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Charissa Thompson Tells Jalen Rose How FOX Helped Her During Photo Scandal

“On this week’s Renaissance Man podcast with Jalen Rose, Thompson said her sense of humor helps her deal with the people that still post comments on her social media and how her bosses at FOX helped her feel better during a difficult time by including her in an event that she wasn’t even working.”

Ricky Keeler

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Whatever career you decide to go into, but especially in sports media, it is important to be authentic to who you are even when a bad situation happens to you. That was the case for FOX Sports analyst Charissa Thompson. Back in January 2018, private photos of Thompson were stolen off of her iCloud account and leaked to the public. 

On this week’s Renaissance Man podcast with Jalen Rose, Thompson said her sense of humor helps her deal with the people that still post comments on her social media and how her bosses at FOX helped her feel better during a difficult time by including her in an event that she wasn’t even working.

“My employer, this is where FOX is so incredible. When all that happened to me, my bosses put me on a plane to the NFC Championship Game to Philadelphia to be with all the guys because they were like hey, this bad thing happened to you, but we want you to be with your family. I flew there and I wasn’t even working and they were so wonderful to me. My employer wrapped their arms around me and they were like we got you. It’s about remaining authentic even when a crappy thing happens.” 

For Thompson, the goal for her in her career was to always do something that put her closer to her dream job. Since she was in Seattle and ESPN is on the other side of the country, she looked to get into FOX Sports in Los Angeles when she got out of college. Thompson took the unconventional route to get her foot in the door and then had to be sneaky to grow her career.

“I took the only job that was available in that building, which was Human Resources. In that job, I would sneak up to the highlights department at night and would log tapes. The path for me was do anything, do any job, don’t be above it. Be willing to go to a small market.”

Thompson and Rose used to work together at ESPN from 2011-2013. She even said that she wanted to name her first child Jalen because of how much of a fan she was of him growing up. 

In fact, Thompson thanks Rose for some advice that she gave her when she got to ESPN about always looking ahead to the future while still taking time to appreciate where you are in the present moment.

“I remember I got there and I was so excited and you said to me, appreciate your position, but plan your promotion. It has always stuck with me. Everyone is like just be happy where you are and I am, but I am always thinking about what’s next, trying to maximize the opportunity and potential in this window.”

Thompson, who also hosts the Calm Down podcast with Erin Andrews, says the podcast has come at a good time in her and Erin’s life because “It’s an opportunity to be real” and a “great forum for us to just talk.” 

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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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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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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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