The Philadelphia Flyers have suspended radio play-by-play announcer Tim Saunders for two games following an inappropriate comment made during Thursday's game against the Buffalo Sabres. The incident occurred during a TV timeout late in the third period of the Flyers' 5-3 loss, when Saunders appeared to believe the microphones were off.
As the broadcast went to a TV timeout on the Flyers Broadcast Network, Saunders made a lewd joke of a sexual nature that went out live on air. Color analyst and former Flyer Todd Fedoruk immediately recognized the gaffe and tried to intervene, saying, "I think we're still on the air, Tim". A long, awkward pause followed as Saunders realized his mistake, and nervous laughter and attempts to confirm whether the broadcast was still live made the situation worse. The clip quickly spread across social media.
The Flyers organization responded swiftly, issuing a formal apology and announcing the two-game suspension. In a statement released Friday morning, the team said, "We are aware of the inappropriate comment made during last night's radio broadcast in the TV timeout of the Flyers-Sabres game". The statement continued, "These remarks do not reflect the standards of conduct or values we expect from anyone associated with our organization". The Flyers, along with their radio partners, 97.5 The Fanatic, issued the suspension while they address the matter with all parties involved, also stating, "We take this matter very seriously, and sincerely apologize to our listeners, fans, and all those affected by these comments".
Saunders has been the radio play-by-play voice of the Flyers since 1997. If the suspension remains at two games, he would be eligible to return to the airwaves on Tuesday for the team's game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Hot mic incidents are not uncommon in the sports world. While some have led to dismissals, others have been more easily forgiven. The Flyers' swift action underscores the organization's commitment to upholding its standards of conduct and addressing the situation seriously. The team has reportedly met with all involved parties to address the situation.
