ESPN Pulls Announcer From UVa Game Due to His Name

ESPN may have been trying to nip a future hubbub in the bud, but, as CNN notes, it just created a whole new controversy. 

Asian-American announcer Robert Lee was slated to call the University of Virginia's home-opening football game against William and Mary on Sept. 2, but the ESPN confirmed Tuesday that the recently promoted commentator, who the New York Times notes is a part-time staffer who calls a dozen or so college football and basketball games a year, was reassigned to the Youngstown State versus Pittsburgh matchup the same day. 

The reason for the switch by ESPN management, per a statement, was "simply because of the coincidence of [Lee's] name," which was apparently too similar for ESPN's comfort to that of the Confederate general whose statue was the focal point behind the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville earlier this month.

Read the full story on Newser.com

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