Sage: My TV nerve of Steele

SAGE STEELE knows she has helped break down the barriers in the US, still felt by female sports broadcasters here.

ESPN’s anchor on SportsCenter on the Road and weekend host of NBA Countdown said: “When I aspired to do this in the mid-80s, when I was a kid, there were none on national TV.

“Now, when I watch TV at any level – local, regional, national – women are just there.

“I don’t hear nearly as much or see on social media as much negative talk as far as whether a woman belongs there.

“It has been accepted in most ways.

“I will always be a woman in a man’s world if I’m covering NBA.

“There were many others who came before me – Robin Roberts, for example – but I realise, at 44, I’m a little older and maybe I helped along the way.

“I did put extra pressure on myself, especially when I was younger and the only one in the locker room.

“And there were some awkward moments – we all have them as women.

“It’s just now, if you’re in a locker room, they are used to women and it’s not nearly as big a deal.”

And Steele (below) admitted: “There were times when I did think, ‘Let’s win this trivia contest to show the guys I belong here’.

“But if I can’t do the job, they’re not going to keep me there.

“At this level you’re there because you know what you’re doing.

“Most importantly, the athletes have been awesome and they welcomed me.

“Some, back in the day, tried some things, but if I didn’t bring it and didn’t know what I was talking about, they would have just dismissed me.”