Incident Overview
Tim Saunders, the Philadelphia Flyers’ radio play-by-play announcer, has been suspended for making an inappropriate comment during a live broadcast. This incident occurred on Thursday while he was covering the Flyers’ game against the Buffalo Sabres.
Details of the Incident
In a moment of confusion, believing they had switched to commercial, Saunders made a remark involving oral sex, which was still being transmitted to listeners. His broadcast partner, Todd Fedoruk, had to inform him that they were indeed still on air.
“I think we’re still on the air, Tim,” Fedoruk interjected, to which Saunders responded with a surprised, “No we’re not, are we?”
Response from the Flyers Organization
Following the incident, the Flyers organization announced that Saunders would serve a two-game suspension, stating, “These remarks do not reflect the standards of conduct or values we expect from anyone associated with our organization.”
Apology and Future Commitment
Saunders took to social media to apologize, recognizing the gravity of his comments and their impact. He wrote on the Flyers Broadcast Network’s account:
“During last night’s game in Buffalo, I made an error in judgment with my comments that were made when I thought we were in a commercial break.”
He further expressed regret for the offense caused and pledged to uphold a higher standard in the future, ensuring a respectful environment for listeners and fans alike.
Impact on Career
With 29 seasons of experience behind the microphone since joining in 1997, Saunders will now miss the Flyers’ next two games—Saturday’s matchup against the New York Rangers and Monday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. He is expected to return to the booth on December 23 for a game against the Chicago Blackhawks, just before the NHL’s holiday break.
