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]
