Hank Williams Jr Has Been Fired From "Monday Night Football" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 10-03-2011, 07:23 PM

Monday Night Football will not begin with the words, "Are you ready for some football?" -- ESPN is yanking Hank Williams Jr's famous theme song tonight ... after he compared President Obama to Hitler.

Williams Jr. went on Fox & Friends this morning and criticized President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner for playing a round of golf together -- saying, "That's like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu."

He later said Obama and Joe Biden are "the enemy."

ESPN told CBS Sports -- which broke the story -- "We are extremely disappointed with his comments, and as a result we have decided to pull the open from tonight’s telecast."

http://www.tmz.com/2011/10/03/hank-w...x-and-friends/

bandito · 10-03-2011, 07:26 PM

thats funny.. you go hank!

Marvo301 · 10-03-2011, 07:43 PM

I always thought America prided itself on it's citizens freedom of speech. Obviously I was mistaken. This is a knee-jerk reaction by ESPN. And why is a sports network taking a political stand anyway? Politics should be kept out of sports in my opinion.

bandito · 10-03-2011, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I always thought America prided itself on it's citizens freedom of speech. Obviously I was mistaken. This is a knee-jerk reaction by ESPN. And why is a sports network taking a political stand anyway? Politics should be kept out of sports in my opinion.

Good post,Marvo.

Vahan · 10-03-2011, 07:54 PM

Hank Williams, Jr. is absolutely, positively 100% correct on this one.

AKA · 10-03-2011, 08:00 PM

Regardless of your personal politics, if you were a higher-up at ESPN/Disney or the NFL, wouldn't you want to protect your brand from that kind of talk?

catlover79 · 10-03-2011, 08:02 PM

I bet he wouldn't have been fired had he said that about GWB. But I agree with Hank on this one!!!

Brian Damage · 10-03-2011, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKA

Regardless of your personal politics, if you were a higher-up at ESPN/Disney or the NFL, wouldn't you want to protect your brand from that kind of talk?

good point Brad

I will say this though, if Hank Williams would have said he admires Hitler. I could understand firing him more than comparing Obama or GWB to Hitler. Bill Maher said he thought the 9/11 terrorists were brave and still had a show to go to at ABC afterwards. (Even though it was eventually canceled)

AKA · 10-03-2011, 11:10 PM

You're right. Yanking the song/Hank Williams, Jr. was extreme, but I don't think it'll be permanent. What ESPN should have done was issue a statement. "Opinions expressed by blah blah blah are not necessary the opnions of blah blah, its blah blah, or its blah blah."

Williams will be back, probably before the season's over.

Vahan · 10-03-2011, 11:11 PM

In the hopes of trying not to sound distasteful, I'm pretty sure Bill Maher didn't intentionally say he supported the 9/11 terrorists, as it was supposed to be part of his act on television.

AKA · 10-03-2011, 11:14 PM

Here's Maher's exact quote (at least according to "Wikiquote"):

Quote:

We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, that's not cowardly. Stupid maybe, but not cowardly.

He definitely wasn't supporting the terrorists, but it was a pretty stupid thing to say six days after the attacks.

MrCleveland · 10-03-2011, 11:17 PM

WHAT???

It Looks Like Obama Is Starting To Become A Sacred Figure And If You Back-Talk Him...You're A Heathen!

What Nerve....

AKA · 10-03-2011, 11:20 PM

So are you saying it's Obama's fault Williams was fired?

Mr. Television · 10-03-2011, 11:48 PM

Since ESPN boycotted Hank Williams, Jr. tonight, I boycotted ESPN. I watched the baseball playoffs instead of Monday Night Football.

catlover79 · 10-04-2011, 12:33 AM

Sweet - which baseball game did you watch?

10-03-2011, 07:23 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Hank Williams Jr Has Been Fired From "Monday Night Football" Monday Night Football will not begin with the words, "Are you ready for some football?" -- ESPN is yanking Hank Williams Jr's famous theme song tonight ... after he compared President Obama to Hitler. Williams Jr. went on Fox & Friends this morning and criticized President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner for playing a round of golf together -- saying, "That's like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu." He later said Obama and Joe Biden are "the enemy." ESPN told CBS Sports -- which broke the story -- "We are extremely disappointed with his comments, and as a result we have decided to pull the open from tonight’s telecast." http://www.tmz.com/2011/10/03/hank-w...x-and-friends/
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

10-03-2011, 07:26 PM	#2
bandito Going Topless Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Location: The Steel City Posts: 6,320	thats funny.. you go hank!
	__________________ bandito

10-03-2011, 07:43 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	I always thought America prided itself on it's citizens freedom of speech. Obviously I was mistaken. This is a knee-jerk reaction by ESPN. And why is a sports network taking a political stand anyway? Politics should be kept out of sports in my opinion.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

10-03-2011, 08:02 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I bet he wouldn't have been fired had he said that about GWB. But I agree with Hank on this one!!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

10-03-2011, 11:17 PM	#12
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,235	WHAT??? It Looks Like Obama Is Starting To Become A Sacred Figure And If You Back-Talk Him...You're A Heathen! What Nerve....
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

10-03-2011, 07:54 PM	#5
Vahan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2008 Posts: 2,712	Hank Williams, Jr. is absolutely, positively 100% correct on this one.

10-03-2011, 08:00 PM	#6
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Regardless of your personal politics, if you were a higher-up at ESPN/Disney or the NFL, wouldn't you want to protect your brand from that kind of talk?

10-03-2011, 11:10 PM	#9
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	You're right. Yanking the song/Hank Williams, Jr. was extreme, but I don't think it'll be permanent. What ESPN should have done was issue a statement. "Opinions expressed by blah blah blah are not necessary the opnions of blah blah, its blah blah, or its blah blah." Williams will be back, probably before the season's over.

10-03-2011, 11:11 PM	#10
Vahan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2008 Posts: 2,712	In the hopes of trying not to sound distasteful, I'm pretty sure Bill Maher didn't intentionally say he supported the 9/11 terrorists, as it was supposed to be part of his act on television.

10-03-2011, 11:20 PM	#13
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	So are you saying it's Obama's fault Williams was fired?

10-03-2011, 11:48 PM	#14
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Since ESPN boycotted Hank Williams, Jr. tonight, I boycotted ESPN. I watched the baseball playoffs instead of Monday Night Football.
	__________________ Sonny

10-04-2011, 12:33 AM	#15
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Sweet - which baseball game did you watch?