Hank Williams, Jr. And All His Rowdy Friends Got Canned By ESPN
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Unless you have been living under a rock, you have undoubtedly heard about the inflammatory comments Hank Williams, Jr. made during an appearance on FOX and Friends last Monday where he compared President Obama to Hitler. That little gaffe resulted in ESPN pulling his intro from that night’s broadcast of Monday Night Football.
There have been comments from both sides — as well as a massive amount of commentary regarding whether it was right or wrong for ESPN to pull the intro — over the past few days regarding exactly what the future of Hank’s relationship with ESPN entailed, but now it’s official, sort of: ESPN says they fired the country crooner, but Hank Williams, Jr. said he told them to take this job and shove it. Who to believe?
ESPN made the announcement via a statement disseminated by John Ourand of SportsBusiness Journal (by way of Pro Football Talk):
ESPN statement on Hank Williams, Jr.: “We have decided to part ways with Hank Williams, Jr. We appreciate his contributions over the past years. The success of Monday Night Football has always been about the games and that will continue.”
But au contraire, says Hank Williams, Jr., who probably wouldn’t have used “au contraire” to contradict ESPN’s statement but something more along the lines of “nuh-uh!” Williams, Jr. made the following statement earlier Thursday morning on his website where he contends it was his decision alone to part ways:
AFTER ESPN SUSPENDS HANK JR. FOR ONE-WEEK, HANK JR. DECIDES TO PULL HIS SONG FROM BEING USED ON ESPN FOR REMAINDER OF SEASON!
“After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision. By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment
Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It’s been a great run.” — Hank Williams Jr
It sure has, Hank Williams, Jr., it sure has. Just as long as it was YOUR decision to pull the song for the REMAINDER OF THE SEASON EXCLAMATION POINT! But as stated above, who to believe? It’s like a he said-she said kind of conundrum where the “he” is a massive, calculating corporation deserving of no pity and the “she” is a lowbred country music singer whose career has been running on the fumes due to the publicity garnered from a ridiculous, overwrought theme song for a football game. It’s quite the conundrum.
But in the end, it is what it is: Hank Williams, Jr.’s annoying theme song for Monday Night Football is no more. Next up: somebody figure out a way to get Faith Hill canned. Her debacle of a theme song for Sunday Night Football might even be worse than Hank’s atrocity.
ESPN fires Hank, who claims he quit [Pro Football Talk]
How about bringing back the classic pinball game opening. That is way better than Hank Williams anyway!
E.S.P.N. will never be anything near what it once was. And getting rid of the iconic intro makes them suck even more. If they hope to save whats left to save of the M.N.F. theme, FIRE THAT FATASS BERMAN!
I hate to see Hank leave but it would probably be best for him. I lost respect for ESPN and their values starting with the hiring of Craig James. If a network can keep such a morally corrupt person on their payroll then down the tubes to ESPN
Well Hank is an American. Obama, well we all know what he is and is not. I say put Hank in office and boot Obama’s ass out. I bet our borders would be more secure. Phuc ESPN.
MNF is almost legendary. Longest running (by FAR) popular TV series. The game is no different than the others aired on Sunday but it had an aura about it that attracted a HUGE following. I was upset when it moved to cable and the broadcast team ESPN has is not even in the same league with NBC’s cast. Current or any of the past teams. Hank Williams Jr. song at the beginning, love it or hate it is part of that Aura. It was a SHOCK when I didn’t see it last Monday night. What Hank says or believes should NOT affect his song on MNF unless those beliefs are woven into his song. What is being broadcast now is no long MNF and I will no longer watch it. I am not alone so it will be a shame when it disappears from the screen.
Wow, another condescending sportswriter typing his opinion. Who woulda thunk that the profession called “sports journalism” used to use “news” and “facts” instead of the opinion of a dweeb as a basis of an article.
Guess what WEED, your article cements your position significantly below Hank Jr. and mostly below Barrack Obama (but above Hitler mind you) in terms of “intellect that leaves a mark”. You sound like a whining 3rd grader who just had his lunch money taken.
Hank said a stupid, but he wasn’t comparing Obama to Hitler, he was talking about what an unlikely golf due that…..oh never mind, you don’t get it anyway.
And you’re right kimmer, Craig James is undeserving of his position on a sports network like ESPN.
it does no suprise me that a network like ESPN does not believe in the 2nd amendment rights of Americans as long as they can voice thier own opinions.
Why was he doing the opening song anyways? And why would anyone miss him?? There are thousands of artists who could come up with a better song, most all of which have more talent. Now ESPN can get someone in there who actually earned their career, instead of one that is living off of the free ride from daddy, dressing like a circus clown and blurting out comments like a twelve year old. Every time I see that ugly dude on the MNF opening, I feel like I need to take shower. Eewww. Thank god it’s over.