At a recent high school boys’ basketball game between Windber (Pa.,) High School and North Star High School, the announcers found themselves in hot water. According to reports by the school district, the announcers made inappropriate comments aimed at one of the student-athletes.
According to WTAJ News, the inappropriate comments were derogatory and the announcers have been fired and will be barred from announcing any future school events.
Moving forward the school district will eliminate play-by-play calls for basketball games in an attempt to remedy the situation and reduce the risk of reoccurrence.
The comments were made during a live broadcast of the game and heard both through the live video feed as well as in person. Following the comments, the announcers were confronted by a parent to whom they gave what the district deemed a “disingenuous apology.”
The Windber Area School District superintendent, Michael Vuckovich, released a statement on social media regarding the situation. In it he wrote, “Let me be unequivocally clear: we are appalled, disgusted, and sickened by these comments.”
Vuckovich continued, “There is no room for hate, bigotry, or ignorance in our sports, our schools, or society. As adults, we are responsible for setting the right example for our students and children. The behavior exhibited tonight by these announcers falls woefully short of that standard. Their attempt to apologize to a parent only after being caught further highlights their lack of accountability and awareness of the harm caused. Their actions and behavior are unprofessional only made worse by their disingenuous apology because they realized their comments were on the live broadcast.”
Any potential or future legal action by the school, student or family has not been made public and the parents have declined to comment to the media.
