What the F?
There is a huge outcry bellowing through ND Nation these days over the remarks of ESPN “personality” Dana Jacobson. She basically said some bad things about Notre Dame(no big deal) and then said something pretty horrible about Jesus(Big Deal.)
Long-time IRT reader, contributor, and friend Shake Down the Thunder sent ESPN’s ombudsman Le Anne Schreiber a letter voicing his displeasure with Jacobson. Here is the reply:
Dear Jeff,
Thank you for your message. Here is what I know about Dana Jacobsen’s behavior at the Mike and Mike roast. On Jan. 12, The Press of Atlantic CIty ran a story that included a description of Jacobsen’s drunken behavior the previous night, saying she had made a “fool of herself” on stage, “mumbling along and cursing like a sailor as Mike & Mike rested their heads in their hands in embarrassment.” In the wake of that report, ESPN issued a statement saying,”Her actions were totally inappropriate and we have dealt with it.” Dana herself issued a statement saying, “I deeply regret any embarrassment I have caused ESPN, Mike and Mike, and any of my fellow roasters. My actions were inappropriate and in no way represent who I really am. I have personally apologized to many of the people involved but know I can never take back that evening. I won’t make excuses for my behavior but do hope that I can be forgiven for such a poor lack of judgment.
Then, on Jan 18, Deadspin.com posted a report saying a “tipster” alleged that what the Press of Atlantic CIty had only called mumblings included a string of specific offensive and blasphemous statements. Other blogs have picked up that report and repeated the tipster’s account, but as far as I can determine, there has been no video confirming the specifics of what she said, and no reports in the mainstream press, on deadspin or on other blogs saying that anyone else at the roast has confirmed the specific quotes attributed to Jacobsen by Deadspin’s tipster. I alerted ESPN to the mail I received from you and others in response to the wide dissemination of the allegation.
ESPN issued a revised statement saying,”Her actions and comments were inappropriate and we have dealt with it.” Dana expanded her statement, saying “I am very sorry. My remarks about Notre Dame were foolish and insensitive. I respect all religions and did not mean anything derogatory by my poorly chosen words. I also deeply regret the embarrassment I have caused ESPN and Mike and Mike. My actions at the roast were inappropriate and in no way represent who I really am. I have personally apologized to many of the people involved. I won’t make excuses for my behavior but do hope that I can be forgiven for such a poor lack of judgment.”
That is what I know, so I can neither confirm or deny the specifics of what Jacobsen said, but her own apology indicates both the offensiveness of her remarks, that they at least had the tenor of religious slurs, and that she deeply regrets her behavior that night. Her remarks were not made on air, but they were made at an ESPN-affiliated charity event. They have tarnished her reputation and ESPN’s, jeopardized her career, and whether there will be any further ramifications of the events of that night may well depend on how people respond to her plea for forgiveness.
Thanks again,
Le Anne Schreiber
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:37 am
[...] What the F? [...]
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Since when has it NOT been politically correct to degrade ND and Catholics in general. This type of media would cause a world of trouble if itr were any other college or religion. But we all know that the media has had a field day with ND and Catholics for MANY years and it will not change. This young lady will become even more popular when she is let back into the media for she will be known as the babe who stuck it to ND and the Catholics. Forget it and let it go.
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
she is not a babe lol
January 24th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Maybe I missed it, but I resent the fact the issue has not been a topic of discussion by Mike and Mike. While I may be wrong, I would assume ESPN has throttled such an idea. What might be appropriate, if Mike and Mike would agree, would be for Ms. Jacobson to appear on their show apologizing to them and everyone for her crude and inappropriate behavior. If it hasn’t been done, ESPN should also require her to write a letter of apology to Father Jenkins and the entire Notre Dame Family.
January 24th, 2008 at 7:54 am
The Christian Defense Coalition is going to lead a public demonstration and prayer vigil outside of ESPN Headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut, on Friday, January 25, at 12:00 noon. Now that the religious groups are pissed off, I’d say Ms. Jacobson should be updating her resume.
The part that bothers me is ESPN’s total lack of coverage. A golf analyst makes an unintentional and indirectly offensive comment and its their lead story for days (it didn’t even offend the person it was directed at). One of their own intentionally makes a directly offensive comment and two weeks later they finally issue a misguided apology that most people probably missed because it wasn’t widely publicized.
Imagine if Charlie Weis had said “F&*$ Jews” at a roast for Jacobson? ESPN would have been airing video and commentary on SportsCenter within minutes absolutely crucifying Weis. Hipocracy. Or maybe their silence means that ESPN executives and its employees simply hate Christians.
January 24th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Christian or not, the use of this type of language is both disgusting and inappropriate. It shows only the lack of education and the ability to use words that can be effective rather than destructive.
I would certainly feel a punishment more harsh than a week without pay is in order. Don’t you?
January 25th, 2008 at 8:35 am
I can imagine Weis wincing , witnessing the swilling of Belvedere Vodka in front of him, &
thinking of the ensuing hangover.
January 27th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
It is a big deal that she blasphemed against Jesus whether IRT feels it is or not. How can you say it’s not!?
January 28th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Hank, I think you misread the post. It says “She basically said some bad things about Notre Dame(no big deal) and then said something pretty horrible about Jesus(Big Deal.)”
I.e. the comments re ND (the ones she apologized for) were no big deal, but her comments about Jesus (the ones she has yet to admit to) were in fact a big deal. Nobody here suggested otherwise.
Its moot anyway. She’s back on First Take after a slight slap to the wrist. ESPN representatives can continue to go on insulting Christians without fear of repurcussions.
January 28th, 2008 at 7:25 am
If Dana Jacobsen had insulted an “African-American”, she would have been fired, instantly. Since it was just Jesus Christ, Catholisism, Christianity and Notre Dame, all is forgiven with a week long unpaid vacation.
I find her comment as well as ESPN’s disposition disgusting and unnacceptable.
January 28th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Sorry! I did misread it.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Very typical. Catholics are not considered a protected class like some other religious, ethnic, lifestyle, etc. groups – so bash away. Remember the Stanford band and their mockery of the Irish Potato Famine during the halftime of an ND game that ultimately led to their banishment from Notre Dame stadium? Nuns chasing around schoolkids waiving rulers. Drunk Priests. Every stereotype imaginable. Imagine a politically correct University like Stanford devoting a halftime show to mocking the Holocaust. Over 1 million Irishmen starved to death during the famine. Millions more emigrated to avoid starvation. On a percentage basis, it was a tragedy on the order of the Holocaust. Yet, there were actually people bashing ND for taking their “hard line stance” and “not having a sense of humor”.
January 29th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Well said, Gunter. ESPN’s double standard on this is beneath contempt.
February 3rd, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Does anyone have the e-mail address to register additional complaints to ESPN? I don’t think we should let this thing go away just yet. Thanks.