ESPN Sacks Steve Phillips Over Affair

News of Baseball Analyst's Affair with Production Assistant Embarrassed Sports Broadcasting Giant

(AP)  Baseball analyst Steve Phillips was fired by ESPN on Sunday night, less than a week after he admitted having an affair with a production assistant at the cable network.

A representative for Phillips also announced the former Mets general manager was entering a treatment facility "to address his personal issues."

Phillips' acknowledgment Wednesday of his relationship with 22-year-old Brooke Hundley was splashed across the New York tabloids for days, embarrassing the Bristol, Conn.-based sports giant.

"Steve Phillips is no longer working for ESPN," network spokesman Josh Krulewitz said in a statement. "His ability to be an effective representative for ESPN has been significantly and irreparably damaged, and it became evident it was time to part ways."

Phillips had taken a leave of absence after the affair became public. Krulewitz declined comment when asked Sunday night about Hundley's status with the company.

Steve Lefkowitz, Phillips' representative, said in an e-mail that his client "is voluntarily admitting himself to an inpatient treatment facility to address his personal issues, and informed ESPN of his plans Friday."

According to a police report filed in Wilton, Conn., Hundley began calling Phillips' wife, Marni, on Aug. 5 after he broke off the affair and sent her a letter graphically describing their relationship and the 46-year-old Phillips' birthmarks.

Marni Phillips called police Aug. 19 when she came home to find Hundley in her driveway. "I knew instinctively that this was the woman Steve was involved with and I was terrified," she wrote in a statement to police.

Hundley also contacted Phillips' 16-year-old son through his Facebook account, according to the police report.

"This woman has clearly displayed erratic behavior and delusional tendencies," Steve Phillips said in a statement to police.

Phillips signed a statement to police that he would not press charges. The status of the police investigation was unclear Sunday. The report indicated a detective planned to interview Hundley this week when she returned from vacation.

Marni Phillips filed for divorce Sept. 14, according to court records.

In 1998, Steve Phillips admitted having sex with a Mets employee, who sued for sexual harassment. That case was settled out of court. Phillips was fired by the Mets in 2003.

Messages seeking comment were left Sunday for Phillips and Hundley.

ESPN has been troubled by a series of workplace issues involving alleged misconduct by its television personalities.

In 2006, baseball analyst Harold Reynolds was fired after a female intern complained about what he called a "brief and innocuous hug." Reynolds sued and settled with the network last year.

Last year, a judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a makeup artist who accused hosts Jay Crawford and sports writer Woody Paige of groping and propositioning her on the set of the now-defunct show "Cold Pizza."

[aubfmet]

Everybody who gets married should be given a gun permit. That would make marriage a lot more serious. Words don't count anymore.

[Ronjon7]

Good thing Steve was at ESPN and not the White House - what a joke.

[jdec15]

Why did Steve Phillips get fired? My former husband had affairs with several women at a large corporation. I was harrassed by one of the women and he just retired from the corporation after 45 years of employment. Of course, we divorced, and he married "the other woman"!
Hmmmmm, also, I worked for a large corporation, and the CEO, President, etc. were having affairs! I guess it was an ethics issue but most large corporations usually don't include upper management in ethics issues....they get away with whatever they want to do...they never have to face the ethics department...only lower level employees have to go along with the ethics of the corporation and usually get fired. I guess Mr. Phillips was the exception! Oh, have they checked out any other upper management within the ESPN corporation?????

[Bam206]

There is no way he should be fired from his job, He had sex with a co-worker. Big Deal! This lady flips out and he looses his job, what B.S! I am so tired of this country becoming so vaginized. Women need to step up and start taking accountability for there actions. She had sex with a married man, she knew it she needs to live with it. And other women need to step up ans say it also. Did she really expect any other outcome?

[ssporleder]

When will people figure it out that UNLESS you want to sabatoge your career and marriage - don't have affairs!

And in this guy's case and in Letterman's, at least go out in glory with attractive women!

There is just too much bravado and ego in the public eye.

[jclark7613]

Phillips should not lose his job over this....so what will happen to the crazy women that was stalking his wife and child... she has just as much blame in this as he does... she knew he was married...I'm a female and believe this women should be held accountable. Both men and women does not respect the unity of marriage anymore. 20 years ago 70% of married men have cheated on their wife at some point in the marriage and now the numbers are even...women cheat just as much as men but we are just smarter about never getting caught...

[incog-nito]

Um... if they should both be held accountable, then why shouldn't he lose this job?

[puzzler125]

They're going to have to fire a lot of people if every person having a relationship/affair/tryst, whatever you want to call it, with someone at work, is going to be "let go."

[get_down]

"In 1998, Steve Phillips admitted having sex with a Mets employee, who sued for sexual harassment. That case was settled out of court. Phillips was fired by the Mets in 2003." Hummmm - knowing that, yet the Sports giant network - a.k.a. ESPN still was willing to hire him as the "Baseball Analyst" - only now after this incident with Ms. Brooke Hundley - ESPN fired him? I smell lawsuit coming!

[Ms_enza]

Well, there's always Worldwide Pants...

[formrusmcsgt]

What a jerk.

Another led around through life by his dork.