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Yep. Mid 00s - Early 10s, ATH and PTI were on the tv daily M-F. Can't tell you the last time I've watched either.
I also like some of their ads. Too bad most of their regular programming sucks so bad.
The ads were great. Loved Charlie Steiner as the poolboy in the mock Melrose Place.
That network is such a joke. They have Bart Scott on there who can barely form a complete sentence. That is all that needs to be said about how pathetic they are. Zero sports knowledge required, well any knowledge really to work there.
What a lineup they had back in the day. Patrick, Olbermann, Scott, Eisen, Kilborn, Mayne.
It's just amazing they decided people would rather see loudmouths (whom are not even consistent or knowledge) yell at each other instead of these guys show highlights most of the day. They even made sports I rarely cared about (like baseball and hockey) interesting. These days I only turn on ESPN when I want to watch something or up late enough to watch Van Pelt. I cringe when it is bars and restaurants (pre COVID I guess). Terrible business move.
I don't have any issues with what Rachel Nichols said. Her sentiment seemed to be that she was worried that ESPN would take something away from her to make up for their years of lack of diversity. She obviously had no beef with Maria Taylor.
She insinuated that Taylor is getting where she is today because she is black. You don’t see how that’s a problem?
I took it more as her beef being with ESPN. Just because Nichols thinks that ESPN presumably gave Taylor a spot to promote diversity doesn't necessarily mean that she thinks she isn't deserving. It doesn't have to be a "one or the other" situation.
Saying they are giving Taylor more things to do because of espn’s crappy diversity history is saying she is only getting those jobs because of their crappy diversity history. It’s taking away her accomplishments and talents and assigning them to a different reason.
Perhaps. I will have to give this one more thought, to be honest.
It sounds like a lot of their Black talent is upset about this. They have a much bigger problem on their hands than Twitter outrage.Perhaps. I will have to give this one more thought, to be honest.
Will be interesting to see if ESPN does anything about this, now that this story is out there. Wouldn't surprise me if Nichols was shown the door, but firing someone over a private conversation being leaked is a dangerous road to go down. They certainly wouldn't be the first company to acted hastily in the wake of the Twitter universe losing their minds and driving a narrative.
Agreed, which is why it is surprising that they have handled it in-house as poorly as they seemingly have. Feels like they should have done more to find common ground and make everyone happy. Obviously, the person who leaked the call should have been disciplined, so no issues there, but it sounds like ESPN went out of their way to make it more difficult for Taylor going forward, which seems rather unwise.
Yea I don’t know if they fire Nichols for this. Might be a her or Taylor situation. Pretty ugly all the way around.Perhaps. I will have to give this one more thought, to be honest.
Will be interesting to see if ESPN does anything about this, now that this story is out there. Wouldn't surprise me if Nichols was shown the door, but firing someone over a private conversation being leaked is a dangerous road to go down. They certainly wouldn't be the first company to acted hastily in the wake of the Twitter universe losing their minds and driving a narrative.
I'd be surprised if Taylor wanted to re-sign there, as she doesn't seem like the "forgive and forget" type. I remember seeing her comments on the Drew Brees story a year ago, so when I got to the part in this new story about she had no interest in taking calls or texts from Nichols, I was not surprised. Not that I am saying she should, just that I was not surprised. I could see her holding a grudge against ESPN for this, which would be understandable, and wanting to get the hell out of there.
I mean, she basically streamed the conversation to the company server, it’s not like someone was tapping her phone or something.
Not following here. Do you think what she said was bad or the fact that she is saying it at all?
Right. Plus Woj apparently was upset at her, and I’m sure he has juice over there too. The hypocrisy of this whole thing (on Nichols’s part) is just pretty amazing given how performatively woke Nichols generally is. Diversity is cool until it impacts her in a slightly negative way.
Well, sure, but it sounds like that was a mistake, one for which she may pay dearly.
I don't see it as hypocritical at all on the part of Nichols. Someone can be 100% in favor of diversity while also not wanting to be a sacrificial lamb for the cause. No one wants to lose their job (unless they hate it and secretly pray that they are forced to leave it
) or be demoted or be given less great tasks. 
Yep, when the dust clears on this whole story, it will likely be epic in how badly ESPN misplayed this.
No wonder it's a sinking ship. They just declined to pay Ariel Helwani (a content creator) $500k
Nichols has no shot of surviving this even if higher ups try to sweep it under the rug.
we’ll have to agree to disagree then. This is a far cry from Nichols losing her job or being demoted. This is diversity NIMBYism. Which I agree may be a natural reaction, but it’s the polar opposite of how Nichols is always attempting to position herself.Well, sure, but it sounds like that was a mistake, one for which she may pay dearly.
I don't see it as hypocritical at all on the part of Nichols. Someone can be 100% in favor of diversity while also not wanting to be a sacrificial lamb for the cause. No one wants to lose their job (unless they hate it and secretly pray that they are forced to leave it
It seems to me this is a near perfect definition of hypocrisy. It’s easy to understand and sympathize, but it’s still hypocritical to be an outward champion of diversity but only so long as it doesn’t impact her.I don't see it as hypocritical at all on the part of Nichols. Someone can be 100% in favor of diversity while also not wanting to be a sacrificial lamb for the cause. No one wants to lose their job (unless they hate it and secretly pray that they are forced to leave it
I don't know what you do for work, but let's assume you worked your butt off to get where you are. How would you feel if they came in tomorrow and told you, "we have to let you go because we need to bring in a person of color to do your job to add a little diversity to team?" Would you think, "Hey great. Sure it's a bummer for me, but yay for the cause!" I doubt it. You'd be pissed. And that wouldn't make you a hypocrite. It would make you human. Now, that is not exactly what was happening at ESPN, but I am sure you get my point.
Sorry not sorry to be so un-woke, but I have an issue with what you're suggesting. Frankly I find it very annoying when POC express such outrage because someone dared to suggest that intentional diversity played a part in their hire/promotion, all while shamelessly exploiting policies that were specifically designed to ensure that this happens. If you're going to reap the benefit, then you should own it.
But isn't Maria Taylor a hypocrite too? Complaining when a coworker suggests that diversity played a part in her ascension, but also telling ESPN execs that they need to add more black faces?
I don't watch ESPN and I don't know the people involved here, so I don't care much about this particular flare-up. That said, if you support "diversity" being a hiring criterion, then you don't get to complain about black employees being viewed as "diversity hires". That comes with the territory.
I think what she said was bad. It's not like ESPN went to her and said we're giving Maria this gig to make up for past transgressions with respect to diversity and representation. Nichols made the race inference all on her own. Maybe ESPN just thought Taylor would be better at the job? As others have pointed out, given the public image Nichols has cultivated, it's a really bad look for her to go immediately to race just because she got a demotion.
You’re pre-supposing that’s why Taylor was given the job, instead of being the more talented team member, just like Nichols did. Not sure how else to explain to you or Donny or anybody else how that is a problem.
Dang, I don't watch ESPN so I have no idea how big a figure she is for that network. But I know the names of a bunch of ESPN contributors, and Taylor is not one of them. Maybe I'm just out of touch with how much these on-air personalities typically get paid - even the less famous ones.
And you're mis-characterizing my comments. I did not suggest that Maria Taylor was given a job because she is black. (Unlike Robinson, who seemingly was.) I am saying there should be nothing wrong with speculating that diversity was a factor that contributed to her promotion. And that perhaps some people should relax when this speculation is given a voice, especially considering the existence of affirmative action and diversity hiring policies.
