North Dakota suspends announcer

Author: By The Sports Xchange
Published On: Feb 20 2013 05:44:09 PM EST   Updated On: Feb 20 2013 05:44:10 PM EST

Freedom of speech doesn't apply to paid sports announcers.

That's the lesson Paul Ralston learned when the University of North Dakota men's basketball radio play-by-play man was suspended for two games for calling the team's Saturday loss a "choke job."

The Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald reported that UND athletic director Brian Faison announced the suspension Monday.

According to the newspaper, Ralston referred to North Dakota's 74-72 overtime defeat to Northern Arizona as a "choke job" during an interview with UND head coach Brian Jones following Saturday's game. Northern Arizona rallied to force overtime before pulling out the victory.

Ralston will miss Wednesday's game at Northern Colorado and Saturday's BracketBusters game at Nebraska-Omaha. He'll be back behind the mike for a Feb. 28 game at Portland State. He'll be replaced by UND associate athletic director Kyle Doperalski.

North Dakota is 11-14 this season, 8-8 in the Big Sky Conference.

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