UA officials: Athletics department did not request Gork's firing
Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino reacts to KAKS radio personality Renee Gork after answering a question during a news conference Saturday. Video of the entire press conference can be viewed on WholeHogSports.com.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas officials say they did not request that Renee Gork be fired from a radio station after she wore a Florida Gators hat to a news conference Saturday.
Gork was fired by management at KAKS based in Springdale on Monday. Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino called her out during a news conference Saturday, when he answered a question posed by the University of Florida graduate concerning a Razorbacks scrimmage.
"And that will be the last question I answer with that hat on," Petrino said.
Arkansas officials recommended to Gork that she not attend practice Monday "to allow additional time to pass," according to a statement released Tuesday by Arkansas.
"The university wishes to be very clear that it did not request any employment action with regard to the reporter," the statement read.
RELATED: Watch the exchange between Renee Gork and Bobby Petrino
The exchange between Petrino and Gork made national headlines this week. Gork also appeared on national radio shows Tuesday, offering apologies to Petrino and the university. Gork said she was not attempting to garner attention by wearing the hat.
Many Arkansas fans viewed the video clip online, prompting heated discussions concerning Gork’s fashion choice. Some fans called for Gork’s job, while others were simply not happy with her choice of school colors. Fans also scoured the Internet for more information about Gork and discovered her Facebook page, which revealed messages of her being a fan of the Florida athletics program.
Less than two hours before Gork was scheduled to take the airwaves Monday, she tweeted that she had been fired.
“Was hoping to publicly apologize to coach Petrino and UA fans on the show today, but I won’t get that chance now … I’ve been fired.”
Gork said she wrote a letter of apology addressed to Petrino.
“I am truly sorry for disrespecting him and his team,” she tweeted.
The station’s general manager, Dan Storrs, would not elaborate on the decision to fire Gork on Monday.
"This radio station is Hog Sports Radio," Storrs told the Associated Press. "We are very biased. We support the Razorbacks 100 percent."
Comments
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oldhog says...
Brandon,
Can you find out why Richard's web site does not recognize me since they launched the new format?
August 17, 2010 at 7:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ua87 says...
You know, we'll probably never know the real facts behind Gork's termination. And, that's really none of our business. I listened to the Fox Sports interview with her today on XM radio. While she seemed professional about it, she sure couldn't resist quoting a "leak" that said Petrino asked for her termination. That's when she lost all credability with me. What's worse was the arrogance of Stephen Smith, the interviewer, stating he would call Petrino's office to "get to the bottom of it."
First of all, there's common sense that comes out of these comments of stupidity on the part of Gork and Smith. Bobby Petrino has much bigger fish to fry and FAR MORE on his mind with less than three weeks to go before the beginning of a season filled with high expectations, including those he levies on himself.
While Gork's firing certainly appears over the top, we'll never know what exchanges were made between the station owner, station sponsors, her boss and herself. A lot of people can get involved in the midst of what can be thought of as a mole hill and gets made into a mountain. Business has a way of getting ugly when people get upset and threaten to pull their support and money. That too, is pure speculation.
August 17, 2010 at 9:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dwp007 says...
I suggest Gork has easily received her [well planned] 15 minutes of fame and that we all move on. Enough of this nonsense, already.
August 17, 2010 at 11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
txctryhog says...
I would have fired her dumb butt too. Bottom line.. Hog fans pay the ads that fund the station that wrote her checks.. Upset the fans=lose the ad income. And after all, it is a business.
August 18, 2010 at 7:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rlw59 says...
I don't really care whether the ditz got fired or not, but do you really think UA officials would admit it if they did request her firing? By them commenting on this, it just adds validity that there was probably some involvement. But then UA officials wouldn't ever lie about anything, would they?
August 18, 2010 at 2:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hawgfan1 says...
rlw59.....seriously? The UA is in a no win situation here. I am sure they were asked if they had anything to do with it which they stated "no - they had nothing to do with it". So now you and others can speculate that they did. Had the said "no comment" - the same thing would of happened. Had they not given ANY response - same thing! So they can't win in this situation. I am betting they had nothing to do with it and the big money sponsers did due to all the complaints that probably flooded the stations office!!! Bottomw line is the girl was a ding dong for wearing it in the first place, then asking a question with it on and the parading around after with it on as part of the media when she works for a station that covers the hogs. Bottom line here is she screwed up. Not sure if she needed to be fired but lets not place blame or point fingers at the UofA for her stupidity when she should of known better.
August 18, 2010 at 3:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rlw59 says...
Hawgfan1...ok, let me educate you. They BANNED HER from practice on Monday. Now what message do you think that sent. You think they did that for her own good? UA officials are probably at least technically correct in saying they did not request her firing. But their actions made it a moot point, they limited her ability to do her job. And I think that had an effect on her getting fired. You can't have it both ways, you can't ban a member of the press from a practice that you are granting access to other media, AND at the same time say they had nothing to do with her firing. Unless you also believe in the tooth fairy and unicorns. AGAIN, I'm not saying she did or did not deserve to get fired. It was a dumb thing to do to wear a Gator cap to a Hog press conference. But she is a woman. If the station wants to hire women to work on sports, then these type of things are going to happen.
August 19, 2010 at 2:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hawgfan1 says...
rlw59 - ease up on thinking you need to educate me....Im on your side. It just seems that a lot of times things get turned around and pointed at the U of A and sometime's rightfully so. I just don't think so in this situation. The reason FOR THE BANNNING (IMO) was to let things cool down from what happened...wouldnt be the first time someone from the media has been banned for a certain period of time or permanently. Anyway, maybe it was the radio station that asked the U of A to do that while they worked on getting things together to fire her. Bottom line - we are both in agreement that she made an incredibly stupid stupid mistake and it cost her big time!! Go Hogs!!!!
August 19, 2010 at 3:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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