Adnan Virk seeks settlement, denies leaking ESPN information: 'I did nothing wrong'
Former ESPN personality Adnan Virk is seeking a settlement with the network that fired him after he reportedly leaked confidential information about its broadcast plans.
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A rising star who called baseball games, hosted “Baseball Tonight” and made regular appearances on ESPN’s radio network, Virk addressed his firing in a Tuesday in a statement to the New York Post.
Virk denies leaks
He denied leaking proprietary information or doing anything wrong.
“Suffice it to say, that I believe that I did nothing wrong that would justify my termination, and I categorically deny that I leaked any confidential or proprietary information. There is considerably more that I would like to say regarding my tenure with ESPN and the circumstances surrounding my termination. However, I believe that, for now, it is in my and the Company’s best interest to concentrate on attempting to resolve our differences, rather than engaging in a very public war of words.”
Virk reportedly declined to cooperate
The Post reported last week that Virk, when approached about being accused of leaking information on multiple occasions, failed to cooperate with ESPN and was escorted from the network’s campus in Bristol, Connecticut.
The Post also reported that the information Virk is suspected of leaking led to an Awful Announcing report that the network was not bringing back “Baseball Tonight” on a daily basis next season.
ESPN had a conference call about “Sunday Night Baseball” that the network believes Virk revealed to Awful Announcing. Sources said the “premeditated nature” of the outreach alarmed ESPN. It is unclear what motivated Virk, though sources often try to curry favor with reporters.
When the conference call took place, Virk was not on the whole time, and the specific information about the future schedule for baseball was actually not discussed.
Virk followed up right after the call with Phil Orlins, the senior coordinating producer, asking specific questions about the direction of baseball at ESPN in regards to its scheduling. The questions matched what appeared later that day in the Awful Announcing article.
Virk disputes reported ESPN claims
Virk disputed those claims when speaking with the Post.
“Much of what has been reported about my termination from ESPN is false and, I think, defamatory,” Virk said.
The Post reports that Virk expected a suspension and was surprised by the firing.
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