NBC Sports Suspends Roenick For Comments Made On Barstool Podcast

NBC Sports has suspended Jeremy Roenick following comments the NHL studio analyst made on a Barstool Sports podcast about other on-air personalities at his network. In a statement emailed to Sports Business Journal Monday afternoon, NBC Sports said: “Jeremy Roenick has been suspended indefinitely without pay for making inappropriate comments about his co-workers. We will have no further comment at this time.” NBC Sports made its decision following Roenick’s Dec. 19 appearance on Barstool's “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast. During the podcast, Roenick described a summer vacation he took in Portugal with his wife and NBC Sports studio host Kathryn Tappen. He told a story of how at least one hotel guest approached Roenick to ask if the three were together. “I play it off like we’re all going to bed together every night, the three of us,” Roenick said. “If it really came to fruition, that would really be good. But it’s never going to happen.” Later during the same discussion, Roenick said that his wife and Tappen are close friends and he praised Tappen’s professionalism. “Kathryn Tappen is one of the most professional ... sports personalities that I know. She is true blue one of my favorite people in the world.”

Later in the podcast, Roenick discussed the physical appearance of fellow NBC hockey analyst Patrick Sharp. “He is so beautiful, I’d have to think about it if he asked me,” Roenick said. “I wouldn’t say no right away.” Roenick went on to describe Sharp as “one of the greatest, greatest guys on the planet” and “one of my best friends,” pointing out that the two had been teammates on the Flyers. Roenick: “I think he’s great. I think he’s been great for NBC. Him and (studio analyst Keith Jones) do well together. It’s good to have, again, a beautiful face that talks well that knows the game because it’s totally the opposite when me and (studio analyst) Anson (Carter) get on there.”