Posted on 08/18/2018 4:34:51 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
New ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro told reporters that the network would not televise the national anthem before their Monday Night Football broadcast.
There was some speculation that ESPN, who hasn't been shy about covering politics, might break with precedent and show the protests of players during the playing of the anthem.
But, according to the story in USA Today, Pitano "bristled" at the suggestion that ESPN was a political network.
Pitaro, who was hired March 5 following the abrupt departure of John Skipper, told reporters at a media event on ESPN's campus in Bristol, Conn., that the network has not previously shown the national anthem during its Monday Night Football broadcasts and does not have plans to change — at least, not in the immediate future.
According to Axios, Pitaro also said that ESPN has informed the league of its plans "as (a) courtesy" given their partnership. Earlier, he had told reporters that he has spent much of his young tenure at ESPN working to strengthen the company's relationship with the NFL.
ESPN pays about $2 billion per year for the right to broadcast Monday Night Football , according to the Associated Press.
Not only is ESPN a political network, it is a blatantly partisan political network. With players in most major sports spouting off on politics ignorantly and many ESPN reporters and commentators egging them on, the network is pushing a partisan agenda - both in game, and on every other show broadcast by the network.
It's not surprising that sports reporters are frustrated political reporters. In fact, early political journalists were drawn from the ranks of sports reporters - the belief being that politics was akin to a horse race and who better to tell that story than a sports reporter?
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Nothing new...I've not watched in many many years...
Boycotting espn and nfl Forever. They had their chance.
It is not even football any more
Ha. I watch every year. Last years Super Bowl VII was great ( if you’re a Dolphins fan ). But that botched Garo Yepremian play...not so much.
Bullish: I won’t be watching ESPN during football season... Or any other time either.
I bet they show the anthem kneelers during the broadcast.
What is an ESPN?
What is Monday Night Football?
That should boost rating for sure...idiot.
The only part I would tune in for would be the anthem.
This is a great great notch on the belt of linda sansour’s jihad
Imo her personal relationship with colin kapernick’s girl friend was the catalyist for the defiant resistance kneeling display at the playing of our national anthem.
This has put a unique American sporting event into a death spiral that may be more irreversible than MLB boycott.
Even worse is ESPN’s decision to not broadcast our national anthem.
Another step towards sharia in amerikka, imo.
I only watch American sports.
Cop-out.
Fake news - “speculation?” ESPN was going to do something they never did before?
The networks almost never broadcast the anthem before sports events - and never have.
For sure - they will still air the anthem before Championships.
Whatever...I won’t be watching, now or at any time this year (or the next, or the next.....)
I for one am happy the NFL wil not televise the anthem. Takes away their platform to show their idiocy.
I want to see cheerleaders all dressed in police uniforms.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.