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News DeskOctober 6, 2011 18:33
Hank Williams Jr. and ESPN part ways after Obama-Hitler comparison
Hank Williams Jr.'s iconic "Are you ready for some football?" will no longer be part of the opening of Monday Night Football on ESPN, the network said Thursday.
Hank Williams Jr.'s iconic "Are you ready for some football?" will no longer be part of the opening of Monday Night Football on ESPN, the network said Thursday.
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Country singer Hank Williams JR greets the crowd during a game between the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots at Sun Life Stadium on September 12, 2011 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Hank Williams Jr.'s iconic "Are you ready for some football?" will no longer be part of the opening of Monday Night Football on ESPN, the network said Thursday.
Williams was yanked from Monday's broadcast after making comments comparing President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler on a Fox News show.
"We have decided to part ways with Hank Williams, Jr," ESPN said in a statement issued Thursday. "We appreciate his contributions over the past years. The success of Monday Night Football has always been about the games and that will continue."
On his website, Williams said he was on the one who made the decision.
“After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision," Williams said. "By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It’s been a great run.”
Williams performed modified versions of his song "All My Rowdy Friends" before the game each week, tailored to that night's particular match-up.
Williams controversial comments came Monday morning on the Fox News show "Fox and Friends." Williams called a June golf game between Obama and House Speaker John Boehner "one of the biggest political mistakes ever."
"Come on, come on," he said." That'd be like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu. Okay. Not hardly."
Williams later issued a statement saying that 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."
Williams' song has been part of "Monday Night Football" since 1991, according to ESPN.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/111006/hank-williams-jr-espn-monday-night-football
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