{"id":599137,"date":"2021-07-21T14:22:45","date_gmt":"2021-07-21T18:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=599137"},"modified":"2021-07-21T14:22:47","modified_gmt":"2021-07-21T18:22:47","slug":"espn-host-leaves-network-weeks-after-diversity-feud-with-colleague-rachel-nichols","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/espn-host-leaves-network-weeks-after-diversity-feud-with-colleague-rachel-nichols\/","title":{"rendered":"ESPN Host Leaves Network Weeks After \u2018Diversity\u2019 Feud With Colleague Rachel Nichols"},"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\">24<\/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-host-leaves-network-weeks-after-diversity-feud-with-colleague-rachel-nichols%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=599137&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--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/GettyImages-1230398086.jpg?w=1200&amp;h=800&amp;ixlib=react-9.0.3\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span>As soon as her hosting duties were fulfilled for the NBA Finals on ESPN, reporter Maria Taylor said goodbye to the four-letter network.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>On Wednesday, ESPN announced that the two sides were unable to come to an agreement on a contract extension, officially putting an end to the speculation on Taylor\u2019s future at the \u201cworldwide leader in sports.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cMaria\u2019s remarkable success speaks directly to her abilities and work ethic,\u201d Chairman of ESPN and Sports Content Jimmy Pitaro <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/espnpressroom.com\/us\/press-releases\/2021\/07\/statements-from-espn-and-maria-taylor\/\"><span>said<\/span><\/a><span>.&nbsp; \u201cThere is no doubt we will miss Maria, but we remain determined to continue to build a deep and skilled talent roster that thoroughly reflects the athletes we cover and the fans we serve. While she chose to pursue a new opportunity, we are proud of the work we\u2019ve done together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"11.686567164179\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">ESPN &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MariaTaylor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@MariaTaylor<\/a> jointly announced today that after much discussion, an agreement on a contract extension could not be reached<\/p>\n<p>As a result, her last assignment for ESPN was last night&#8217;s NBA Finals telecast<\/p>\n<p>Comments from Jimmy Pitaro &amp; Maria Taylor: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/yNSoLzKCP8\">https:\/\/t.co\/yNSoLzKCP8<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bFjIQ6myzX\">pic.twitter.com\/bFjIQ6myzX<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ESPNPR\/status\/1417871262966325255?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 21, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>The separation seemed like an inevitability after it was reported that Taylor had turned down an offer during last year\u2019s pandemic that would eventually reach $5 million annually. Sources told <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/06\/30\/maria-taylor-espn-face-divorce-after-near-5-million-offer\/\"><span>The New York Post<\/span><\/a><span> that Taylor was looking for \u201cStephen A. Smith\u201d money, which is closer to $8 million annually.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Taylor was never going to get that amount of money \u2014 especially after a pandemic during which companies around the world took a major financial hit \u2014 making her departure imminent.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cSo thankful to Jimmy and all of my great teammates and friends at the SEC Network, <\/span><i><span>College GameDay<\/span><\/i><span>, Women\u2019s and Men\u2019s college basketball, and the <\/span><i><span>NBA Countdown<\/span><\/i><span> family \u2014 the people who believed in me, encouraged me, pushed me, and lifted me up,\u201d Taylor <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/espnpressroom.com\/us\/press-releases\/2021\/07\/statements-from-espn-and-maria-taylor\/\"><span>said<\/span><\/a><span> on Wednesday. \u201cWords are inadequate to express my boundless appreciation, and I hope to make them proud.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The contract negotiations between Taylor and ESPN had reportedly been going on for some time, but the doors blew off after The New York Times detailed the turmoil at ESPN over the past year.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The controversy reportedly began in July 2020 when NBA reporter Rachel Nichols inadvertently recorded a conversation between herself and longtime LeBron James advisor Adam <\/span><span>Mendelsohn. The conversation took place in Nichols\u2019 hotel room in Orlando, Florida, while in the NBA bubble, where the 2020 NBA Playoffs were taking place. Nichols had recently been informed by management that she would not be hosting ESPN\u2019s pregame and postgame shows for the NBA Finals. Taylor would be given the assignment.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cI wish Maria Taylor all the success in the world \u2014 she covers football, she covers basketball,\u201d Nichols <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/07\/04\/sports\/basketball\/espn-rachel-nichols-maria-taylor.html\"><span>said<\/span><\/a><span> on July 13, 2020. \u201cIf you need to give her more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity \u2014 which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it \u2014 like, go for it. Just find it somewhere else. You are not going to find it from me or taking my thing away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cI just want them to go somewhere else \u2014 it\u2019s in my contract, by the way; this job is in my contract in writing.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The conversation made its way back to ESPN headquarters, where it was recorded by an ESPN employee and shared throughout the company. It eventually reached Taylor, who told ESPN she did not want Nichols appearing live on \u201cNBA Countdown,\u201d a show Taylor hosted. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Nichols \u2014 who said she has reached out to Taylor multiple times to apologize \u2014 was pulled from her sideline duties during the NBA Finals.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Taylor\u2019s contract was due to end during the NBA Finals \u2014 July 20 according to The Post \u2014 making the timing of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/07\/04\/sports\/basketball\/espn-rachel-nichols-maria-taylor.html\">NYT<\/a> piece interesting.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It\u2019s unclear where Taylor will be heading next, but <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/07\/21\/maria-taylor-quickly-heads-to-nbc-after-espn-drama\/\">The Post<\/a> reported Wednesday that Taylor is likely heading to NBC and will be part of the network\u2019s Olympics coverage.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i>Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><i>member<\/i><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As soon as her hosting duties were fulfilled for the NBA Finals on ESPN, reporter Maria Taylor said goodbye to the four-letter network.\u00a0On Wednesday, ESPN announced that the two sides &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-599137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599137","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=599137"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599137\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=599137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=599137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=599137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}