The Jacobson Lesson? Don't Drink and Quip
It's a tough time to try to walk the line between interesting, funny ... and insulting.
(I won't say "insensitive," because EVERYONE is ultra-sensitive these days, and I probably offended someone by noting it.)
Anyway, a woman who works for ESPN, name of Dana Jacobson, apparently was quite drunk at a roast earlier this month for the "Mike & Mike" guys who do an ESPN radio show ... and said some stuff that was just dumb. Probably because she was drunk. Did we mention that?
ESPN conceded today she has been suspended for a week.
Remember, she got into trouble for her remarks at a ROAST ... events designed to be raunchy. To get in trouble at a roast, you not only have to cross the line between funny and insulting ... you have to stray over it by about 100 yards.
The remarks that got her in trouble were reported to have been her suggestion that something quite rude be done to "Notre Dame" and "Touchdown Jesus" and "Jesus."
The idea was to zing Mike Golic, one of the Mikes involved and a Notre Dame alumnus ... but it wasn't stuff even fans of "South Park" would find amusing.
The earliest report on the roast didn't mention her alleged comments ... but did say she was spectacularly drunk and so unfunny as to be booed off the stage.
Comedy isn't pretty, as Steve Martin used to say.
Here is a link to a Chicago Tribune story on it.
My take? A suspension of one week is probably the maximum sentence for this kind of "crime." I mean, it was a roast, and not being televised, and she showed bad judgment.
Something else to consider here is this: At this point in American history, just about anything will offend someone, and if you are really working at it, as Dana Jacobson was, it could cost you a week's pay.