ESPN vs. Mormons
Students at Louisana State University are thrilled with LSU’s 26-21 victory over rival Auburn. But they are seething about an ESPN sideline reporter's off-the-cuff statement about quarterback Andrew Hatch. Hatch had been slammed during the game and later diagnosed with a concussion.ESPN's Holly Rowe offered this update on Hatch’s condition:
Well, guys, I know he’s not drunk because Hatch is a Mormon and doesn’t drink. But you would think he’s tipsy the way he’s been wobbling around.The editorial page of the LSU Reveille responds:
Even the most charitable interpretation her comment is bizzare.
It’s true Hatch is a Mormon, and Mormons don’t drink alcohol. The problem, though, is not with the comment’s factual validity.
Hatch — in what was certainly a disappointing night for him, his friends and his family — was sidelined with a concussion and appeared in both physical and mental stress. . . .
Why Rowe found it necessary to invoke both Hatch’s religious beliefs and values to describe his physical status is baffling.Earlier this year, ESPN reporter Ric Bucher felt it necessary to evoke Mormonism to denigrate Utah Jazz fans. I wonder if Rowe knows the religion of one other LSU player?
28 Comments:
I going to go out on a limb and say that the reason Holly Rowe know Hatch's religion is that his bio probably mentions an LDS mission.
Why she brought it up, on the other hand, is anybody's guess.
Maybe Rowe mentioned Hatch's religion because she feels an affinity to him because she's Mormon too.
It's a good news/bad news kind of thing.
Andrew Hatch did serve a mission for the LDS church, and I am sure he is comfortable with telling people about his religious beliefs, and I am sure his teamates have asked plenty of questions. So, in that regard, he probably should not be offended.
On the other hand, it is the first thing she mentions about him. For example, she neglects the fact that Andrew was admitted to Harvard for a year before his mission and was a QB there as well. In spite of this obvious accomplishment, she still sees this young man as somehow being dramatically different because of his faith. I am sure she meant no harm, but it is awkward that it would be the first thing she would bring up in an injury report.
As a Mormon at BYU, I am going to say that this comment is harmless. Such comments not only come with the territory, but are somehow encouraged by the culture at the Church. How many times over the past decade did we hear President Hinckley proudly mention that BYU was the nation's #1 "Stone Cold Sober School" in the rankings yet again? It seems odd that we as members get excited over gimmicks like this, but then act offended if someone else makes a joke about it.
I happen to know Holly Rowe - She is a very fine person who, I believe, would NEVER be disrespectful to Hatch's Christian religion. For one thing, she is LDS herself.
I say back off and not be so quick to jump to conclusions. From what I can tell, Holly an outstanding journalist with no intent to harm anyone here.
Perhaps we all need to be a little less sensitive about such things.
Joe Wren?
Oh yeah, he's the expert and voice of reason here.
Dude has been fired from so many media organizations in SLC I've lost count.
If anyone can tell who is an "outstanding journalist," it's NOT Joe Wren.
BTW - Holly probably brought it up because she is LDS, and it's part of this state's "Look at us, aren't we wonderful" mentality.
Hey "anonymous" - you have plenty of guts not publishing YOUR name... I think we all understand a "coward" like you.
"Joe Wren" hasn't been fired once - he left jobs for new opportunities.
"Anonymous" IS a coward, who obviously has many weaknesses himself ~ so he tries to mask his own faults by making incorrect and hateful comments about others.
Hey mr. anti "anonymous" - Utah gets sick quick of low lifes like YOU. Get a life and stop dissing on people we love here.
Joe Wren just plain sucks.
How he keeps a job is beyond me.
Cheesy and dumb, that's Joe Wren.
HA HA... You just made our point again "anonymous" - too afraid to say your name!
"He sucks... she sucks"...
Generally means YOU suck and you hate the world for it!
Wren has been with the same TV station since 2000 - I think thats pretty decent longevity for Salt Lake TV.
Why don't you crawl back into that sleazy, smelly hole you live in?
Agreed - "anonymous" obviously is jealous of Joe Wren. Better take the advice to crawl back into your little green "hole"!
Thanks for the support "Tom K" etc. - but "anonymous" doesn't bother me ~ I think he/she has the right to dislike me - I just want them to know that Holly's comments were misinterpreted.
If anonymous is a hater of me, it's his/her problem, not mine.
Good luck with that, anonymous!
So "anonymous", I'm curious now - WHO ARE YOU?
Better fess up or youll just be known as coward anytime you write anything about wren - who i happen to like on tv.
Different "anonymous" here...
I really dislike Joe Wren as well. And that "Live at Five" show is a complete train wreck.
Story I've heard about Joe Wren - when he worked at KSL, he would supposed to be out covering a story in Sandy or elsewhere, but the other reporters would see him sitting in the KSL news car along 4th West taking naps in between shots just a few blocks for the station. Perhaps that's why "another opportunity" came up?
It's amazing that someone with so little talent has been with the same station since 2000. But, when that station is the tire fire that is Fox 13, it's understandable
Ha HaThe way you heard it? Verrry reliable source.
Besides, whocares where he was reporting? Is that the worst you can say about someone mr. anonymous? I like wren more now - you even less.
Disliking someone because of that? No way - you hate him because whatever he does he does it better than you. I'm a psychologist, so I should know.
If "anonymous" hates live at five itmust mean he is a competitor of fox - therefore his foolish dislike of jeo wren really is jealousy.
It's obvious that "anonymous" is the same person writing all the hate - why don't you just man up and tell us who you are. It's the only way you'll save any face at this point - everyone else seems to like Joe on tv but you.
Happy Joe Wren is the funniest guy on tv... KSL is too boring and channel 2 is too conceited. Don't even ask me about 4.
My husband and I LOVE Joe Wren on FOX-13! He is funny and real - I think the one person who doesn't like him is the one with the problem.
Joe Wren blew it on Burgess 10 years ago - but he's now the most watchable sports guy around although he seems to do a lot of entertainment stuff at fox these days. Those channel 2 sports guys are full of themselves and 4 has always been horrible. Kirtland and Kathy aren't bad at 5.
Joe Wren is funny!
It's pretty obvious all of the anonymous people professing their love for Joe Wren is actually Joe posting nice stuff himself.
Don't you have a job to do instead of posting as "supporters"?
I've only seen Happy Joe in the morning - but he seems very nice and funny. I like him better than buda.
Holly Rowe's negative comments are the real issue here. She may not have meant them but she still didn't choose her words wisely for a tv reporter.
Wren has been on tv since fox started. Last night he covered that dance thing on fox pretty funny.
The funniest thing he does is when he brings his red and white gilly shirt on the morning shw
I don't know Holly Rowe - but Joe Wren is the best announcer on fox-13! He's just natural.
hahaha, I can't believe we are choosing to have this discussion to be quite frank. This whole "I like this reporter better than this one" is steming from a comment made about a MORMON football player. Who cares, like them or not it will not influence who we see on TV here locally, we can't change that. The honest truth is they are all just very average. Lets get to what really matters, FOOTBALL
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