Robert Lee (sports announcer)

Robert Lee
Born Robert Lee
1976/1977 (age 41–42)
Residence Albany, New York
Education BS (Broadcast Journalism)
Alma mater Syracuse University
Occupation sports announcer
Years active 2000-present
Employer ESPN, Time Warner and Siena College
Children 1
Sports commentary career
Genre(s) Play-by-play
Sports College Football, College basketball, High School footbal

Robert Lee is an American sportscaster for ESPN.[1] Lee received a considerable amount of publicity when he was asked by ESPN to move from announcing a University of Virginia versus William and Mary football game to another college football game. This happened as a result of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville over the removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee who he has the same name as.[2][3]

Early life

From 1995 to 1999, Lee attended Syracuse University. He received his B.S. in Broadcast Journalism from S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Early career

Lee was formally the Assistant Sports Information Director for Siena College. He was the main primary television, newspaper and radio media contact for seven of Siena's athletic programs.[4] Lee was also a daily television show host for Capital OTB during 2012 Saratoga horse racing season. There he conducted interviews with trainers, jockeys and other horse professionals.

Sports broadcasting

Since 2000, Lee has been the play-by-play announcer for Siena's Men’s Basketball team on television and radio. He also hosted a weekly radio show with interviews with Siena's basketball coaches. As well as calling men's basketball for Siena's Men's Basketball team, Lee also is an announcer for Time Warner and ESPN. Lee started announcing football and basketball games for Time Warner in 2003 and for ESPN in 2016. In his time at ESPN, Lee has called games online for ESPN 3 or on national television for ESPNU. Lee has called games for conferences including the Big South, MAAC, Ohio Valley Conference, ACC, American Athletic Conference and the A-10. He has also called several FCS football playoff games.[5]

Name controversy

In August 2017, after the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally protesting the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee turned violent, ESPN removed Lee from covering the September 2 football match at the University of Virginia, reassigning him to the Youngstown State versus Pittsburgh University game.[1][6] The decision was leaked to the website Outkick the Coverage,[7][8] and was ridiculed on social media.[9] ESPN released a statement saying the assignment switch came "simply because of the coincidence of his name."[6] Fox News labeled the reassignment "pathetic," and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee mocked ESPN's decision.[7]

Personal life

Lee currently lives in Albany, New York with his wife and daughter. He is also fluent in Mandarin.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 de Menezes, Jack (August 23, 2017). "ESPN remove Asian-American presenter Robert Lee from Charlottesville game as name is same as Confederate general". The Independent. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  2. ↑ Matthew Haag (2017-08-23). "ESPN Pulls Announcer Robert Lee From Virginia Game Because of His Name". New York Times. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  3. ↑ Daniel Rapaport (2017-08-23). "After Charlottesville, ESPN Pulls Announcer Robert Lee From Virginia Game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  4. ↑ Pete Dougherty (2017-08-22). "Ex-Siena announcer pulled off ESPN assignment because of his name — Robert Lee". Times Union. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  5. ↑ "Robert Lee, ESPN Announcer: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. 2017-08-23. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  6. 1 2 Gentille, Sean (2017-08-23). "Robert Lee, pulled off UVA game, is coming to Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  7. 1 2 Stelter, Brian (August 23, 2017). "Robert Lee: ESPN under fire for taking announcer off UVA game". CNN.
  8. ↑ Travis, Clay (August 22, 2017). "MSESPN Pulls Asian Announcer Named Robert Lee Off UVa Game To Avoid Offending Idiots". Outkick the Coverage.
  9. ↑ "ESPN reassigns commentator Robert Lee over 'name coincidence'". BBC. August 23, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Robert Lee". Linkedin.com. 2017-08-23. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
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