It is generally understood that after a major national tragedy or crisis, patriotic anthems and symbols are prioritized in sports broadcasts.
At least, it's understood everywhere except on ESPN.
ESPN Vice President Burke Magnus says the network made a “big mistake” in not performing the national anthem at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on January 2, the day after the Bourbon Street terrorist attack that killed 14 people. I admitted that I did it.
“There's a group in Bristol.” [Connecticut] Someone who just made a huge mistake. It was human error. It happens. We don't want to minimize that in any way,” Magnus said. “That was a terrible mistake made by really well-intentioned people, and I feel terrible about it.”
Magnus also cited the game's one-day delay as a scheduling factor that disrupted the normal flow of broadcast preparation.
“The next day, nothing was normal, including the show lineup,” Magnus said. “I can give many reasons why that is not a normal situation.”
ESPN executives also hastened to add that the decision not to broadcast the national anthem was not intentional.
“The idea that it was somehow intentional or that we were trying to avoid recognizing the horrific situation in New Orleans was really misguided. It was just a mistake that we feel terrible about, and by the way… We should be held accountable,” Magnus said.
“Our timing was off. We happened to be on a commercial break when the national anthem came on, and it wasn't great by any measure and wasn't up to our standards.”
Tom Wilson, CEO of Sugar Bowl sponsor Allstate, released a highly divisive message stating that Americans are “addicted to division and negativity.” And the mistake got worse.
ESPN broadcast the national anthem on January 9th at the Orange Bowl between Notre Dame and Penn State.
