.
Meanwhile, I can't help but think that Phillips might still have a job if Deadspin hadn't gone insane in the membrane on ESPN last Thursday.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 11)
10-25-2009 @ 9:27PM
Tom said...
you cant let the little head do all the thinking i would of traded up
Reply
10-26-2009 @ 12:37AM
MICKEY said...
No big loss, but very funny, hilarious in fact.
10-26-2009 @ 1:07AM
Daniel Baker said...
I am really amazed at the comments of the readers in this so called "Christian" nation. That religion is DOA. Nobody commenting here has any idea about the dynamic that existed in Steve Phillips' marriage - also the term "old turd" versus "young snot". Age is irrelevent in this matter and the affair is irrelevent regarding the ability to do one's job. Before anyone comments - do your homework - I am not married because I think marriage is a legal farce that is an institution that mistakenly represents that it has the power to bind love and lust - what a joke. Maybe the young "minute men" need to ask why the younger women are attracted to the older men - is it money? Older men prefer to look at her instead of the mirror. Maybe they are underwhelmed by the inexperience, know nothingness and incredible self-absorption of the crack berry generation who cry over every little slight who think love and war has the depth of a video game. ESPN - who cares - news or rather sports results ad nauseum - great distractor while Rome (USA) burns.
10-25-2009 @ 9:29PM
Hannah said...
HA HA HA Another ole turd bites the dust. When will you guys realize that you are old old old and the young twits only want the money?????
Reply
10-25-2009 @ 9:51PM
Mesaman said...
You been sleeping with "old turds" have you?
10-26-2009 @ 5:52AM
rjmack52 said...
Yes, I'm "old, old, old" and many of us old guys know all they want is money and therefore, disassociate ourselves from their company!!!
10-25-2009 @ 9:29PM
Jose Galloza Jr said...
If his old lady was pissed about his affair, I'd like to be a fly on their wall when she found out he lost his job too.
Reply
10-25-2009 @ 9:30PM
icdou007 said...
They both should be out of a job, his wife should divorce him, the girl who cheated with him, should have known better, and be ashamed of herself. The man is no good, once a cheater always a cheater. Character people and morals, that is why when someone cheats it hurts more then the family. How can you trust them, even a President or a political offical.
Reply
10-25-2009 @ 10:32PM
dwmaub said...
I hope you didn't vote for Clinton..............
10-26-2009 @ 12:03AM
pirate9642 said...
I think we need another leader like Bill Clinton.
10-26-2009 @ 3:04AM
god72father said...
So what if this guy got a little on the side. We really have no idea of what his marriage situation is like but suffice to say if you are happy at home you do not stray. I am so tired of people passing judgement on others who they nothing about. The good book says judge not less you not be judged. God will pass his judgement on us all in due time and I do not think any of us will be found to be perfect.
10-26-2009 @ 1:29PM
pcfriar66 said...
to icdou007 - A related article does in fact say that the womanis no longer with ESPN. It states that ESPN would not confirm whether she quit on her own or was fired. I think she most likely quit under the threat of being fired, but since they did not simply say she quit, it could be concluded that she was fired. Either way, they are both gone as a result of this.
10-25-2009 @ 9:31PM
icdou007 said...
He should loose something else if you know what I mean. Should have bought a sports car instead.
Reply
10-25-2009 @ 9:32PM
tuch1957 said...
she got wat she wanted, why is it never an even trade.....at least the ugly fat broad got some action.......boo hoo, they both got laid...lets crucify him, and make her a victim.......she spreads, he jumps in.......wow, lets hang him, and make her famous at the same time....thats fair.....
Reply
10-25-2009 @ 10:09PM
Ruejy said...
You sound VERY bitter and perplexed. Of course it's a fair trade, look what HE tried to do to her? He tried to make her look like an insane stalker, when in fact her letter content was only to inform the wife in details that he was INFACT having an affair, if he and his STUPID wife had handled the situation differently, the public would not be involved and he would STILL have his job. The wife figured if she stood by her man, file police reports and make this chick look like a psycho she would get even with "the other woman" instead of facing off privately with her cheating spouse" and talking to Brooke "woman to woman"... This was a simple matter that could have been rectified PRIVATELY. I am glad he got fired for being an idiot!! His wife got him fired, not Brooke!!! He used Brooke and it came back to haunt him.
10-26-2009 @ 2:27AM
falcon flight said...
mr. phillips was horrible, but to lose his job this way is a brand of clowning poetic justice that can only happen in a setting where things are for cetain not as they seem.
10-26-2009 @ 1:40PM
Tracey Lea said...
very well said couldnt agree more unfortuately its the minority opinion
10-25-2009 @ 9:33PM
jcorb007 said...
well what's good for the goose is good for the gander....I haven/t heard anything about the woman being fired as well.
Reply
10-25-2009 @ 9:36PM
Debi said...
EXACTLY! She should also be canned!!! And then again, what if it all turns out to be a disgruntle young woman who in fact never had a physical affair with him...it's possible too!
10-25-2009 @ 10:00PM
phil said...
Why fire the woman? Dude was her senior. Phillips violated the unwritten rule of office decorum. NEVER date subordinates. As for the young lady, she may, or may not, be given another chance. How many of us, at age 22, remember some of our mess ups? This can be attributed to immaturity.
I do believe it is high time for someone at ESPN to call in the head dog and read him/her the riot act. I heard it said many years ago, "you can't build morale in an organization, it filters down from the top." The top dog apparently turned a blind eye, more than once, at the behavior of Phillips. Good management practices would have averted this P.R. disaster.