The plan for the Tampa Bay Rays evidently is for former sideline reporter Emily Austen to go away quietly.
Of course, if that had been the plan all along, Austen might still be employed.
Austin was fired last week after making several thick-headed statements while appearing on Barstool Sports disparaging Jews, Asians and Hispanics. She was immediately removed from the broadcast team, which hasn’t had much to say about her absense.
This week, Austen reponded with a tweet: “I made a terribl mistake. I was in an environment where I was trying to be funny and made a joke, and my comments were insensitive. You can truest this was absolutely not my intention. Anyone who knows me knows that is it not now I truly feel. I will continue to work hard to prove myself and make things right. I know I have some growing to do, and I sincerely apologize. Something like this will never happen again.”
Some reactions.
One): Austen did not make “a” joke. She made several.
Two): She wasn’t required to say a word. She certainly could have taken the high road.
Three): Wasn’t that the same reasoning used by John Rocker, Jimmy “the Greek” Snyder and Al Campanis?
Four): How in the world did Austen expect to go back into the Rays’ locker room which has an Asian and several Hispanics. The team’s owner, Stu Sternberg, is Jewish.
Five): At what point was it a good idea to go on Barstool sports to begin with?
For now, there is one fewer voice at Fox Sports Sun.
It sounds fine.
