ESPN’s NBA Finals pregame show hit a rough patch before Game 1. During “Inside the NBA” before the Knicks faced the Spurs in San Antonio, the World Wide Leader’s Malika Andrews was derailed by audio issues while explaining Mitchell Robinson’s mysterious hand injury. The broadcast cut to footage of Robinson going through pregame work, showing … Read more
Pat McAfee is likely sticking around at the WorldWide Leader. The ESPN host and former Colts punter is in early talks to extend his contract with the network, Front Office Sports reported. McAfee, whose eponymous show has become a ratings hit for ESPN, previously joined the network in 2023 on a deal worth around $85 … Read more
Linsanity will be part of the NBA Finals. Jeremy Lin — the Knicks guard who captivated the city for about a month in February 2012 — is joining ESPN during his former team’s NBA Finals matchup with the Spurs, USA Today reported. His role will start Wednesday with Game 1 in San Antonio. Jeremy Lin … Read more
Stephen A. Smith opened up about his very tough year on his SiriusXM show. The normally upbeat and ready-for-a-debate Smith took a serious tone instead in his latest episode of “Straight Shooter with Stephen A.” He began to address a joke made at his expense by friend Kevin Hart during the Netflix roast that put … Read more
Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek called out ESPN by name in an open letter he posted to social media, criticizing the scheduling for two early-season games for the Razorbacks while “formally” requesting the network and the SEC to “aggressively pursue an alternative solution.” Yurachek took issue with the fact that Arkansas is slated to play … Read more
Laura Rutledge’s “SEC Nation” replacement has been revealed. “SportsCenter” anchor Matt Barrie has been named the new host of the college football program, ESPN announced Wednesday. “I’m a college football junkie and beyond excited to host ‘SEC Nation’ from the greatest game day atmospheres in the South,” Barrie said in a statement. “It takes me … Read more
ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins doesn’t hold back on TV, but he needed someone to do so for him at a youth basketball tournament. During one of his son’s games over the weekend on the AAU basketball circuit in Norman, Okla., things got intense and chippy. Both teams, YPG Perkins and Swaveway Playaz, were fouling each … Read more
Laura Rutledge announced Tuesday that she is leaving SEC Network’s “SEC Nation” after more than a decade on the show. The ESPN host and reporter penned a heartfelt goodbye to “SEC Nation,” sharing that “it became one of the most meaningful chapters of my life” in a release on ESPN Front Row. Rutledge will continue … Read more
Where ESPN is putting its microphones is a complete mystery. While broadcasting a softball game between Arizona State and Texas on Sunday, someone whispered obscene comments into a hot mic during a 0-1 pitch from Teagan Kavan. “Lick my ballsack,” a male voice said during the seventh inning, with the Longhorns leading, and eventually winning … Read more
ESPN has just accidentally declared war against the Swifties. Midway through the first quarter in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Knicks and Cavaliers on Saturday, the ESPN on ABC broadcast referred to Taylor Swift as “Travis Kelce’s fiancée,” which caused an uproar on social media. As the broadcast showed Swift and … Read more
Charles Barkley must’ve forgotten he’s an ESPN guy now. The “Inside the NBA” co-star, who used to be seen on TNT broadcasts before the show moved over to the Worldwide Leader this season, criticized ESPN’s lead NBA insider Shams Charania after he broke news on social media about the NBA MVP award before the official … Read more
ESPN reporter Marty Smith was visibly emotional while speaking on Kyle Busch’s NASCAR legacy after the two-time Cup Series champion died at 41 on Thursday, hours after being hospitalized for a “severe illness.” During a “SportsCenter” appearance, Smith, one of ESPN’s lead NASCAR reporters, appeared to have tears in his eyes as he shared that he is … Read more
The role is to give an opinion, not begin a promo-filled wrestling feud. FS1’s Nick Wright called out Stephen A. Smith for his latest athlete beef, this time with Celtics star Jaylen Brown, criticizing him for yet again making himself part of the story. Wright said Smith’s actions hurt his colleagues. Nick Wright offered criticism … Read more
Michael Wilbon is tired of all the Aaron Rodgers talk, and he took his own network to task for giving the quartebrack too much airtime. Wilbon, the longtime cohost of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption,” threw some digs at the 42-year-old Rodgers, whose return to the Steelers was reported Saturday, but aimed his most pointed remarks … Read more
The Cavaliers led the Knicks by 22 points with less than eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night. Somehow, someway, that lead did not hold. And the Cavaliers did not win. The Knicks mounted a rally for the ages in a 115-104 overtime win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference … Read more
Stephen A. Smith didn’t mince words while responding to Jaylen Brown after the Celtics star’s “f–k Stephen A” rant during a Twitch livestream Sunday. During Monday’s installment of “First Take” on ESPN, Smith didn’t back down in their feud — which dates back to the end of Boston’s season after blowing a 3-1 series lead … Read more
This NFL analyst for ESPN outfoxed actors Ike Barinholtz and Steven Weber to win “Celebrity Jeopardy All-Stars.” Who is Mina Kimes? Correct. Kimes, a Yale graduate who is a daily presence on NFL Live and other programming for ESPN, earned a $1 million charity prize for the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition in the Los Angeles … Read more
Stephen A. Smith isn’t being shy about his desire for Shannon Sharpe to return to “First Take.” The Pro Football Hall of Famer, who joined the debate show in 2023 upon leaving FS1’s “Undisputed” after friction with Skip Bayless, was let go by ESPN last summer after settling a $50 million lawsuit in which the … Read more
Jaylen Brown called the 2025-26 season his “favorite.” Taking into account that the Celtics were bounced from the first round of the playoffs — after blowing a 3-1 series lead — Stephen A. Smith believes this is a preposterous notion. The Boston star is not only sticking by his words, but calling out the ESPN … Read more
A bit too far with that one, Draymond. Draymond Green, who typically jumps on “Inside the NBA” as a guest analyst when his Warriors season is over, took a low blow at NBA legend Charles Barkley on Wednesday night. “Sports are for young people. You hope to have a great, long career, but nobody wins … Read more