Years after appearing to turn a cold shoulder to politically conscious commentary on its networks, ESPN’s power players on-air are steeped in hypermasculine politics. That was clear in two unhinged outbursts from the network’s top cash cows on Monday: Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee.
McAfee is reportedly one of the top earners at the network where he works. And Smith, who makes less but also has a large contract with ESPN set to expire this year, seems to be angling for a new one that will break the bank. These things explain why both men are incredibly comfortable using their platforms to spread controversial opinions without fear of serious consequences. (It also might explain why Smith has started new ventures to garner attention, like a podcast and YouTube series).
On Tuesday, both men took the already-cringeworthy commentary surrounding WNBA star Caitlin Clark to new lows. As I wrote previously, the tough competition Clark, a college hoops phenom, has faced in her rookie year has led to a deluge of hot takes from men who’ve put on their capes to offer Clark defenses she doesn’t need and hasn’t asked for, or to claim that her opponents should treat her with kid gloves out of appreciation for the attention and money they say she’s brought the WNBA. Many of these men threw fits after Clark received a hard foul during a game over the weekend, and none more than McAfee, who referred to Clark as “that white b—-” in a rant he says was meant to tout her accomplishments.
Monday's Pat McAfee Show opened with a Caitlin Clark PowerPoint:
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 3, 2024
"I would like the media people that continue to say, 'This rookie class, this rookie class, this rookie class'. Nah, just call it for what it is — there's one white bitch for the Indiana team who is a superstar." pic.twitter.com/psGNQXts5O
He went on to apologize for the language he used. He claimed the remarks were meant to be “complimentary” but joked about the comments during a media appearance later that evening, suggesting he wasn’t taking it all that seriously. (On Tuesday, he said he apologized for how his slur was received.)
In another viral moment Monday, Smith appeared to suffer some embarrassment after being called out by analyst Monica McNutt for his coddling of Clark. At one point in the conversation, when Smith tried to give himself a pat on the back for recent coverage of the WNBA on his show, “First Take,” McNutt checked him.
“Who talks about the WNBA more than ‘First Take’?” he asked.
“Stephen A., respectfully, with your platform, you could’ve been doing this three years ago if you wanted to,” McNutt responded, leaving Smith stunned.
Monica McNutt cooking Stephen A 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/oeVmTA0TLU Smith later went on his podcast and, in a rant about the spat, seemed to suggest he was responsible for McNutt’s success. He was dragged online for those remarks as well. ESPN may have thought it was leaving politics in the rearview by ridding itself of some hosts and other talent known for their political consciousness. But with remaining talent like Smith and McAfee absorbing the limelight, the network’s politics seem to have shifted to become more hypermasculine, hard-nosed and blustery. And sure, that combo may produce viral moments that keep ESPN in the public discourse. But it also risks portraying the network as a harbor for misogyny.
Ja’han Jones is an MS NOW opinion blogger. He previously wrote The ReidOut Blog. Recommended
