Report: Ian Rapoport’s Suspension-Worthy Offense? Tweeting an Ad for Manscape

Last night Jack Mac asked the question we were all wondering, and that is what exactly Ian Rapoport did to get himself kicked off the NFL Network air until October 22:

Well it would appear we have our answer:

Source - Rapoport, NFL Network’s insider extraordinaire, has been suspended because of an ad he posted on social media, for a product used to shave your groin, The Post has learned. …

The something, according to sources, was an advertisement for the Manscaped Lawn Mower electric trimmer, which is apparently the “perfect tool for your family jewels.” 

I'm not going to claim to be impartial when it comes to Rapoport. I've known him personally since he was working for the Boston Herald. He's a good guy and a good reporter. He's a Stoolie. His endorsement is on the cover of my first book (shameless plug) that he displays on the bookshelf behind him:

So, sure. I'm biased toward the guy. But this is exactly the sort of stupid, draconian overreaction that has become all too common in corporate America in general and media corporations in particular.

I have no doubt he violated some sort of NFL Network rule about promoting products. Or maybe it's a standards thing because they don't like their staffers acknowledging the existence of the noble, humble pubic hair or some people's desire to eliminate it. I try to be extra careful with blogs I post that I'm not just plugging some product or service which is not a Barstool advertiser. It's common sense. If a funny or interesting ad comes out, I have to weigh it's newsworthiness vs. whether I'm just giving free publicity to a company that's not paying us for it. Which is why, say, Bill Belichick's Subway commercial gets a post but a million others don't. It's part of the job. 

But whether it's because NFLN doesn't want their reporters giving free plugs or they want them staying out of the War on Pubes, this is just overreach. Especially coming right in the middle of a season full of more breaking news of major consequence than any we've ever seen. When did we lose the ability to tell employees, "Don't do that," without embarrassing them with a suspension?  In the America I grew up in, we had respect for the institution of "Hey, knock that off" and the power to wield it without taking someone's paycheck away. 

Anyway, use Manscape.