Bob Griese Gossip

ESPN college football analyst and NFL Hall of Famer Bob Griese was suspended one week by ESPN after an off-color remark about NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya.

This is not the week to work at ESPN. First, an affair with a crazy production assistant got baseball analyst Steve Phillips fired. Now Bob Griese gets a temporary boot.

The comment in question? During Saturday’s Ohio State-Minnesota game, ESPN ran a NASCAR graphic and co-analyst Chris Spielman wondered where Montoya was.

As his name was not in the Top Five in points standings, Griese mused that Montoya was “out having a taco.” Mmm. Not how to reach out to a key demographic.

We don't expect Juan Pablo Montoya will be inviting Bob Griese over for tacos anytime soon. The guy may not even like tacos. And they both work on weekends.

He apologized twice during the broadcast and ESPN issued a release disapproving of his comment. We're guessing that the disapproval was not because Montoya is from Colombia, whereas tacos are generally considered to be Mexican.

Luckily for Bob, he got off with just a one-week slap on the wrist. Note to analysts: Jokes with an ethnic bent, regardless of your intent, don't generally play well.