Ron Franklin Sues ESPN For Wrongful Termination

Ron Franklin

Former ESPN RADIO play-by-play voice RON FRANKLIN has sued the network for wrongful termination. FRANKLIN was fired after being pulled from FIESTA BOWL coverage on NEW YEAR'S DAY in the wake of off-air remarks aimed at sideline reporter JEANNINE EDWARDS.

FRANKLIN's widely-reported firing came after reports that the veteran announcer had called EDWARDS "sweet baby" and "a--hole" in a conversation before the network's CHICK-FIL-A BOWL coverage. He confirmed to USA TODAY WEDNESDAY that he had filed suit, but gave no other details of the legal action.

Attorney TOM NESBITT told USA TODAY, "This case is about RON FRANKLIN's contracts with ABC and ESPN. We hope that ABC and ESPN will honor their commitments to RON FRANKLIN. If they choose to continue breaching their contracts, this case will be tried in a courtroom in AUSTIN, TX, not the media."

ESPN spokesman MIKE SOLTYS responded in an e-mail, "We are confident that the action we took was appropriate."

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