ESPN's Steve Phillips Takes Leave Of Absence Amid Affair Report

Phillips Has Acknowledged His Relationship With ESPN Production Assistant

ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips is taking an extended leave of absence after acknowledging his relationship with ESPN production assistant Brooke Hundley. Phillips said he "asked for a leave of absence to address this with my family and to avoid any unnecessary distractions through the balance of the baseball playoffs" (THE DAILY). In N.Y., Dan Mangan cites an ESPN source as saying that the network "does not expect this to end the matter -- because Phillips is suspected of sleeping with several ESPN employees." Hundley still works for ESPN, but is "no longer being assigned baseball broadcasts." Mangan writes the "involvement of ESPN employees in the scandal is yet another black eye for the network" (N.Y. POST, 10/22). Phillips in '98 took a leave of absence while GM of the Mets to deal with a sexual harassment allegation involving a team employee and the repercussions from a series of extramarital affairs (THE DAILY). In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes unless they were "oblivious, ESPN suits had to be aware of Phillips' past when they brought him in as a baseball analyst." If ESPN execs "had concerns over Phillips, they might have put very specific morals clauses in his contract," but if they "didn't, they are morons, albeit trusting ones." Raissman wonders: "Will anyone listen, or care, the next time he comments on a player whose personal issues affected his on-field performance? ... When, and if, Phillips is in front of a camera again, will anyone in the viewing audience take him seriously?" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/22). CBS' "Late Show" host David Letterman is still hosting his show despite admitting earlier this month to extramarital affairs with company employees, and in L.A., Diane Pucin wrote, "Apparently ESPN is much tougher on its male employees who mess around with (much younger) female employees than is CBS" (LATIMES.com, 10/21).

ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY ESPN: The Phillips situation was addressed Wednesday on ESPN.com, “Baseball Tonight” and the afternoon "SportsCenter," with each host reading a statement from Phillips and another one from ESPN. The hosts appeared on-screen with no background graphics. ESPN's Brian Kenny said on Wednesday's 6:00pm ET "SportsCenter," "The New York Post reported today that ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips, formerly the General Manager of the Mets, was involved in a relationship with a female ESPN employee. The Post story was based on police reports following an incident that occurred at Phillips' home." Kenny read the statement from Phillips, followed by ESPN's response (THE DAILY).