The Philadelphia Flyers have condemned what they are calling an "inappropriate comment" made during a radio broadcast of the Flyers-Sabres game. The Flyers are a professional hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL).
According to US Weekly and a team statement, the Flyers have suspended play-by-play announcer Tim Saunders for two games after the hot mic moment.
“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 on Friday, December 19. “These remarks do not reflect the standards of conduct or values we expect from anyone associated with our organization.”
What did Saunders say? According to US Weekly, he was caught "jokingly asking someone for a sexual favor during a media timeout."
“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 team's statement continued.
The audio went viral on social media.
According to Fox News, Saunders "thought he had sent the broadcast to a commercial break and was off the air, but was instead caught on a hot mic."
"While you’re down there, would you mind bl*wing me?" Saunders is accused of saying on the air, while he thought the broadcast was no longer live, Fox News reported.
Saunders’ radio partner, Todd Fedoruk, responded, "I think we’re still on the air, Tim," according to Fox News, which added that Saunders started laughing, apparently thinking it was a joke, before saying, "No, we’re not, are we?"
According to Fox News, Saunders "has been the Flyers radio play-by-play announcer since 1997, spending nearly 30 years in his role."