from www.ncaafootball.fanhouse.com – Ron Franklin has been fired by ESPN after he reportedly made sexist comments in the direction of a female employee. The termination ends Franklin’s 20-plus year tenure with the network, where he has called mostly college football and basketball games. He has been focused on the Big 12 in recent years.

A spokesman for ESPN told the Associated Press Tuesday that “based on what occurred last Friday, we have ended our relationship with (Franklin).”

The incident referenced is one where sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards said Franklin called her “sweet baby” (other versions of the story have “sweetcakes,” but Edwards said in an e-mail to USA Today that it was the former term). When Edwards noted her distaste for the comment, Franklin allegedly called her an “a**hole.”

Franklin did issue a public apology Monday, but it wasn’t enough to save his job.