jeannine edwards

Something was missing from ESPN's Fiesta Bowl broadcast on Saturday: the voice of Ron Franklin, a veteran announcer who's been with the network since 1987.

ESPN brass sidelined Franklin after an incident that took place not on the air but at a production meeting the previous day. Apparently Jeannine Edwards, an ESPN-TV sideline reporter, attempted to join a conversation about California politics (ESPN announcer Rod Gilmore's wife, Marie, was recently elected mayor of Alameda). The website Sports by Brooks reports that Franklin interrupted Edwards, saying, "Why don't you leave this to the boys, sweetcakes."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Edwards told Franklin not to call her sweetcakes. His response? "OK, then, a**hole."

News of the incident reached management quickly, but Franklin worked that evening's Chick-Fil-A Bowl as usual because ESPN couldn't find a replacement in time for the broadcast.

This isn't the first time Franklin has gotten in trouble for making rude remarks to a female colleague.

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During a Notre Dame-Purdue game in 2005, he was involved in an on-air incident with sideline reporter Holly Rowe. Praising Purdue's defensive strategy despite Notre Dame's big lead, Rowe asked, "If the coaches are giving up, what does that say to the players?" Franklin responded, "Holly, it's not giving up, it's 49-21, sweetheart." According to ESPN, Franklin apologized to Rowe and "the matter was handled internally." But George Solomon, the network's ombudsman, had critical words (and some advice) for Franklin. "Play-by-play commentators need to take sideline reporters -- many of whom are women -- more seriously," he wrote.

Sounds like Franklin missed that advice.