Chargers radio color commentator Hank Bauer will not be part of the broadcast for the team's final preseason game Thursday night after he "offended some listeners Sunday telling an anti-Semitic joke," according to Matthew Hall of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. The move stems from a conversation near the end of Sunday's Chargers-49ers game about the "high price of football tickets." While talking to play-by-play announcer Josh Lewin, Bauer "interjected a quip about how copper wire was invented." He asked, "You know how copper wire was invented? Somebody dropped a penny between Josh and his family member." Lewin responded, "OK, alright. We've got, let's see, 30 seconds mercifully remaining in this game." Bauer: "I say that respectfully and endearingly, my partner." Bauer yesterday "apologized on Twitter for his 'poor choice of words' and was suspended for a game by the Chargers." The team in a statement said, "Although we know Hank had no ill-will behind his remarks, we agree the comments were inappropriate" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/27). ESPN.com's Eric Williams noted Bauer and Lewin "work for Clear Channel Communications, which runs the flagship radio station for the Chargers." Bauer has served as the team's color commentator for radio broadcasts since '98 (ESPN.com, 8/26).
