In reality, BBC had no other choice.

Straight up, I'm a big Jeremy Clarkson fan... as well as a James May and Richard Hammond fan. The combination of the three (and Clarkson probably the most valuable member of all) is what made U.K. Top Gear the vastly entertaining show that it was, for years. The lack of the Clarkson/May/Hammond chemistry on other variants of the show demonstrates just why these shows pale in comparison.

Remove one leg (Clarkson) from a three legged stool, and it just doesn't work anymore. These three guys, together, were great TV.

That said, Jeremy Clarkson was in many ways his own worst enemy. He knew he was on thin ice related to some of his previous behavior and he made mention of it. While I personally applaud Clarkson's punching Piers Morgan in the face, I'm not the BBC and this isn't a good thing for a British publicly financed company.

Regarding the "dust up" between Clarkson and BBC producer Oisin Tymon. There are, of course, many reports available online about what happened. The vast majority relate pretty much the same story. After a long day filming and upon return to the hotel, Clarkson became angry that there was no hot meal available and began to loudly berate Tymon. Tymon eventually started shouting back at Clarkson, who then punched him.

The BBC investigation found that the attack lasted about 30 seconds, during which Tymon did not retaliate. Clarkson continued directing “verbal abuse” at Tymon after a witness intervened in the physical assault. Clarkson’s verbal abuse included “the strongest expletives and threats to sack him,” and was “at such volume as to be heard in the dining room.” Clarkson continued using “derogatory and abusive language” towards Tymon and other members of the production team for a “sustained period of time.”

Tymon sought medical aid for what was described as a "split lip". He declined to press charges for the assault. Tymon did not report the assault to the BBC, Clarkson did, which speaks to both men's integrity.

So, Clarkson, as an employee of the BBC, has now been involved in two known assault cases in which he is widely reported to be the attacker.

So what was the BBC to do?

The answer is self-evident.

From an insurance/legal liability standpoint, Clarkson had to go. The BBC can't continue to employee one BBC employee that assaulted another employee without consequence.

In another thread, someone mentioned rapper "Chris Brown beat his girlfriend Rihanna and he wasn't fired, so what's the difference"? Only an intellectual dwarf would make this comparison. Chris Brown works for a record label, not the publicly funded British Broadcasting Corporation.

Regarding Jeremy's previously deemed objectionable statements... here's a few. While I cite them, I personally don't find, what are essentially jokes, all that horrible, but this depends on the "delicate flower sensitivity" of those that heard them.

In 2008, while driving a truck on “Top Gear,” Clarkson made a joke implying that “murder[ing] a prostitute” is a common pastime for professional truck drivers. The joke prompted at least one elected official to call for his firing.

In 2009, Clarkson apologized after calling then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown a “one-eyed Scottish idiot.” Brown is blind in his left eye.

In 2011, the BBC received more than 20,000 complaints from viewers after Clarkson responded to a question on “The One Show” by making a joke about “executing” striking workers in front of their families.

In May 2014, Clarkson announced that he was on “final warning” from the BBC, saying he would lose his job if he makes “one more offensive remark, anywhere, at any time.” That was shortly after British media accused Clarkson of saying the N-word in an unaired clip from a 2012 “Top Gear” episode.

From a corporate bottom line and legality standpoint, the BBC really made the right decision to release Clarkson.

As a gearhead (petrolhead in the U.K.), I know a fair bit about about cars, but Clarkson has forgotten more than I'll ever know.

As a Clarkson fan, I hope he learns what he should from this situation, moves on and becomes more successful than he's ever been before.

Let the flames begin.