{"id":2325352,"date":"2024-08-15T20:19:59","date_gmt":"2024-08-16T00:19:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/espn-axes-two-prominent-on-air-personalities-in-unexpected-shakeup\/"},"modified":"2024-08-15T20:22:32","modified_gmt":"2024-08-16T00:22:32","slug":"espn-axes-two-prominent-on-air-personalities-in-unexpected-shakeup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/espn-axes-two-prominent-on-air-personalities-in-unexpected-shakeup\/","title":{"rendered":"ESPN Axes Two Prominent On-Air Personalities in Unexpected Shakeup"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fespn-axes-two-prominent-on-air-personalities-in-unexpected-shakeup%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2325352&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Two notable figures at ESPN, Robert Griffin III and Sam Ponder, have\u2063 been terminated as part of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawsuit-alec-baldwin-had-no-reason-to-fire-gun-during-scene-being-rehearsed\/\" title=\"Lawsuit: Alec Baldwin Had No Reason to Fire Gun During Scene Being Rehearsed\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-banks-introduces-gop-bill-to-curb-fortune-500s-use-of-visa-workers\/\" title=\"Rep. Banks Introduces GOP Bill to Curb Fortune 500&#039;s Use of Visa Workers\">cost-cutting<\/a> measure<\/a>, \u200bwith reports indicating that their contracts were bought out. Both had substantial salaries, exceeding seven figures, \u200dprompting the network&#8217;s decision as it prepares for the end of its fiscal year in September. Griffin, \u2062a former NFL player, responded to his dismissal humorously \u2062on social media, \u200dwhile Ponder&#8217;s\u2063 firing has sparked more discussion, partly due to her past feud with\u2063 Barstool Sports\u2062 founder Dave\u200b Portnoy and her controversial stance on \u200c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/retired-nfl-player-calls-for-separate-transgender-category-of-sports-after-biden-executive-order\/\" title=\"Retired NFL Player Calls For Separate Transgender Category Of Sports After Biden Executive Order\">transgender athletes<\/a> in women\u2019s sports. The timing of their firings raises speculation about other potential layoffs at ESPN.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section>\n<p>Two prominent faces at &ldquo;The Worldwide Leader in Sports&rdquo; have been unceremoniously &mdash; and abruptly &mdash; axed.<\/p>\n<p>Former NFL star-turned-pundit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/fmr-qb-robert-griffin-iii-puts-post-bashing-critics-taylor-swift-immediately-obliterated-comment-section\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Robert Griffin III<\/a>, as well as Sunday NFL Countdown host and sideline reporter Sam Ponder have both been released from ESPN, according to a Thursday <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/5703445\/2024\/08\/15\/espn-fires-robert-griffin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> from The Athletic.<\/p>\n<p>Both contracts were reportedly bought out.<\/p>\n<p>The Athletic describes both firings as a means of &ldquo;cost-cutting.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Given that both Ponder and Griffin were described as each being paid &ldquo;more than seven figures,&rdquo; the cost-cutting explanation does make sense.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Both were reportedly informed early Thursday of their respective releases.<\/p>\n<p>The Athletic also notes that ESPN may not be done firing people, as it tries to shore up its ledger before its fiscal year closes in September.<\/p>\n<p>That being said, the outlet notes that it doesn&rsquo;t expect a &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/no-sacred-cows-woke-espn-reportedly-dumping-20-major-air-talents-latest-round-layoffs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bloodletting<\/a>&rdquo; like the company&rsquo;s mass layoffs of 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Ponder was entering the final year of a very cushy deal, work-wise.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;ESPN generally reserves these types of schedules for the Joe Bucks, Troy Aikmans and Peyton Mannings of its world,&rdquo; The Athletic noted.<\/p>\n<p>Griffin, meanwhile, still has two years left on his respective deal.<\/p>\n<p>The response to both of the buyouts has been a curious one on social media.<\/p>\n<p>Griffin took to X to <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RGIII\/status\/1824162360342323388\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post<\/a> a clip from &rsquo;90s comedy hit &ldquo;Friday,&rdquo; where one of the characters quips, &ldquo;How the hell you gon&rsquo; get fired on your on your day off?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The former Washington Redskin standout looks to be taking the firing in stride &mdash; and The Athletic does note that ESPN rival Fox Sports has interest in him.<\/p>\n<p>Ponder&rsquo;s firing, meanwhile, is dredging up a lot more conversation due to two things.<\/p>\n<p>First, Ponder had a highly-public feud with Barstool Sports founder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-dave-portnoy-torches-racebaiters-hating-caitlin-clarks-success-stupid-women\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dave Portnoy<\/a>, so many expected the outspoken Bostonian to pop some champagne to celebrate her ouster (Portnoy infamously popped champagne when former ESPN president John Skipper &mdash; whom he did not like &mdash; was fired).<\/p>\n<p>Portnoy declined to dance on her job&rsquo;s grave because he admitted that, not only did he start the feud, but in a follow-up X post, Portnoy actually revealed that Ponder had earned some of his respect.