Singer dropped for comparing Obama to Hitler

Hank Williams Jr had been opening the National Football League broadcast since the early 1990s with a customized version of his song, All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night.

 

ESPN decided to pull the plug on its opening clip of the singer, and his introductory catch-phrase "Are you ready for some football?" after his comments on Monday on Fox News.

 

Williams was on a talk show discussing Obama's much-noted recent golf game earlier this year with House Speaker John Boehner, leader of the opposition Republicans.

 

"It'd be like Hitler playing golf with (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu," Williams said, adding for good measure, "They're the enemy," referring to Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

 

Williams reiterated his comment when questioned by the news anchor about comparing Obama to "one of the most hated people in all the world." 

"Well, that is true," Williams replied. "But I'm telling you like it is." 

ESPN, which is owned by ABC Television, said that though Williams was not an employee, he was closely associated with the company.

 

"We are extremely disappointed with his comments," the sports network said in a statement explaining Monday's action.

 

In response, Williams declined to apologize for his comments, saying that supposed media bias against the tea party, an anti-big government faction of the conservative Republicans, represented a double standard.

 

"Every time the media brings up the tea party it's painted as racist and extremists - but there's never a backlash - no outrage to those comparisons," Williams said.