Palmer Criticizes O.J. Demotion

Jim Palmer, a beneficiary of ABC-TV’s policy of using current sports figures in the broadcast booth, said Friday he doesn’t agree with the network’s decision to use Washington Redskin quarterback Joe Theismann in the booth during the Super Bowl telecast instead of regular commentator O.J. Simpson.

“I question the morality of it,” said Palmer, in town to promote a new PBS show he will host, “The Sporting Life.”

“I think it’s demeaning to O.J.,” Palmer said. “I know I wouldn’t feel good about it if it happened to me.”

In 1978, Palmer, a three-time Cy Young Award-winning pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, was hired by ABC to work the American League baseball playoffs. He had no previous announcing experience. ABC was hoping to use Reggie Jackson, but his team at the time, the New York Yankees, qualified for the playoffs by beating Boston in a one-game playoff. Jackson recommended that ABC use Palmer.

“I knew it was a great opportunity, but I felt bad at the time because I knocked Don Drysdale out of the box,” Palmer said. “I called Don to apologize, and he said, ‘Things like that happen in this business.’ ”

Now the shoe is on the other foot. Palmer is under contract to ABC as a baseball announcer, and he is no longer an active player.

“Now I have to wonder what’s going to happen at World Series time,” he said, meaning he might get bumped by a current player or coach.