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Matt Barrie Stands Up For ESPN Colleague’s Son

Ricky Keeler

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Last week, there was an incident at a Whataburger restaurant in Tempe, Arizona where three Arizona State football players, including freshman defensive back Jordan Clark, were called a racial slur by a female customer. She complained to the manager saying she was harassed by the football players even though the players only asked that she order the food for them and they would pay for it. 

Last week, Clark released a statement on social media describing the specifics of what happened that night with the customer and their interaction with the manager afterwards: 

https://twitter.com/Jclark21_/status/1273171411364917248

The name Jordan Clark might sound somewhat familiar because he is the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back and current ESPN analyst, Ryan Clark. Whataburger publicly apologized for what happened and released this statement on Twitter: 

On Friday mornings’s Get Up, Clark had the opportunity to talk about the conversation that he had with his son and in the video, you will hear him share a story of what happened to his dad back in 1977. 

“What’s crazy is I wasn’t mad at the young lady or the woman or the manager, I was mad at myself. I was mad at Jordan and I’m not necessarily sure that was the right emotion to have but nothing pisses me off more than being scared…. This isn’t just a fear for me everyday, this has been a fear of black people forever.”  

Clark was not afraid to show his emotion as well in thanking everyone who reached out to him with their support: 

“I’m blessed my child is still here. If something would have happened to him, it would have broke me. For me, I got to do a better job of educating him and I have to protect him because I wouldn’t know how to live if he wouldn’t have made it out. Thank you to everyone that reached out to me. I know it’s getting better, but it’s not better yet and better for everyone. We have to keep staying together and doing what we can.” 

Later that day, on the mid-day SportsCenter, Matt Barrie addressed the story and as an alum of Arizona State, he had some words to say about the school, to the Clark family, and to his home state of Arizona.

“I want to say it to Jordan Clark. Jordan, I have talked to you numerous times at football events and you are a damn good kid. You and your teammates did not deserve this. I went to Arizona State, I’m from Arizona. This is not the place you signed up for, so I apologize that you went through this.

“Ryan Clark, you are a damn good father and you sent your son to a good university in Arizona State. This is not what my home state stands for. Arizona, do better and be better. Do not let this woman act like this and bring my state into national headlines when these were innocent college football kids going out to get a meal… To my own state, pick yourself up because this is embarrassing.” 

It was great to see ESPN stand behind the Clark family and it is clear you saw a case of a company standing behind one of its own emphatically and showing support at a time when it is needed. He took a stance against the actions of what happens while showing support. It’s a good representation of the change that is trying to occur in this country right now. 

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Report: NFL to Put Christmas Day Doubleheader Up For Bids

Bidding is expected to start at $50 million among the current NFL media partners but some think the games could sell for $75 million to $100 million apiece.

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The NFL will reportedly put its Christmas Day games up for auction, allowing its current media partners to bid for the games. Now, it’s up to CBS, FOX, ESPN, NBC, and Prime Video to pay up for rights to one of these two marquee games.

According to Front Office Sports Michael McCarthy, preference will be given to linear networks, so Prime Video and Peacock may sit this one out. Bidding is expected to start at $50 million but McCarthy and his sources expect that number to rise. John Kosner, the former ESPN executive, thinks the new Christmas Day games could sell for $75 million to $100 million apiece.

The NFL announced a Wednesday Christmas Day doubleheader during its annual league meetings. The league originally said it wouldn’t force games on Christmas Day if the holiday fell on an odd day of the week, though as the NFL continues to put games on days outside of Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and sometimes Saturdays, we’re running out of days that don’t feature NFL football.

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Colorado Rockies & DirecTV Reach Agreement to Carry Games on TV

“Colorado sports fans have made DIRECTV the top destination for their favorite local teams. We will continue to work with MLB…so fans can get their games.”

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Colorado Rockies

Breathe easy, Rockies fans — you will be able to watch your club on linear TV this year. At the buzzer, DirecTV and the Colorado Rockies agreed on terms to distribute the team’s games throughout its local service.

Starting today, DirecTV Choice subscribers across Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Southern Idaho, Western Nebraska, and Northern New Mexico can now watch the Rockies on a special channel simply titled, “ROCKIES.” The games will be available on DirecTV and DirecTV STREAM via channel 683.

“Colorado sports fans have made DIRECTV the top destination to get all their favorite local teams,” said Rob Thun, chief content officer of DIRECTV. “We will continue to work with MLB, the NBA, NHL, and other top leagues and their local franchises so the most avid fans can get the games they want while other customers have more choice over the content they want to pay to have in their homes.”

Reports just days ago out of Colorado said there were “no guarantees” the Rockies would not find a TV home in time for Opening Day following the sunsetting of AT&T SportsNet. The only other way to watch the team is to use its direct-to-consumer Rockies.tv streaming service, which fans say is too pricey for a team that lost 103 games last season. Luckily, the team was able to secure a TV home for 2024, though the future is still uncertain.

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Erin Andrews Reveals Infertility Journey in Emotional ‘Today Show’ Interview

FOX reporter Erin Andrews sat down with ‘The Today Show’s’ Kristen Welker to discuss her journey, how Welker’s own journey inspired her, and more.

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Erin Andrews

FOX reporter Erin Andrews shared her story of infertility and surrogacy with NBC’s Today Show. Last summer, Andrews and her husband welcomed a baby boy via surrogate after trying for a decade to get pregnant via IVF, during which she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016. Today, she sat down with Kristen Welker to discuss her journey, how Welker’s own journey inspired her, and more.

Andrews says Welker’s announcement on the Today Show made her think a baby could be possible. “I remember Kristin Welker’s announcement on your show,” Andrews said last year, “and I actually watched that the morning Mac was born, because that just hit me.”

When they finally sat down, Welker asked Andrews why her journey resonated with the sports reporter so much:

“Because I see myself in you. Kristen, the video of you moderating debates after you’re waiting on bad news or maybe you just received it, that’s me. I can tell you every stand-up I’ve done at a football game where I’ve gotten the news that it didn’t work. I’d be talking about Tom Brady going for this record and my record is that I still was failing…I would have chest pains every time I was waiting for the call if it worked, and I knew it wouldn’t work.

Erin Andrews on ‘Today’

Andrews knew surrogacy was the only path to having a child. Although her family’s first attempt failed, her second attempt was a success, and she got to hear her child’s heartbeat for the very first time. The pair discuss the complex emotions that come with surrogacy, saying that bonds with their child could be affected because they didn’t carry their child. However, Welker assured Andrews that those feelings go away once you can talk to your child.

Once her son was born in June, who Andrews called, “a miracle,” she then talks about her child glowingly, talking about how he is just like mom — vocal. “He’s all me,” she says.

Andrews supports Baby Quest, a non-profit that grants money to families in need of IVF or surrogacy to have a baby but don’t have the funds to pursue these expensive treatments. Both Andrews and Welker acknowledged how difficult and unattainable their journies are for some families — and Andrews even used the NFL’s “My Cleats, My Cause” initiative to raise awareness for her cause.

“People don’t need to feel embarrassed that they have a surrogate or are looking for other help,” Andrews said.

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