Robert Lee (Sports Broadcaster)
Robert Lee (Sports Broadcaster)
Robert Lee is a play-by-play sports broadcaster. He serves as the voice of Siena College for the men’s basketball program and works part-time for ESPN. He lives in Albany, New York.
Education
Lee is a graduate of Syracuse University.
Career
Sports Broadcasting
Robert Lee's 2017 Basketball Resume Reel
He does play-by-play commentary for Siena College's men's basketball program. In addition, he hosts a weekly radio show Siena basketball coaches to encourage awareness of Siena's basketball program and boost attendance at games. He occasionally calls high school games, as well.
During his first two years with the institution, from 2000 to 2002, he served as the Assistant Sports Information Director and Marketing Director.
In September 2016, Lee became a part-time sports commentator for college football and basketball games at ESPN. Since then, he has broadcasted nearly 15 college basketball games on ESPNU and ESPN3. He has also called several MAC and FCS Playoff college football games.
ESPN Controversy
In August 2017, Lee was pulled from announcing a University of Virginia football game in Charlottesville. According to ESPN, he was removed because he has the same name as General Robert E. Lee, the leader the Confederate Army during the U.S. Civil War. The decision was made after protestor Heather Heyer was killed at the Unite the Right rally earlier that month.
ESPN's full statement was as follows:
We collectively made the decision with Robert to switch games as the tragic events in Charlottesville were unfolding, simply because of the coincidence of his name.
In that moment it felt right to all parties.
It's a shame that this is even a topic of conversation and we regret that who calls play-by-play for a football game has become an issue.
On August 22, 2017, it was revealed that an ESPN executive told New York magazine's Yashar Ali that the move was not about offending anyone, rather it was about shielding Lee from any memes or jokes made about him. The executive's response in full was:
This wasn't about offending anyone.
It was about the reasonable possibility that because of his name he would be subjected to memes and jokes and who knows what else.
Think about it.
Robert Lee comes to town to do a game in Charlottesville.
The reaction to our switching a young, anonymous play by play guy for a streamed ACC game is off the charts - reasonable proof that the meme/joke possibility was real.
So when the protests in Charlottesville were happening, we raised with him the notion of switching games.
Something we do all the time.
We didn't make him.
We asked him.
Eventually we mutually agreed to switch.
No biggie until someone leaked it to embarrass us and him.
They got their way.
That's what happened.
No politically correct efforts.
No race issues.
Just trying to be supportive of a young guy who felt it best to avoid the potential zoo.
GTM Payroll Services
Lee is also a Channel Partner Manager at GTM Payroll Services, a company that provides payroll, tax, insurance, and human resources solutions for household employers and businesses.
He has worked with GTM since 2014.
Personal Life
Lee is married and has one daughter.