The Philadelphia Flyers have suspended radio play-by-play man Tim Saunders for two games after a hot mic caught him jokingly asking someone for a sexual favor during a media timeout in the Flyers’ game against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, December 18.
“We are aware of the inappropriate comment made during last night’s radio broadcast in the TV timeout of the Flyers-Sabres game,” the team said in a statement shared via social media on Friday, December 19. “These remarks do not reflect the standards of conduct or values we expect from anyone associated with our organization.”
The statement continued, “Effective immediately, the Flyers, along with our radio partners, 97.5 The Fanatic, have issued a two-game suspension while we address the matter with all parties involved. We take this matter very seriously and sincerely apologize to our listeners, fans and all those affected by these comments.”
The incident occurred with around 10 minutes remaining in the third period, about 20 seconds after Saunders, 63, threw the 97.5 The Fanatic broadcast to commercial. While dead air filled most of the first seconds of the timeout — except for a brief interlude of Saunders seeming to sing to himself — the veteran sportscaster suddenly says, “While you’re down there, would you mind b***ing me?”
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Color commentator Todd Fedoruk replies, “I think we’re still on the air, Tim.”
Saunders is then heard laughing before he says, “No we’re not, are we? Are we? Do you have us? Talk to me.”
Saunders will miss the Flyers’ next two games, one at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers on Saturday, December 20, and one at home against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday, December 22. He will return the next night when the Flyers visit the Chicago Blackhawks.
A team source told The Athletic that Flyers’ director of broadcasting and content, Brian Smith, will fill in for Saunders during his suspension.
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Saunders has not addressed the incident publicly as of Friday afternoon.
Saunders has been on the call for Flyers games since he took over as lead play-by-play voice in 1997. It was his first major professional sports gig after previously calling games in minor league hockey and independent baseball.
Embarrassing as the moment may have been for Saunders, hot mic moments like these are nothing new in sports — even at the highest level.
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One of the most famous instances came in 2020 when former Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman was caught using a homophobic slur on a hot mic during a broadcast. Brennaman’s apology went viral when it was interrupted by a Nick Castellanos home run, which became an instant meme.
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Brennaman, 62, apologized for the comment, which came during the first game of a doubleheader. He was pulled from the broadcast during the second game and was suspended indefinitely. Brennaman eventually resigned.
“I can’t begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am,” he said at the time. “That is not who I am and never has been. I like to think maybe I could have some people who can back that up. I am very, very sorry and I beg for your forgiveness.”
Brennaman is now the lead play-by-play announcer for Atlantic Coast Conference football games on The CW.