It’s Been Done: Roland Martin’s Ascot Captured TV Hosts’ Attention Last Year

The ascot-wearing ways of CNN personality Roland Martin made their way into the news this week via some ribbing from Jon Stewart (that continued last night). As impressive as it was that coverage of Martin’s ascots (which our own Rachel Sklar spotted him wearing at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner; scroll to the bottom here) endured even as a huge news day unfolded, what may be even more remarkable is that this isn’t even the first time a prominent TV personality marveled at his dressing habits.

The ascots have actually been an object of discussion since last November, when Mike Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser, co-hosts of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption, took note of Martin’s look – then copied it themselves to amusing results, as the video at left shows. Martin was very much in on the act, even introducing “Ascot Day” himself – while wearing an ascot, of course – to start the program.

Indeed, to his credit, Martin gives as well as he gets on the ascot issue. Stewart’s initial sartorial salvo (shown in the video below) prompted a response from Martin that’s delivered with such purpose that it might be inspiring, if it weren’t so (intentionally) ridiculous. In addition to proudly calling America “The United States of Ascots,” and saying he wears them “because I want my America back,” Martin, who was going back and forth with Mary Matalin, even got in a dig at the fashion sense of Matalin’s husband, James Carville.

It was a thoroughly entertaining display, one Wilbon and Kornheiser might capitalize on by holding another Ascot Day – after all, they said the first time they tried it that they might do it again if ratings went through the roof. And though that statement was tongue in cheek, here’s a prime chance for the duo not just to bring the ascots back and add another touch of class to late-afternoon sports debate, but to remind Stewart that when it comes to capitalizing on Martin’s idiosyncratic choice of attire, they were there first.

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