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Jeremy Roenick Suggests Jemele Hill Should Be Suspended From ESPN Even Longer

By Stephen Gossett in News on Oct 10, 2017 6:30PM

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Jeremy Roenick, 2010 / Getty Images / Photo: Kevork Djansezian

It's been a busy 24 hours on the "former Chicago sports icons wade perilously into the waters of race, protest and athletics" beat. Former Blackhawks forward Jeremy Roenick jumped into the debate about the controversial suspension of sports journalist and SportsCenter host Jemele Hill on Tuesday, suggesting that Hill should be sidelined longer than her two-week punishment. Hill was suspended for suggesting that fans could boycott companies that advertise with the Dallas Cowboys, whose owner, Jerry Jones, threatened to bench players that kneel or sit during national-anthem renditions.

Acknowledging his own well-earned status as one of professional hockey's few outspoken figures, Roenick said on Twitter on Tuesday that it was foolhardy to jeopardize one's position by "taking on" a league and sponsors "that pay your bills."

"I'm one of the most outspoken people I know and even I wouldn't jeopardize the @NHLonNBCSports peacock like @jemelehill did w @espn. Wow!!" tweeted Roenick, who works as a hockey analyst for NBC.

"Crazy taking on the @NFL and sponsors that pay your bills!! Only 2 wks suspension? Hmmmm @espn. We know where u stand," he added in a followup tweet.


Hill, who previously slammed President Donald Trump as a white supremacist, was suspended on Monday by ESPN "for a second violation" of the company's social media guidelines.

Columnists at CNN, Washington Post, the Root and other outlets, along with several high-profile figures defended Hill. Trump meanwhile personally called her out on Tuesday morning on Twitter.


Roenick chastised Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch in August for sitting during the national anthem, although he cited a fake news story about Steelers linebacker James Harrison in doing so.