Hank Williams Jr. Pulled From ‘Monday Night Football’ Telecast
Fans that tuned into the NFL “Monday Night Football” game this week between the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t hear Hank Williams Jr.’s classic jingle “Are You Ready For Some Football?” ESPN pulled the jingle from the broadcast due to comments Williams made earlier in the day comparing President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler.
On Monday, ESPN released a statement saying “While Hank Williams Jr. is not an ESPN employee, we recognize that he is closely linked to our company through the open to Monday Night Football. We are extremely disappointed with his comments, and as a result we have decided to pull the open from tonight’s telecast.”
Williams also released a statement on Monday and said “Some of us have strong opinions and are often misunderstood. My analogy was extreme – but it was to make a point… I have always respected the office of the President.”
ESPN has not yet announced whether or not they will continue to use the jingle, which has been heard on “Monday Night Football” telecasts since 1989.
Update: Hank Jr. issued the following apology today via his official website:
I have always been very passionate about Politics and Sports and this time it got the Best or Worst of me. The thought of the Leaders of both Parties Jukin and High Fiven on a Golf course, while so many Families are Struggling to get by simply made me Boil over and make a Dumb statement and I am very Sorry if it Offended anyone. I would like to Thank all my supporters. This was Not written by some Publicist. — Hank Williams Jr
