News: Paul Pierce fired, Herbstreit v. Orlovsky, MNF

Oakland, CA - June 5, 2019 - Oracle Arena: Paul Pierce and Michelle Beadle on the set of NBA Countdown at the NBA Finals (Photo by Matt Morning / ESPN Images)

Paul Pierce is done at ESPN. Plus: ESPN has spoken to two of its most prominent football analysts following a dispute over Justin Fields; the Week 1 Monday Night Football doubleheader is likely no more.

Pierce out at ESPN after video

ESPN has parted ways with NBA analyst Paul Pierce “effective immediately,” according to Front Office Sports, Ryan Glasspiegel, The Athletic and the New York Post. ESPN is declining comment. Pierce, who had been part of ESPN’s NBA Countdown studio crew since 2017, recently shared video of himself surrounded by scantily-clad dancers in a hotel room. There had been some expectation on social media that he would face discipline for the video.

Prior to officially joining ESPN in 2017, Pierce served as a guest analyst for ABC’s coverage of the 2016 and 2017 NBA Finals. [Front Office Sports 4.5, Glasspiegel/Twitter 4.5, The Athletic 4.5, NYP 4.5]

ESPN talks to Herbstreit, Orlovsky over Fields spat

ESPN has spoken to college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit and NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky after the former harshly criticized the latter on social media for calling into question Ohio State QB Justin Fields’ work-ethic. Appearing on the Pat McAfee radio show last week, Orlovsky said he has “heard that there are issues with [Fields’] work ethic” and questioned his “desire to be a great quarterback.”

Orlovsky has been roundly criticized for the comments, which some have argued play into common stereotypes about African American quarterbacks. After Orlovsky apologized on social media, Ohio State alumnus Herbstreit replied by calling his colleague’s initial comments “RIDICULOUS … reckless and absurd!! Embarrassing!” [Miami Herald 4.2]

FMIA: ESPN likely to drop Week 1 MNF doubleheader

NBC Sports’ Football Morning in America said Monday that it “looks like” ESPN will no longer carry a Week 1 Monday Night Football doubleheader as part of its new NFL media rights deal. As previously reported, ESPN will now air a Saturday doubleheader in the final week of the season (Week 18 under the newly-expanded schedule), and three split doubleheaders with ABC once the new deal fully kicks in with the 2023 season. [FMIA 4.5]

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Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

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Comments 2

Jared says:

5 years ago

The MNF Doubleheader just went too late at night. It was the only game to start after 8:30ET.
Nate Johnson says:

5 years ago

Hey Paulsen. Yes there’s a lot I have to say about this post, but I want to first thank you for revealing the split doubleheaders. That explains now the 6 extra games. While there won’t be a DH on Week 1 Monday, I personally believe that should return once the deal kicks in and allow that to be the DH. First game should be on ABC. The late game from a AFC or NFC West Stadium on ESPN in Primetime. After that, I have no idea on what needs to be done because I thought about having a DH the Monday before Thanksgiving, since nearly all the teams won’t have a BYE week. I also thought about another week occurring during December. This could be pretty tricky. 16 games, and 6 maybe 7 games in Primetime leaving the Sunday afternoon slots with only 9-10 games on two networks. I’m sure the primetime games will have significant playoff implications while the remaining on CBS and FOX could be a game or two with playoffs implications and the rest with scraps. I doubt this becomes a big deal because I doubt sponsors will take issues, ratings will still be pretty high, and those networks has the power to allow the best match-up/most intriguing ones to be telecast in very high percentage of this country. It’s just the continuation act of the NFL wanting as much games as possible to be in Primetime not only throughout the season, but even the late part of the season. If I was CBS and FOX, my concerns would be rather the TNF package expands under the new 18th week or if it matches what we’re use to seeing in the TNF deal. If it stays then that means Week 17 could be a pretty deep lineup for them with the following week taking two games away dealing with playoff implications which is a tough one to swallow. I guess we won’t know until 2023.

ESPN having chats with Dan and Kirk to me tells me that even under new leadership, the 4-letter company doesn’t want their personalities to go at each other on social media (even though Dan never retaliated to Kirk). I believe that was emphasized clearly under Skipper and now I see that’s the case under Pitaro. Granted this could be more of a Disney thing than a ESPN one, but that is something I took from this. Beyond that, I don’t see how this is a big deal. If people look at the track record of Ohio St. QBs of recent that has played at a high in College Ball and compare it to their NFL it is very different. Justin Fields to me is built and made different than those guys. With that said, if it is true that he doesn’t have that work ethic or drive, I’m sure there were other QBs that didn’t have that in past seasons yet coaches and key people in the program did what they could do to hide that so they could have some sort of credit on producing a 1st round QB. Not everyone is going to be as honest a Jim Mora Jr. was about Josh Rosen.

Alright, to Mr. Paul Pierce. I’ll be the first to say that yes I did see his IG Live and I was watching and wondering if he would do something wrong. Before I get into that, I have to say I was not a fan of Pierce as an analyst and wondered why they brought him back again after Billups went to do TV with the Clippers before joining Ty Lue’s coaching staff and when they replaced the two with Jay Williams. At that time, I felt like they mind as well should’ve kept Pierce had they went that route and obviously they did. What Pierce was doing was something that I believe wasn’t wrong at all, but something ESPN simply didn’t agree with. I didn’t see him disrespect any women in that video. I don’t recall him acting out of character while under the influence. Seems to me he was having a good time and everything wasn’t wrong nor criminal from what was existing. For ESPN to make this decision explains the standards they have in their organization similar to an honor code that is out there at a select religious institutions. I’m sure if he was on TNT, NBATV, or FS1 there wouldn’t of been him being departed. I can’t speak for NBC Sports Boston (honestly I can’t speak for the networks on the previous sentence, I’m simply speculating). My point is that different sports media has different policies and procedures. Definitely, not surprised by the news. Pretty much message is sent loud and clear to those that is with ESPN and it’s to watch your private activities and make sure you don’t broadcast something that will make you trend on social media making ESPN not have a good look at the moment.

So how should ESPN replace him? To my guilt, I haven’t seen much NBA on ESPN/ABC games. I’m not sure on how they do the studio these days as well. With that said, it’s probably worth a shot to promote Vince Carter to the main studio team with Jalen Rose. If they want to maintain Jay Williams on there, then go ahead. I know there will be two teams, but the one I’m mentioning should be the Maria Taylor one in New York. Rachel Nichols, I believe could rotate hers in the earlier rounds and now that Doris Burke is the #2 color commentator that makes Nichols the lead sideline reporter for Breen/Van Gundy/Jackson something that obviously started in the bubble. I didn’t take much account into the bubble in regards to studio teams because I was 1.) happy sports was being played after cancellations/postponements and 2.) Inside the NBA crew is nostalgic at this point and with ESPN hardly having a sustainable crew it makes it hard to want to check in on their coverage and analysis.