Scott Van Pelt: ‘People feel robbed’
ESPN anchor Scott Van Pelt had to take a “timeout” from a scheduled interview. His daughter was orchestrating a play and her father was the audience.
“The kids call the shots,” Van Pelt said.
The 53-year-old is fulfilling extra dad duties with Lila, 7, home from school because of shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. As of Thursday morning, there were more than 222,600 cases and 9,100 deaths around the world, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Van Pelt moonlights on the other side of the audience as a longtime anchor for “SportsCenter.” He and other sports newscasters have been struck with an eerie predicament: Trying to make a sports show without sports. The NBA and NHL suspended their seasons while MLB postponed its start and the NCAA tournament – along with all NCAA spring sports – was canceled. Events across the world have also been delayed or canceled.
“We’re literally taking this day-byday because this has never happened before,” Van Pelt said. “For the time being, we’ve had the cancellations and sports news to talk about. But that’s a temporary fix for a permanent issue.
“At some point, we very well could run on empty to where we might feel like we have to ration news out like it’s canned beans. We like to think we’re a creative bunch at ESPN. But I’m also no magician. I’m not an illusionist. I won’t be one for the audience.”
It’s been Van Pelt’s tell-it-how-it-is authentic tone that’s helped ESPN navigate an unprecedented time when a priority for the network has been finding the right balance to reach fans without games.
“People feel robbed of something they care about,” Van Pelt said. “The day everything got canceled, I just tried to be calm and measured when delivering sobering news to sports fans who are looking to escape some of life’s reality.“
Van Pelt said connecting with the audience has always been his aim and that goal has even greater meaning now.
“Listen, I do worry about our society’s longing for sports. There is an emptiness we can’t ignore,” Van Pelt said. “When (expletive) goes wrong, where do people turn? Oftentimes they turn to something to take their mind off of something – they’ll turn to sports.
“It’s been one of the greatest healers in society, a meeting place where, yeah, sure you root for the other team. So what? We might squabble for nine innings, four quarters or three periods. But there’s a (camaraderie) that comes through that. That’s what we’re all missing. It’s going to mess with people’s minds.”
Van Pelt disagreed with the notion from some that the seriousness of the coronavirus means fans can’t also be sad about no sports.
“There’s room in our hearts for empathy on the virus and sports,” Van Pelt said.
Van Pelt said he is focusing on the day-to-day while his bosses plan for the future of the show. He’s spearheading the segment, “#SeniorNight,” which honors teams that had remarkable seasons cut short. All NCAA divisions, men’s and women’s, as well as select high schools, were selected from across the country based on social media inquiries.
“I’m not going to hide that I genuinely have empathy for sports being canceled,” Van Pelt said. “I didn’t sign some oath that says I can’t show my own feelings. (Expletive) that. I look at showing vulnerability as a way to make our bond stronger with the audience. A way to connect when they might need it. I’m just trying to be the light as we’re all trying to find the light.”