San Diego Chargers Announcer Uses Jewish Stereotype in On-Air Banter
Hank Bauer, a longtime radio analyst for the NFL’s San Diego Chargers, used a Jewish stereotype in an exchange with his on-air colleague.
In the waning moments of Sunday’s Chargers-49ers preseason football game, play-by-play man Josh Lewin said if he were paying to attend he would not have left early, as many fans did, because of the high price of the tickets.
Bauer responded, “You know how copper wire was invented? Somebody dropped a penny between Josh and his family member.”
Lewin, who is Jewish, then attempted to change the subject by announcing the amount of time left in the game.
Bauer replied, “I say that respectfully and endearingly, my partner.”
“Love you too, buddy,” Lewin responded.
The Deadspin website first reported the exchange.
Bauer has been the color commentator for the Chargers radio broadcasts on FM105.3 and AM1360 in San Diego since 1998. He played for the Chargers between 1977 and 1982.
A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO