ESPN: Criticism of LeBron Over China Undermine Social Justice Efforts
Culture
Last week LeBron James caught considerable flak from the Right and the Left for condemning Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who on Oct. 4, tweeted support for the freedom protesters in Hong Kong. Coming to James' defense on The Undefeated blog is David Dennis Jr., an adjunct professor of Journalism at Morehouse College, who says attacks on "King" James are actually attempts to…
ESPN: Social Justice Activism No Distraction To WNBA's D.C. Champs
Culture
After the Washington Mystics won the WNBA title last week, Martenzie Johnson took to the ESPN blog, The Undefeated, to declare that athletes who are heavily into social justice activism are not distractions, but champions. The WNBA is considered the most far Left league in American sports, and the mouthy Mystics are one of the most socially active teams in that league.
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ESPN Has Partner in China, Goes Mushy on NBA Controversy
Culture
The NBA isn't the only organization drawing criticism for the China-Daryl Morey controversy. ESPN now looks like the Worldwide Leader In Sports Compromisers, as its television commentators treat the controversy with kid gloves. Deadspin's Laura Wagner points out that ESPN has a working agreement with Tencent, a large Chinese internet company that covers the NBA, and may not want to anger its…
ESPN Portrays National Anthem Protester Berry as Heroic Athlete
Culture
Casting aside interests in fair reporting this weekend, ESPN W's feature story on U.S. track and field star Gwen Berry attempts to justify her shameful protest at this summer's Pan American Games in Peru. Inspired by her war veteran father and the late Michael Brown of Ferguson fame, Berry won the hammer throw and raised her fist on the victory stand during the playing of the national anthem.
ESPN W Skips Key Facts in Hyping Transgender Wrestler
Culture
College wrestling season is only weeks away, and on Friday ESPN intentionally withheld key information in its celebration of the sport's first transgender wrestler. Non-binary ESPN W writer Katie Barnes featured Mackenzie "Mack" Beggs, the girl who wanted to compete in boys' wrestling, but was forced against her will to win her last 92 matches and two state high school girls' championships in…
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Sports Media at Fever Pitch Over Kaepernick's Absence
Culture
With the NFL's quarterback injury toll mounting, the volume on media calls for Colin Kaepernick's return to the NFL has risen to a deafening roar this week. His apologists always call for NFL teams to sign him when a quarterback goes down with an injury, but they've really ratcheted up the anger and intensity in the past couple days. USA Today's Nancy Armour and ESPN First Take's Max Kellerman…
Tebow Takes Hits From Sports Media For Opposing College Payola
Culture
Sports writers and sports casters are lining up to take a whack at Tim Tebow for his opposition to payola for college athletes. Several from ESPN alone took shots at him Friday. The topic flared up this week after California lawmakers unanimously passed the so-called Fair Pay to Play Act, which if signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, will enable athletes to make money off their own name, image…
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'Non-Political' ESPN Offers Two Hours To Colin Kaepernick
Culture
Another test of ESPN's shaky "no-politics" rule is underway, as First Take's Stephen A. Smith today announced he's invited Colin Kaepernick to come onto the show as a guest. ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro is trying to force the network to stick to sports, but was directly challenged by Dan Le Batard earlier this year and now by Smith trying to lure Kaepernick onto the First Take set. Smith said he…
Rhoden Calls Out Luck's White Privilege Amidst 400-Year Black Struggle
Culture
Frequent race-baiter William C. Rhoden saw the retirement of the Indianapolis Colts white quarterback Andrew Luck as part of the decline of white privilege. In the opinion of The Undefeated's writer-at-large and author of Forty Million Dollar Slaves, Luck was a "hedge" against the rising wave of black passers. Luck played in a mere 86 games in a six-year pro career, but he's emblematic of an…
Bomani Jones Says NFL's Pact With Jay-Z Undercuts Kaepernick
Culture
Though the NFL recently tilted further to the cultural Left by aligning with rapper Jay-Z for the direction of future Super Bowl entertainment, ESPN's race-baiting Bomani Jones is ripping the new partners for selling out Colin Kaepernick. Jones took to the sports section of the ESPN blog, The Undefeated, to bash billionaire NFL owners, Jay-Z and "white supremacist" President Donald Trump while…
WashPost: ESPN Needs To Define Sticking To Sports
Culture
The Washington Post's Ben Strauss has written a perspective story on ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro's attempt to tone down the Worldwide Leader In Sports' politics. There have been turbulent times in his first two years ― most notably Dan Le Batard's recent attack on President Trump. Strauss says Pitaro needs to define what sticking to sports really means at ESPN.
After Le Batard's Tirade Against Trump, ESPN Says No Politics
Culture
This time ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro really meant it when he told his team to avoid "pure politics." In response to Dan Le Batard's nasty, race-based attack on President Donald Trump Thursday, Pitaro took the "harsh" step on Friday of ordering the distribution of a memo reminding employees to cut the politics.
ESPN's Radio Host Attacks Trump, ESPN's No-Politics Policy
Culture
ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro repeatedly insists, "We are not a political network." Really? You had everyone fooled this week when your network's TV and radio talk show host Dan Le Batard went off on President Donald Trump over the controversy surrounding the radical leftist Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).
ESPN President Returning Network Focus Back To Sports
Culture
Lo and behold, sticking to sports is good for media business! We told you so, ESPN. Now you're admitting your detractors were spot on. By cutting back on politics and social justice, The Worldwide Leader in Sports is noticing reduced self-inflicted bleeding. Upon taking the job as ESPN President last year, Jimmy Pitaro called for a cease-fire in politics and the network is experiencing a mild…
