Why did Keith Olbermann get fired by Fox Sports in 2001?

[Eric J in MN]

He said he was fired and didn't quit tonight on "Countdown."

[TalkingDog]

1. My guess: He's an intelligent, well-spoken iconoclast. Takes no prisoners

A critical thinker and an honest man. That don't work with the NewSpeak at Fox.

[malaise]

2. He was not fired

They took him off the air and he stayed there deliberately and made them pay him to do nothing until his contract finished. FOX thought he would leave and they wouldn't have to pay him.

[Eric J in MN]

3. Why did they take him off the air?

nt

[annabanana]

4. he was probably honest or something like that...

I'll bet he went "off script"

[ShaneGR]

5. Because he has a history of being a difficult employee?

I mean, I love the guy. I agree with so many things he says, but he does have a history of causing problems for the networks he worked for prior to MSNBC.

That's just fact. And I like facts. Heck, it's a fact that David Letterman has been a difficult hire throughout his career. So what? We like what he's saying right?