Courtesy MyFoxDC

(January 3, 2011) Veteran ESPN broadcaster Ron Franklin was pulled from the air before Saturday's Fiesta Bowl after he called ESPN sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards "sweetcakes" during an off-air spat, Sports By Brooks reported Sunday.

Franklin and Edwards were scheduled to work together for Friday's Chik-fil-A Bowl and the incident occurred in a pre-game production meeting also attended by ESPN announcers Ed Cunningham and Rod Gilmore.

When the conversation turned to the subject of Gilmore's wife Marie being elected mayor of Alameda, Calif., Edwards tried to join in but was shut down by Franklin, according to the report.

“Why don’t you leave this to the boys, sweetcakes,” Franklin told her.

“Don’t call me sweetcakes, I don’t like being talked to like that,” Edwards responded.

Franklin then said, “OK then, a**hole.”

Edwards reported Franklin's comments to ESPN management, who attempted to pull him from the Chik-fil-A Bowl broadcast, but it was too late to find a replacement.

He was then pulled from the Fiesta Bowl broadcast Saturday instead. STAA client Dave LaMont filled in.

An ESPN representative was unable to comment on Franklin's status with the company when contacted by Sports By Brooks.

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