Keith Olbermann suspended from ESPN for bashing Penn State on Twitter

Erstwhile MSNBC and Current TV host Keith Olbermann has been suspended from his sportscasting duties at ESPN for the rest of the week.

CNN Money reported on Tuesday that the occasionally hotheaded anchor is in trouble over messages he sent on the social medium Twitter in which he mocked Penn State University.

Olbermann has been critical of Penn State in the past over ethics questions and the handling of the explosive child sexual abuse scandal that erupted in 2011.

On Monday morning, a Penn State supporter tweeted a link to Olbermann showing that the university raised more than $13 million for a pediatric cancer foundation. She included the school's slogan, "We Are!"

To which Olbermann replied, "...Pitiful."

Penn State fans replied with anger and outrage.

"So you have no opinion on Penn State raising over $13 million for pediatric cancer research?" one Twitter user asked.

"Good for you," Olbermann replied. "Doesn't change the school's reputation. Check back next century."

A wave of anger and recrimination followed.

"@KeithOlbermann What makes us pitiful? The fact that we are smart college students raising money for a great cause? You are pitiful, sir," was a typical response.

ESPN announced on Tuesday that Olbermann will be off the air for the rest of the week, saying in a statement, "We are aware of the exchange Keith Olbermann had on Twitter last night regarding Penn State. It was completely inappropriate and does not reflect the views of ESPN."

"ESPN and Keith have agreed that he will not host his show for the remainder of this week and will return on Monday," the network said.

Olbermann apologized on Tuesday, saying: