Ray Knight had been MASN’s Washington Nationals studio analyst dating back to 2007. However, Knight won’t be back in 2019 after MASN didn’t pick up his contract option for next season.

The Washington Post reports that the decision to drop Knight came after he was taken off MASN’s broadcasts back in September. There was no official reason as to why, but the Post says Knight was removed following an incident with a MASN employee:

”… a person with direct knowledge of that decision said the network pulled Knight after he was involved in a verbal altercation with a member of the MASN production team — an exchange in which Knight berated a MASN employee with an expletive-laden tirade.“

This was not the first time Knight had fallen into trouble. Back in October of last year, Knight was arrested and charged with assault-and-battery after he got into a fight with an acquaintance. Both parties suffered injuries, some so serious that Knight required stitches after being bitten on his hand. Charges from that incident were eventually dropped.

Knight had previously been an analyst on ESPN, and before that, a player with several teams including the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets which led to a brief managing career with the Reds (1996-97, 2003).

During his MASN career, Knight was teamed with studio host Johnny Holliday on Nationals pre and postgame shows. He was often known for his honesty and deriding the Nats when they didn’t play well.

With Knight gone from the Nationals broadcasts, MASN will be looking for a replacement. And with this incident, we’ll see if another regional network takes a flyer on Knight, or if this for all intents and purposes ends his TV career for good.

[Washington Post]

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.