Steve Phillips: A Career of Problems

ESPN has confirmed via a Twitter account that Baseball Tonight analyst Steve Phillips was relived of his duties due to allegations of an affair with a female intern. Phillips, who discovered the Mets' All-Star David Wright when he worked as the team's GM, was fired after a series of poor seasons. He never let anyone forget that he discovered Wright, through all his broadcasts as an analyst and broadcaster for ESPN. He now finds himself unemployed after allegations of an affair.

ESPN acted promptly in this matter and never let speculation carry to far to spark questions and protests. Rather amongst allegations of the affair, similar to that of what happened to David Letterman a few weeks ago, ESPN decided to cut ties with the on-air personality and rid itself of any media problems. Phillips has also been alleged to having affairs and improper conduct when he was staffed with the New York Mets, which begs the question, how many more have gone untold?

Unlike Letterman, who is a CBS staple for late night comedy, Phillips seemed to be expendable for the seemingly only network that has sports anymore. Phillips always seemed to be the third wheel while broadcasting and never really gave solid analysis while working for Baseball Tonight. His suggestions and predictions were usually far-fetched and unlikely, and his baseball knowledge was often put into question by his viewers.

In all this controversy and damaging news, lets not forget the real victims in this case. ESPN can get anyone they want for a analyst job, Phillips will probably get another job somewhere, and the girl alleging the affair will probably get an unstated amount of money from both Phillips and ESPN. However, as usual the real victims here are the innocent ones, Phillips' wife and children. As often is the case in high profile scandals such as this, Phillips was a husband and a father and let his family down. Not only did he show no moral fiber in committing his actions, he showed no responsibility by never apologizing to the public for it. yes, he probably did beg his wife and family for forgiveness once the news broke, but would you take his story?

Phillips and Letterman have become icons for what is wrong in entertainment these days. Men blow off their responsibilities not as a worker, but as a person, as a family man. Shame on you Steve and Dave.