Jacobson pays her penance

If you're not a regular viewer of ESPN2's "Cold Pizza" "First Take," then the update that co-host Dana Jacobson has been kicked off the air until Monday won't upset your morning.

But the fact that she's in trouble for saying stuff at a roast that was intended to make fun of the network's own Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic on Jan. 11 seems a little hypocritical.

Jacobson is serving the end of a one-week suspension, an ESPN spokesman confirmed, for making vulgar references about Notre Dame while she was trying to fashion a joke about Golic's alma mater. Included in that was a reference about Jesus Christ.

In essence, Jacobonson, in true roast fashion, said: "F--- Notre Dame, f--- Touchdown Jesus, f--- Jesus."

A bit too salty, perhaps. But consider the context. Again. (See: Tilghman, "lynch")

Somehow, the Catholic League caught wind of it and holy hell broke out. Tuesday, it put out a statement -- "ESPN Anchorwoman Trashes Jesus Christ." Wednesday, it put out another release, taking more offense to the "F--- Jesus" remark.

That meant Jacobson had to put out her own statement, saying: "My remarks about Notre Dame were foolish and insensitive. I respect all religions and did not mean anything derogatory by my poorly chosen words. I won't make excuses for my behavior, but I do hope I can be forgiven for such a poor lack of judgment."

Jacobson, a Michigan grad, also apologized the next day to Golic and Greenberg.

In a story in today's USA Today about the suspension, there's a reference to a report about the roast in The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.) -- where the event took place -- saying Jacobson was "swilling vodka" and "cursing like a sailor" and made "an absolute fool of herself" as the crowd booed.