ParkerRob Parker, the ESPN commentator who was suspended last month after ranting about ‘Skins quarterback whether Robert Griffin III is “black enough,” is done at the supposed worldwide leader in sports.
Parker was suspended after a December 13 taping of ESPN2’s First Take in which he questioned Griffin’s authenticity as an African-American athlete:
Is he a brother, or is he a cornball brother? … He’s not real. OK, he’s black, he kind of does the thing, but he’s not really down with the cause. He’s not one of us. He’s kind of black, but he’s not really, like, the guy you want to hang out with because he’s off to something else.
Parker also made an issue of Griffin’s fiancée, who is white. The couple met at Baylor University and were engaged in 2011.
According to a network statement, Parker’s employment with ESPN was scheduled to terminate at the end of 2012, and what he said about Griffin contributed to the decision not to re-up his contract.
“Rob Parker’s contract expired at year’s end,” the network said. “Evaluating our needs and his work, including his recent RG III comments, we decided not to renew his deal.”
Parker offered an apology a few days after his initial comments, though ESPN continued his suspension before deciding to cut him entirely.
