All articles tagged with #espn
ESPN plans to address online complaints about NFL analyst Matt Miller while he recovers from serious injuries and remains on leave; the Missouri attorney general is investigating allegations tied to Miller's fantasy leagues, paid scouting lessons, and charitable contributions, and ESPN says it will follow up when appropriate.
Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest returns on July 4, 2026 at Coney Island with defending champions Joey Chestnut (men) and Miki Sudo (women). Women start at 10:45 a.m. ET, men at noon ET; coverage on ESPN2, the ESPN app, and ABC (simulcast from 12:30 p.m. ET), with a 4 p.m. ET replay on ESPN2. The forecast calls for near-90s heat, Chestnut’s 76-dog and Sudo’s 51-dog records still standing, and challengers like Patrick Bertoletti, James Webb, Domenica Dee, and Michelle Lesco looking to challenge. If tied at the end of 10 minutes, a five-dog eat-off decides the winner.
ESPN deleted a June 18 report linking NFL defensive lineman Mike Pennel to a Dominican Republic death investigation after acknowledging errors; Pennel’s representatives provided travel and financial records showing he wasn’t in the Dominican Republic at the time, and ESPN posted an update saying Pennel had nothing to do with the case.
Disney will pay up to $50 million to settle a class action alleging it used its control over ESPN and Hulu to pressure streaming prices. Eligible YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers who paid for service from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2026, can file claims by Sept. 8, 2026. Payout amounts are not set and will be determined on a pro rata basis after final court approval at a hearing scheduled for Jan. 14, 2027.
Tennis legend Chris Evert revealed that her ovarian cancer has returned and she will undergo surgery and chemotherapy, forcing her to skip ESPN Wimbledon coverage and step back from professional duties to focus on treatment; she previously beat the disease in 2022 and 2023, and a Netflix documentary about her and Martina Navratilova's cancer battles is releasing.
ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller announced that his left arm was amputated following a serious car crash in Missouri, after his vehicle crossed the center line and collided with a semi-truck. He thanked first responders and medical staff, said he’s focusing on recovery, and intends to return to ESPN to cover the 2027 NFL Draft.
ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller said he was involved in a serious car crash in Missouri on June 17, was airlifted to Mercy Hospital, and underwent a life-saving amputation of his left arm. He sustained multiple fractures and broken ribs, while the semi-truck driver was not injured. Miller, a father of two, has expressed gratitude for the care received and aims to recover and return to ESPN to cover the next NFL draft class.
ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller disclosed that a serious Missouri car crash led to a life-saving amputation of his left arm. He expressed gratitude for first responders and medical staff and said he is focusing on his recovery with the aim of returning to ESPN in 2027.
ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller revealed that his left arm was amputated after a car crash in Jasper County, Missouri. He sustained multiple fractures and broken ribs, was airlifted to a hospital in Joplin, and expressed gratitude for the life-saving care while noting he has a long recovery ahead.
OutKick reports ESPN re-signed David Dennis Jr. to cover NBA, music, and Black culture across Andscape and ESPN TV, even as layoffs are reportedly looming after the NFL Network acquisition. The piece portrays Dennis as controversial due to past remarks about Sydney Sweeney and race, and argues ESPN is prioritizing identity politics over sports and fans under Jimmy Pitaro.
The piece argues there is no universal best era for college football, but the 1990s stand out as a television-driven golden age: broader national broadcasts after the CFA–ESPN era, the launch of ESPN2, the Bowl Championship Series, and landmark rivalries helped fans experience the sport in a new, shared national moment—yet objective metrics show domination by a few programs, making the nostalgia and media evolution as much a part of the era’s appeal as on-field greatness.
Linda Cohn, ESPN’s longest-tenured SportsCenter anchor, will retire on June 30 after more than 30 years with ESPN. She’ll make her final appearances on June 26 in the 6 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET editions. A trailblazer who joined ESPN in 1992 and hosted the 5,000th SportsCenter in 2016, she has anchored hundreds of editions in the past decade and contributed across hockey coverage and iconic This Is SportsCenter moments, as ESPN commends her impact and she looks toward new opportunities.
ESPN’s new lead NBA broadcast crew barely discussed De’Aaron Fox’s late-game layup decision in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals, with the moment not replayed or analyzed on-air until postgame; social media backlash followed, and a later review highlighted the missed analysis, marking a notable gap in coverage by ABC/ESPN during a game-changing play.
Charles Barkley blasted the San Antonio Spurs after they blew a 29-point lead and hoisted eight straight 3s, allowing the Knicks to rally for a 107-106 win in Game 4 of the NBA Finals; he called the Spurs’ late-game decisions some of the dumbest in civilization, citing a costly missed layup by De’Aaron Fox and a LeBron-like block by OG Anunoby that gave New York another chance, setting up a decisive Game 5.
ABC/ESPN’s NBA Finals Game 3 between the Spurs and Knicks drew about 23.79 million viewers (1.1 million on ESPN’s alternate telecast), the largest audience for a Game 3 since 1998; the broadcast peaked at 26.3 million in the final minutes. Through three games, the Finals are averaging ~19.1 million viewers, second only to 2017, and this year is more than twice the viewership of the 2025 series. Game 4 is Wednesday in New York, with possible Games 5–7 if needed.