More Cuts at ESPN

Exactly.

Women in sports (and news) don’t often make it to 70 on the desk. There is an element of sexism within that but the reality is that many females leave TV at 45 or 50 for 9-5 society jobs. Often they’re married to someone who also makes good money (female anchors rare marry “down”, economically) so they can leave the 3-midnight shift for something better.

Here is the trade off. Women in sports can get to ESPN at 24. They just won’t be there at 54.

 

Nichols brings much more to the table, some of it inherent and some from experience. I don't perceive any significant differentiators on Taylor's end other than youth and ohhellnoiamnotgoingthere. Journalistic chops, interviewing skills, subject matter expertise, credibility - Nichols by a mile on all fronts. I also believe those things are marginalized by design at ESPN. After the network's pee-pee slap from the NFL, it knows its role as a broadcast *partner*.

The Mouse has decided that Taylor is gonna get the WWE-style push and it's worth paying her over 3x what Nichols is making to see that it works. Is Taylor better at the hosting gig? It's clear that Rose and Williams vibe better with her. That chemistry hasn't translated to elevating the pregame and halftime shows from "on in the background while I do the dishes" or "time to take out the trash and go to the bathroom" status. I'll concede that isn't all on her because Jalen and Jay are Big Lots! versions of Kenny and Chuck. Woj isn't particularly good on TV but it's his league so the man gotta be there.

To @exmediahack 's point...

 

I’m also that same age demo as Nichols. Even as a guy, there’s a pressure to look a little younger. Not from anyone else but you want to look your best.

If we brought in a young guy to do weekends with a great voice, model looks and who wanted to be in this market, I’d probably eat a few more salads.

Nichols is also pretty plugged in. Her stepmother is Diane Sawyer so she probably made a few jumps up the ladder some other candidates didn’t.

This is the business we’ve chosen.

 

Wait, Rachel Nichols is 47??? Really???

 

What is Linda Cohn's secret? Over 60 and still there with a pretty good NHL gig next season.

 

That woman has had more makeovers than an old Pizza Hut.

 

Yeah, I couldn't think of a way to put that she has managed to youngify herself (look at that, I made up a word!). Still, at some point, you're not fooling the viewers who remember you there from the early 1990s.

 

I’ll have potentially an unpopular take here.

ESPN has been trying to make diversity (on-air, at least) work for a long time.

I watched Gayle Gardner a lot as a kid. It never occurred to me that she was a pioneer. She and Berman were really great TV on SC.

ESPN, as far back as the mid 1990s, has had people on with thin resumes and it showed. Jason Jackson was so “not ready” and it showed. Mike Tirico was really good for a 24 year old. (At least on-air. Still no idea how he survived his issues that led to a suspension).

Linda Cohn has diplomat tags. She’s survived every lay-off purge. I don’t see her value now unless she’s taken a few salary cuts but, in the current climate, cutting her won’t be worth the bad press.

She brought up a great point in mentoring other young women to follow her path. Along the ones of... do this because you love sports. Don’t just use us to get a gig at Access Hollywood.

 

She was Rachel Alexander when she covered the Capitals for the Post in the 90s

 

I remember Gayle being lauded (rightfully) as a pioneer but it never felt like a big deal. It sort of felt like it was acknowledged and then it was just about job performance (which I thought was great). I acknowledge this may be retroactive wishful thinking and/or me not having access to the more cynical/caustic voices as a kid.

 

Worked for Robin Roberts and GMA

 

And I didn’t mean that in a derogatory way at all. I’m honestly impressed she’s been able to keep reimagining. But you could probably do a pictorial of her evolution and have it be at least eight slides.