SAGE BRUSH
TV sports gal loses NBA gig after web sneers
WITH THE NBA playoffs less than two weeks away, ESPN is making a major roster change.
Veteran basketball analyst Sage Steele, who has courted controversy with her comments on social media, will be replaced by Michelle Beadle as host of “NBA Countdown” on both ESPN and ABC, the networks announced Tuesday.
Steele will continue to appear on “SportsCenter on the Road,” and she will have an “expanded on-site presence at events such as the Masters, World Series, Super Bowl, the college football playoff and college football national championship,” according to a statement.
The 44-year-old has been with the “Worldwide Leader in Sports” for a decade, but found herself in hot water with viewers after she took to Instagram in January to complain about crowds protesting Trump’s travel ban. President
“So THIS is why thousands of us dragged luggage nearly 2 miles to get to LAX, but still missed our flights,” she captioned a photo of a demonstrators at Los Angeles International Airport.
She also blasted NFL players who chose to kneel during the national anthem. And Steele, who is biracial, also caused a stir at a forum in Florida in February when she said the worst racism she has received was from black people. Social media users, who have taken Steele to task over her commentary, had a field day with her demotion.
“I guess ESPN was fed up with Sage Steele. Lord knows we are too,” tweeted @ceonelly.
“Yeah I was finally done with Sage Steele when she complained about being “inconvenienced” by the protesters during the Muslim ban. #girlbye,” wrote @nikki2002h.
Steele’s move comes as layoffs loom at ESPN. The sports network is rumored to be looking to unload at least 40 to 50 employees in an effort to cut its budget by hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Bristol, Conn.-based company praised Steele’s replacement.
“Like a great point guard, she makes everyone around her better,” said Kevin Wildes, vice president of original content for ESPN.
Beadle, 41, will be responsible for leading ESPN’s pregame and halftime shows, including during the upcoming finals on ABC.