ESPN announcer Kirk Herbstreit 'headlined GOP fundraiser' weeks after distancing himself from politics

Self-described 'independent guy' Kirk Herbstreit recently made a surprise appearance at a GOP fundraiser, not in the football announcer's hotly contested home state of Ohio, but in the Republican stronghold of Alabama . That PAC, which has historically given far more to Republican candidates than Democrats, donated $155,000 to GOP senator and former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville's gubernatorial campaign the following day, according to public records. And according to the Business Council of Alabama website , Herbstreit's appearance at the exclusive Ross Bridge Resort cost attendees between $5,000 and a $50,000-package that included an exclusive roundtable with the former…