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>WARNING: The following clip contains language and drug references that some viewers may find offensive.<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Also Sam Ponder once ambushed me at a restaurant and got right in my face. We argued for an hour. Gained a ton of respect from me as opposed to people who hide in the shadows. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OVu58pZJXV\">https:\/\/t.co\/OVu58pZJXV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stoolpresidente\/status\/1824160412276838846?\">August 15, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Also Sam Ponder once ambushed me at a restaurant and got right in my face,&rdquo; Portnoy posted. &ldquo;We argued for an hour. Gained a ton of respect from me as opposed to people who hide in the shadows.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The other issue with Ponder&rsquo;s release involves something a little more contentious than a rivalry with Barstool.<\/p>\n<p>Here&rsquo;s a highly viral X post from Ponder last year, and see if you can spot why it touched on so many nerves:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">I barely said anything publicly abt this issue &amp; I&rsquo;ve had so many ppl msg me, stop me in the street to say thank you+ tell me stories abt girls who are afraid to speak up for fear of lost employment\/being called hateful. It is not hateful to demand fairness in sports for girls <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/teNoMDWNW4\">https:\/\/t.co\/teNoMDWNW4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Samantha Steele Ponder (@samponder) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/samponder\/status\/1661771033320337417?\">May 25, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Ponder quote-posted women&rsquo;s sports activist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/riley-gaines-ignites-goes-scorched-earth-olympic-boxer-imane-khelif-obliterates-female-opponent\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Riley Gaines<\/a> after Ponder herself spoke up about not wanting males competing in female sports.<\/p>\n<p>Fair or not, given the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/espn-executive-spearheaded-woke-initiatives-fired-troubling-accusations-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">left-leaning<\/a> proclivities of ESPN, many on social media presumed that Ponder&rsquo;s refusal to accept transgender athletes in sports led to her firing.<\/p>\n<p>The NFL regular season, which both Ponder and Griffin would&rsquo;ve ostensibly been a part of for ESPN, begins Sept. 5.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two well-known personalities at &#8220;The Worldwide Leader in Sports&#8221; have been unexpectedly and abruptly let go. Former NFL player and analyst Robert Griffin III, along with Sam Ponder, the host of Sunday NFL Countdown and sideline reporter, have both been dismissed from ESPN, as reported by The Athletic on Thursday. Their contracts were said to have been bought out. The Athletic characterizes these dismissals as part of a &#8220;cost-cutting&#8221; strategy, which seems reasonable given that both Ponder and Griffin were reportedly earning over seven figures.<\/p>\n<p>They were informed of their terminations early Thursday morning. Additionally, The Athletic suggests that ESPN may continue to make cuts as it aims to improve its financial situation before the end of its fiscal year in September. However, the outlet does not anticipate a large-scale layoff similar to those seen in 2023. Ponder was entering the last year of a lucrative contract while Griffin still had two years remaining on his deal.<\/p>\n<p>Reactions on social media regarding their buyouts have varied. Griffin shared a clip from the &#8217;90s comedy &#8220;Friday,&#8221; humorously questioning how one could be fired on their day off. He appears to be handling his dismissal well; The Athletic notes that Fox Sports has shown interest in him.<\/p>\n<p>Ponder&#8217;s firing has sparked more discussion for two main reasons: her previous public feud with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy\u2014who many expected would celebrate her departure\u2014and her controversial stance against transgender athletes competing in women&#8217;s sports. Portnoy chose not to gloat about her firing despite their rivalry; he acknowledged gaining respect for her after an intense confrontation they had at a restaurant.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, Ponder&#8217;s outspoken views on women&#8217;s sports activism led many social media users to speculate that this contributed to her termination at ESPN due to the network&#8217;s generally left-leaning stance. Both she and Griffin would likely have played significant roles during the upcoming NFL regular season starting September 5th<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2325353,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Picture-96.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5851,38282,38280,38279,38281],"class_list":["post-2325352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-espn","tag-industry-news","tag-media-shakeup","tag-on-air-personalities","tag-sports-broadcasting"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Picture-96.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2325352","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2325352"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2325352\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2325353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2325352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2325352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2325352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}