Chargers announcer Hank Bauer suspended for anti-Semitic joke

Chargers announcer Hank Bauer will miss the final preseason game of the year.

By Josh Katzowitz

Aug 27, 2014 at 12:42 pm ET • 1 min read

Chargers radio announcer Hank Bauer has been suspended. (YouTube)

An anti-Semitic comment by Chargers radio announcer Hank Bauer has landed him a one-game suspension, meaning he won't be working the team's final preseason game this Thursday.

The comment by Bauer with less than a minute to play in the Chargers preseason game last week came when he made a Jewish joke at the expense of radio partner Josh Lewin.

Listen here as Bauer yuks it up.

Once again: Bauer repeats a supposedly well-worn joke about Jewish thriftiness and then follows it up with, "I say that respectfully and endearingly."

Later, Bauer apologized on Twitter:

I made a hurtful insinuation that I regret and I would like to express how sorry I am. My poor choice of words were unfortunately open for
— Hank Bauer (@hank_bauer) August 26, 2014

negative interpretation, please know it was never my intention to offend any of my listeners. I hope you accept my apology.
— Hank Bauer (@hank_bauer) August 26, 2014

Here was the Chargers statement, via NBC San Diego:

"Although we know Hank had no ill-will behind his remarks, we agree the comments were inappropriate. Per Clear Channel’s decision, Hank will not be broadcasting Thursday night’s game. Hank has been a strong radio voice for the Chargers for the past 16 years and a passionate supporter of the team since his playing days. We look forward to Chargers fans receiving the same high-quality broadcast from Josh and Hank when he returns to the booth for the regular season."

I'd actually never heard that joke before. As a Jew, I wasn't offended by it, but I also didn't think the joke was funny. Either way, I couldn't resist dropping a little Yiddish on Bauer.