Bottom Line: ESPN is trying to low-key an anti-Catholic tirade by its reporter Dana Jacobson and has refused to supply a video of her antics. She was given a token one-week suspension. 01-24-2008
ESPN Won't Release Video of Host's F-Word Rant By Pete Winn CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
(CNSNews.com) - ESPN is refusing to release video of anchor Dana Jacobson's comments at a sports celebrity roast held nearly two weeks ago in Atlantic City, N.J. -- comments for which she received a one-week suspension.
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, wants to know why. The video, he said, would confirm exactly what the popular co-host of ESPN2's "First Take" actually said at the Jan. 11 event.
"We know that Jacobson said 'F*** Notre Dame,'" Donohue told Cybercast News Service. "What we don't know is whether, as reported on some Web sites, she also said 'F*** Jesus' at the event. If she did, then that changes everything."
If Jacobson did say, 'F*** Jesus,' then Donohue thinks the broadcaster deserves far more than a slap on the wrist.
"It is one thing to use an obscenity to rip a Catholic university, quite another to use the vilest of terms about Jesus," he added. "If she didn't, then all they need to do is make the video public -- put it on YouTube. If she did, then it looks like we might be dealing with a cover up."
ESPN, which admitted Wednesday it had suspended Jacobson for one week, also said it had no plans to release video from the event.
"Her actions and comments were inappropriate, and she's been disciplined," ESPN Vice President of Communications Mike Soltys told Cybercast News Service.
The comments, Soltys said, came during a roast held in honor of two ESPN Radio personalities - Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic - held at Atlantic City's House of Blues.
Jacobson, a University of Michigan grad, made derogatory comments about Notre Dame football and the university's famous "Touchdown Jesus" - the nickname of a huge mural of Jesus with upheld hands that overlooks Notre Dame's football stadium.
Soltys confirmed that a video of the event exists. But he wouldn't confirm that Jacobson was being disciplined for referring to Jesus.
