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ESPN Colleagues Speak Out For Maria Taylor After Dan McNeil Tweet

“On Tuesday night, before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Jalen Rose and Jay Williams showed their support for Taylor as Rose gave her flowers on-air.”

Ricky Keeler

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This week ended up being an eventful week for Maria Taylor. On Monday, she made her first appearance as the sideline reporter for one of the two Monday Night Football games when the Steelers faced the Giants. While that was happening, one now-former Chicago radio host on 670 The Score decided to send out a tweet criticizing Taylor’s wardrobe. Dan McNeil has since been fired from WSCR-670 AM.  

Taylor gave her response to McNeil’s inappropriate comments.

Throughout the last 24+ hours, many ESPN personalities have come to the support of Taylor, who has worked her way up to being the host of NBA Countdown among many other key roles on the network.

On Tuesday night, before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Jalen Rose and Jay Williams showed their support for Taylor as Rose gave her flowers on-air.

Williams told Taylor that “we all get tested”, but also said to Taylor “you are so incredible at what you do and I love the way you clap back at people that come at you with ignorance.” 

After Rose said “some people turn the other cheek. We are an eye for an eye”, he brought up the impact that Taylor has had on the industry and how she has become a role model for many.

“Thank you for being a terrific role model in this industry. It is really tough to do what you do on a daily basis, juggle the attitudes and egos in a male-dominated industry, but still be a shining star.” 

Taylor gave her thanks to Rose and Williams on-air and via Twitter.

Many others have shown their support for Taylor on their social media platforms and shows. On Tuesday, Around The Horn host Tony Reali ended the show giving his support and recognizing her moment.

“I’m wearing my black shirt because I wear it every day. I wear the same thing every day and nobody says anything. Nobody calls me out on it. Why? Because I’m a dude. Now, imagine you are an incredible reporter making your debut on Monday Night Football and someone mentions  your wardrobe. Maria Taylor, incredible work on Monday night. That’s all that matters.” 

Elle Duncan tweeted before NBA Countdown on Twitter that Taylor still going to do great at her job and inspire others in the process. Also, Hannah Storm also took the time to share encouraging words for Taylor.

Jenna Laine, who writes about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ESPN, took to Twitter on Tuesday to not only support Taylor, but also share her thoughts on how sometimes the wardrobe comments don’t just come from men.

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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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