All articles tagged with #espn
Former ESPN anchor Trey Wingo blasted ESPN’s Masters coverage for over-sizzle and hype, arguing the tournament should be defined by tradition rather than celebrity cameos and marketing to casual fans; Augusta National’s tight control over rights and bans adds to the tension, and Wingo urged ESPN to let the Masters speak for itself.
Veteran ESPN play-by-play announcer Mark Jones is leaving the network after 36 years, a move reported by The Athletic; ESPN issued thanks but did not publicly confirm the departure, and Jones’s final ESPN game is Sunday’s Celtics vs. Magic, with his next steps unclear.
ESPN faced backlash after featuring WWE star The Miz on its Masters broadcast alongside longtime reporter Laura Rutledge, with fans accusing the network of degrading the event by spotlighting non-golf celebrities; Augusta National previously denied Pat McAfee a studio spot, and another non-golfer, Jason Kelce, appeared at the Par 3 Contest, prompting further social-media anger about coverage choices.
Golf fans blasted Jason Kelce’s appearance on the Masters Par 3 Contest broadcast, saying his ESPN-backed cameo disrupted the event’s sanctity as he caddied and hit a tee shot. The backlash on social media suggested ESPN should offer an alternative stream or be more selective with his appearances, highlighting tensions when a celebrity personality overlaps with a sacred sports moment.
Disney is reportedly planning to cut up to 1,000 positions in the coming weeks, with most reductions in the experiences division (theme parks and cruise lines) following prior layoffs in ESPN and the entertainment unit. ESPN is said to trim about 30 roles. The Wall Street Journal notes some cuts may stem from merging Disney+ and Hulu into one app. Disney employed roughly 231,000 people at the end of fiscal 2025, so the cuts would represent a small fraction of the workforce; this continues a multi-year restructuring that has eliminated over 8,000 jobs since 2022.
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences unveiled the nominees for the 47th Sports Emmy Awards, led by ESPN’s 62 nominations across programs including E60. The list features on‑screen talent like Tom Brady, Jason Kelce and Charles Barkley, with the 2025 eligibility year and the ceremony set for May 26 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York; a host and lifetime achievement honoree will be announced later, and awards cover categories from live and edited sports to journalism, documentary, and studio shows.
ESPN’s exclusive coverage of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament continues into the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight with on-site studio teams in Fort Worth and Sacramento, new commentator lineups, and games airing across ABC/ESPN and streaming on the ESPN App; the release also highlights the documentary Breaking Glass: The Pat Summitt Story and provides the updated schedule for the remaining rounds.
The Raiders reportedly remain open to trading star edge rusher Maxx Crosby if the right offer arrives, with ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noting a high price—likely two first-round picks—and that a deal could heat up closer to the draft, even as Crosby has publicly pledged loyalty to the team and remains expected to play Week 1.
The ACC and ESPN allegedly moved Duke's quarterfinal to primetime to boost ratings, sacrificing Duke's regular-season rest advantage; after an 80-79 win over Florida State, Scheyer criticized the decision, and UNC's late-night loss to Clemson ruined hopes for a high-profile Duke–UNC rematch, leaving Duke to play a semifinal on short rest.
The Minnesota Vikings have moved quietly in free agency, adding cornerback James Pierre and re-signing linebacker Eric Wilson, safety Tavierre Thomas, and long snapper Andrew DePaola, as ESPN’s Seifert analyzes the early roster. At the same time, NFL.com’s Eric Edholm releases his Top 100 draft prospects, starting with Arvell Reese and including Jeremiyah Love and Sonny Styles, with several players—like Thieneman, McCoy, Downs, and Tate—frequently connected to Minnesota as potential first‑round targets ahead of Pro Days.
Following Lou Holtz’s death, colleagues recall a fierce, charismatic broadcaster who treated on-air debates like fourth-down battles. His spirited exchanges with Mark May on SportsCenter became iconic, while his competitive drive extended to friendships with peers like Rece Davis. Tributes from figures such as Dick Vitale and Ryan Clark underscore a legacy that transcends Notre Dame’s championships, shaping the culture of sports TV and the relationships he built in the studio.
Lou Holtz, the quotable Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to the 1988 national championship and helped usher in the program’s modern era, died Wednesday at 89 in Orlando. Across 34 seasons as a head coach at six schools—including ND, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, South Carolina, and William & Mary—Holtz delivered multiple bowls and top-10 finishes, produced Tim Brown’s Heisman, and left a lasting imprint with traditions like the “Play Like A Champion Today” sign and Notre Dame’s NBC era. He later worked as an ESPN analyst and remained a high-profile voice in college football.
ESPN's Cavaliers–Pistons All-Access broadcast was interrupted when a malfunctioning arena horn blared for 12.5 minutes during Donovan Mitchell's interview, forcing staff to switch to a handheld air horn for the remainder of the game.
ESPN's long-time NFL host Chris Berman says his contract runs through the 2029 NFL season and that he plans to retire after that, capping a near-50-year run at the network and helping shape its signature coverage as ESPN gears up for a future with NFL Network.
Chris Berman told CNBC on a podcast that he plans to retire from ESPN after his contract ends following the 2029 NFL season, at nearly 75, marking the end of a storied run across ESPN’s NFL and sports programming.